Case Study: Stephanie, 40, Depression, CPTSD

Stephanie, 40, had recently suffered numerous destabilising incidents and conditions that deprived her of her joy of life and made everything seem extremely stressful.  One night while preparing dinner, a confluence of her husband’s criticism, her kids screaming and the music on the radio overloaded her senses and she smashed a plate in desparate frustration.  It was as if everything was directed at her, and her mood swings and lack of emotional support exacerbated the erosion of purpose she had come to feel.  

The previous years had deprived her of both parents, and she had ceded freelance work to raising her small children and looking after her ailing mother.  Next-door building work continued throughout lockdown, and the family was on the constant verge of deciding to move.  Furniture and clothes were packed, and the idea of nesting could not seem more remote.  Stephanie felt under constant assault while not progressing personally or professionally.  This strain entered her previously strong relationship with her husband, himself under substantial work pressure.  Having self-diagnosed as PTSD, and following postponement of scheduled EMDR sessions by her therapist, both decided to do neurofeedback sessions. 

Within a few sessions, Stephanie’s sleep was restored, and she became more motivated and relaxed.  It no longer felt as though everything was directed at her, and she was able to respond to unexpected outcomes flexibly and with humour.  She could sense and anticipate when her husband was under particular pressure, and found a more light-hearted approach to managing his commanding nature, feeling and understanding that this was less directed at her than mere venting of the tremendous stress he was under.  

A month into neurofeedback training, their relationship had improved visibly, and she felt that her children sensed this too.  One of the first thing we resolve is a feeling of relational thinking, where we feel that everything is directed at us.  This healthy detachment proved immensely destressing, and resolved many depressive symptoms.  They had now decided to stay in their home, and Stephanie had begun the process of unpacking (again).  A Christmas tree and a new pet were manifestations of this emergent homeliness.  

As Stephanie’s sleep improved, so did her focus and productivity.  She had been a freelance writer, and resumed some engagements.  Nanny’s didn’t feel like a competition to her anymore.  Stephanie was also able to deal with the practical aspects of losing her parents, including managing complex property transactions, which no longer felt so intertwined with the emotional loss.  

Sixteen sessions later, Stephanie felt like a new person.  A brain map confirmed this progress.  It helped that her husband was progressing well too.  Both finished their neurofeedback training just before Christmas.