Lab Tools & Equipment for Getting Better from PTSD

I realized the other day that I have been playing SuperBetter for over 6 months now since the end of February and beginning of March 2012. This morning I was reflecting on all of the tools and Quests from SuperBetter, the workbook Healing the Trauma of Domestic Violence, and working with my SuperBetter allies and therapist, that I’ve used to work on PTSD and was thinking, hey, I should create a toolbox or to be more appropriate for my SuperBetter Hero who is a scientist, “A Summary of Laboratory Tools and Equipment!” So here goes.

Summary of Laboratory Tools and Equipment (to Get Better from PTSD)

PTSD / Trauma Symptom	Lab Equipment, Tools or Methods to Use
Anticipation Hypervigilance	SuperBetter MindMaster PowerPack Be aware of being hypervigilant Be aware of my expectations React instead of anticipate Broken Babel Fish Quest – Read about it in my post here
Supposed To Beliefs Expectations	Healing the Trauma of Domestic Violence workbook chapter on “Supposed to” Beliefs That Lead Women to Stay or Go Back
Dealing with Conflict Avoidance	Deal with conflict instead of avoid it Make Quests to do things I’m avoiding like go to the dentist, say “Excuse me”, go to a place to make new memories I associate with my abuser
Negative Self-Talk	Healing the Trauma of Domestic Violence workbook chapters Feel Better by Changing the Way You Talk to Yourself, The Power of Nonnegative Thinking Track your Negative Self-Talk – see my posts here and here
Assertiveness Self-Advocacy Self-Compassion Body Image	SuperBetter The Mood Elevator: Ground Floor PowerPack SuperBetter Being Awesome PowerPack SuperBetter Better Than a Chill Pill PowerPack Healing the Trauma of Domestic Violence workbook chapters on Self-Advocacy: An Overview and Initial Self Assessment and Assertiveness, Aggressiveness and How to Take the High Road
Stress & Muscle Tension	SuperBetter Stress Buster Power Pack Healing the Trauma of Domestic Violence workbook chapter on Managing Stress By Controlling Muscle Tension – See my post on this chapter here.
Anxiety Isolation	SuperBetter MindMaster PowerPack Quest to Ask for Help SuperBetter Social Resilience in 5 Minutes a Day PowerPack
Guilt	Healing the Trauma of Domestic Violence workbook chapters How to Get Rid of Your Guilt  – See my post with my results here Talk with a veteran or other domestic violence victims with PTSD and their experience of how they overcame guilt (this can be via an online chat, in person, etc.) – It helps! Forgive yourself – This will happen!
Nightmares	Remember: Nightmares are just reminders of the types of people and behavior you need to be wary of – Read my post on this here

I’m sure I’m missing some tools, but can always add them in later, or new ones as I learn about them.

What things have worked for you to get better from PTSD? What do you want to try? What are the biggest obstacles you are facing?