The way I see things is like this. If I am grieving (and I do) the non-perfect person I was before PTSD, at least I am feeling. As I "come back on line" alot of the feelings I have are not happy ones: Grief, shame, disgust, anger, horror, helplessness, distress, anguish, terror, fright, flight...
I saw somewhere on the web that these three medications taken together greatly reduced symptoms. I have been avoiding medication for the last two years, other than prazosin, and I am tired of the daily fight. If anyone has tried these with success or they made things worse, I would love to hear...
You know, many victims of family or partner abuse suffer from traumatic bonding. It makes sense.
I came out of a family where there was physical and emotional abuse, plus I had been molested by a stranger at the age of 6. I, like all children, loved my dad and had to try and sort out feelings...
Another good book about trauma in law enforcement field is called "The will to survive". Read it when I was trying to survive living with a cop, but it is about officers, not spouses.
My PTSD is from the hands of a police officer who used his interrogation, DV training, and physical training...
I have PTSD that developed after a series of events. Child sexual abuse, physically abusive father, and (shockingly lol) an abusive husband on the heels of all of that.
My abusive husband took whatever pts symptoms I struggled with and abused me to the point I developed full blown PTSD.
I...
Hey, I am new to the forum and new to the healing. I have been in therapy for over a year now and the things that I leave out in therapy are HUGE gaping holes in my traumatic past but not the traumatic present.
Sometimes I wonder why I leave junk out, perhaps it is a toxic cocktail of shame...
Prazosin does not help you get to sleep. Have to do that on your own!!! However, once you are asleep, you cannot remember what you dreamed. It also stopped the hyperviligint wake ups. The first few weeks I took it things were not perfect. When I fell asleep, I still immediatley started in with...
Well this is an Rx solution, but it is not addictive, not a sleeping pill, not an antidepressant etc. What is this miracle drug.....Prazosin. It is actually a blood pressure medication that acts as a beta blocker. There are no side effects, other than a possible drop in blood pressure the first...
Sandy,
I too have PTSD from domestic abuse. Since one of the symptoms of PTSD can be things feeling very surreal and one of the problems with domestic abuse is how it challenges perceptions and adoption of someone elses world view, it really is a double whammy.
Yes, sometimes I can't believe it...
He is the police. It is beyond awful. If I dont' answer his abusive emails then he says I am refusing to co-parent. He threatens me with police department enforcement, arrest and even says he will prosecute me. But he can't. Only the prosecutors office could do that and I havn't broken any...
I have a Doctor's appointment next week. I am so sick of the symptoms of PTSD. I take prazosin at night and it does help with the dreams.
I take Lexapro which I don't think works at all.
I wonder if anyone has anything that they has found works for them.
I am sick of panic, anxiety...
"Closet" days can become a spiral, at least for me. (I actually prefer the bed with the covers over my head.) The spiral is that you hide and then feel guilty about the hiding which makes you hide more.
One thing that has helped me is to set a time limit on it. I allow myself an hour in bed and...
I was like you! I could not believe it when the therapist uttered the words PTSD. I didn't believe it so much that I got a second opinion. I didn't tell the therapist about the first diagnosis, just described my symptoms, feelings, anxiety, numbing, intrusive memories, inability to sleep without...
Starting to feel like a drug pusher. Have you tried Prazosin? It is actually a blood pressure medication that has been very successful in treating combat vets for nightmares at night and sleep disturbance.
I started using it in June and it is my new BFF.
I wake up much more rested and...
Sweetie,
Go visit some domestic abuse sites and see if they apply to your situation. It is hard, I know.
Maybe check out some power and abuse wheels.
It is hard to accept that someone we love might not play by the same rules. But it IS important to check in and make sure they do.
You are a...
Do you have a therapist who specializes in trauma? They are your best guide.
The medical community certainly has a model for what qualifies for PTSD. I personally was hoping for Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Panic Disorder or something more treatable than PTSD.
I think everyone goes...
Weird body sensations are just part of PTSD. My therapist tells me to honor them. I like that, it is better than freaking out about them.
For me, I get the sensation that there are literally holes in my head or frozen parts that do not work. It is disturbing.
She tells me to pay attention to the...
Sensory things help. For me tight bracelets keep me in the here and now. I had alot to begin with but now am making them. The act of selecting beads and stringing them and getting the right tension (HA HA HA) on my wrist helps.
My therapist swears by peppermint. I chew peppermint gum. The smell...
Weird thing about complex (multiple) trauma is that it is all interrelated. I dont' mean that it is all the same, because that would be just silly!!!
I do mean that symptoms of PTSD can be heightened by any trauma that you have ever suffered, doesnt' matter when or how bad. Triggers are...
Not caring is a powerful place to be. Not being attached to outcomes is a powerful place to be. For all of us this is an individual journey.
I struggle with it quite a bit, not going to lie.
I am responsible for me and my children, nothing else. I cannot control any one other than myself...
Finding what works is individual. I know that EMDR works well for me. It helps me process traumatic events in a safe environment. Other things are wearing bracelets. That keeps me in my body. A rubber band that is really tight on bad days helps, I can even snap it if it gets too bad.
Trying to...
Thank you, so much. It is weird to see the language here that I have unfortunately come to speak. Like ''triggers" and "structure" and "reexperiencing" and "relapse". It is a daily struggle. Sometimes it is overwhelming to make a trip to the mailbox. How cant that have come to be? I don't want...