Some of the most poignant and remarkable stories come from those with psychological or trauma induced disorders. For some of these individuals, Sound Therapy has been a lifeline, achieving relief they found impossible through any other method.
Reba Adams, a registered Nurse from Dallas Texas, shared the remarkable story of how Sound Therapy helped her daughter.
”The psychiatrist told me, “Your daughter is a schizophrenic and always will be.” At the age of sixteen she underwent a complete personality change as a result of a severe hypoglycaemic attack and a fall in which she struck her forehead on a filing cabinet. From being active and popular, with a wonderful sense of humour, she became irritable and suspicious, dropped her friends and became a regular recluse.
She would not talk on the phone nor eat at the table, but took her meals to her room to eat behind closed doors. Her co-ordination was poor, very mechanical, like a doll. She became unable to sleep and would go days without even an hour’s sleep. That was ten years ago.
“She has been doing Sound Therapy for six months now and is better in so many ways I hardly know where to begin. She will initiate conversations again, and occasionally I hear her deep joyous laughter that I have missed so much these past years. She is calmer, and has obtained her driver’s licence.
“She has started work on her education, with the assistance of a tutor provided through a special program, and she uses her Sound Therapy in class. The Sound Therapy is worn from the time she gets up until bedtime every day. She has come so far that I really cannot say enough about this wonderful therapy.
“Now I have begun an experiment with a man who has been in and out of psychiatric wards for the past twenty-five years. He is presently home but goes to a day care centre. He has been listening for two weeks now, and says his depression is lifting, and also says, ‘I feel alive between my ears for the first time in twenty-five years.’ He wears the Sound Therapy to the day care centre, Veteran Administration Hospital, where one of the psychiatric nurses also is using Sound Therapy.”
A listener with Dissociative Disorder shared her story of the profound healing she experienced from Sound Therapy. “I have multiple personalities resulting from horrific, lifetime abuse and when I first heard about Sound Therapy, I instinctively knew it would help me. To this point, my life has been a constant daily battle – deep inner turmoil, confusion, fragmentation and fear, which drove me to alcoholism and psychiatric wards.
“I can now tolerate and even enjoy being in company for longer. I am usually very stressed when in company, because I have to constantly be on the alert not to let slip out another personality. Now I am more relaxed (I play the music when in company) and am less triggered and fearful. People inside don’t hassle me as much. I have a feeling of increased awareness and creativity – I am an artist and am looking forward to starting painting again now. I have also started writing again (in my journal) and feel the impetus growing to start writing my life story.
“One of the ways I was tortured was sound or noise (triggering fear) in many different ways and I am constantly alert to new or old, triggering sounds – the music is starting to change that, and I’ve found a new confidence in sound that is taking away that fear. I believe this program to be invaluable for people suffering from childhood abuse, incest or trauma because, as it said in your book, the music seems to take you back to the womb and gently and lovingly caress you back to wholeness – that's what’s starting to happen to me. The first few days it was just a warm blur but now I hear every note with new delight.”
All of the following disorders include symptoms which have responded positively to Sound Therapy. The calming effect of the program and the way it helps to modify emotional reactions makes it a worthwhile addition to any therapeutic program.
