I scheduled an evaluation with Dr. Tessler to discuss Fight or Flight therapy. The evaluation was fascinating and not what I envisioned. Dr. Tessler is an optometrist, so his evaluations dealt with my eyes.

Evaluation #1

Dr. Tessler covered up one eye, had me focus on one spot on a piece of special paper, and then moved an object around to figure out my blind spots. He also showed me a stick with a color on it. Depending on how far away it moves from my eye, the shade of color changes. I had to tell him at what point the shade was the same. This created a circular pattern. Then he moved a stick around my visual area and asked me to tell him if I perceived anything uncomfortable emotionally, physically, or something unexpected when he moved the stick around. It was weird. When he moved it in certain areas, I actually felt “ungrounded” or uncomfortable. I’m not sure what to call it. In other areas, I experienced eye strain. Some people experience physical pain like a shoulder hurting.

The findings somehow tell me how “stressed” I am. The circular pattern I created was very small. It represents my life. If my circle is small around me, it doesn’t take much to stress me out. But, if my circle is large, it will take more to stress me out. Throughout the treatment, my circle will get larger and larger. Sounds fascinating and I can’t wait to see how this plays out.

Evaluation #2

I looked at various colors of light. While doing so, I had my thumb and pointer finger together in the shape of an “O”. Like and OK sign. Dr. Tessler tried to open my fingers while I tried to keep them together. With some colored lights, it was easy to keep them together, with others, I felt weak. This evaluation helped him determine which colors I would be using during my therapy.

Suggested Treatment

I have to stare at a light 1-2 times a day for 20 minutes, 30 times for my first color. I will be given 4 different colored filters to look at throughout the process.

Cost

Cost varies depending on how “bad off” you are – whether you might need a few therapies or many. I was on the many side. Dr. Tessler will give you a cost right then and there. It covers the number of times you will have to come back to him and the rental cost of the light you will be using.

Overall impressions

I’m pretty opened mined to alternative therapies. I’ve had friends who have reported great results for them. If this therapy can help me, I might actually save money in the long run because one of the possible outcomes is that it may help me get more out of my other therapies and improve my health which could translate to fewer doctor visits. I don’t want to fall into the category of thinking this will solve ALL my problems, but I’m pretty open to trying new things.

Checkup # 1

Checkup #2

Checkp #3

Checkup #4

I came across a new to me therapy from a friend. It uses light to help treat fight or flight responses. The theory is that over the years, the accumulation of stress can cause one’s body to constantly be in fight or flight mode and deal with stress poorly. This can lead to a number of behavioral issues and perhaps health issues.

Looking back on my life, I have had a number of significant stressors – a rigorous high school education, a stressful career, 3 pregnancies with a husband going through cancer, that same husband leaving, divorce. After all these years, I feel like I can’t concentrate as well as I could in high school. I have problems organizing my thoughts, organizing life, and I’m tired a lot. I always thought I had mommy brain, then I thought it was all related to my hypothyroidism, but perhaps there is more going on inside?

Fight or flight therapy attempts to reset the nervous system. A sort of tune-up. Once finished with the treatments, I should be able to handle stress better and some or all of my symptoms might disappear.

On the Fight or Flight Therapy website, there is a questionnaire where you rate on a scale of 0-5 how certain behaviors are problematic for you. Once you add up the score, you can see how much stress is effecting your everyday life. I was a 154. Dr. Tessler said this high score indicated PTSD or head trauma. I can definitely say that I have PTSD due to what has happened to me in life.

It will be interesting to see how this therapy can help me. Will it help my other therapies go better? Will it help my health? I have hashimotos and vitiligo. Both can be aggravated by stress. I have been working on treating these ailments for many years with a holistic doctor, but I still have not healed from them. Perhaps this light therapy will “jump start” my system and help my progress? We shall see.