Chem Lady
Confident
Hi everyone,
I've read some threads on fatigue on this site before and it was helpful to read many of the comments made. I've had PTSD for 12 years. I've worked very hard to deal with my trauma over the years and I think I've done a pretty good job. I rarely struggle with flashbacks and my therapist often tells me I'm not experiencing any PTSD symptoms... which I find very frustrating. I don't have flashbacks or dissociation problems, although anxiety is a tough one for me, but I still fight lesser known PTSD symptoms every day. My biggest symptom is the fatigue. Before PTSD I had loads of energy. I always said "if I have the time to fit it in my schedule, then I can do it". I could carry on two jobs, do loads of housework, exercise every day, hike, go out with friends, be up late, anything, really. But since PTSD I have WAY less energy. No matter what I'm doing. If I'm at home for months, working full-time, on holidays somewhere, it really doesn't matter what life is like, I will get exhausted and need to take days where I just rest all day. My muscles shake and sometimes I feel like I don't even have the energy to draw air into my lungs. Right now I'm working full-time. I don't engage in any other activities other than work and I need to take a sick day probably once a month or so just to rest. In some of the previous posts, people have spoken of their fatigue, but I don't think any of them were long-time PTSDers. It makes me curious: did it go away for people over the years or improve at least? I would love to hear from others who have had PTSD for a long time and whether or not they struggle with fatigue still. It would really help to have more info.
I've read some threads on fatigue on this site before and it was helpful to read many of the comments made. I've had PTSD for 12 years. I've worked very hard to deal with my trauma over the years and I think I've done a pretty good job. I rarely struggle with flashbacks and my therapist often tells me I'm not experiencing any PTSD symptoms... which I find very frustrating. I don't have flashbacks or dissociation problems, although anxiety is a tough one for me, but I still fight lesser known PTSD symptoms every day. My biggest symptom is the fatigue. Before PTSD I had loads of energy. I always said "if I have the time to fit it in my schedule, then I can do it". I could carry on two jobs, do loads of housework, exercise every day, hike, go out with friends, be up late, anything, really. But since PTSD I have WAY less energy. No matter what I'm doing. If I'm at home for months, working full-time, on holidays somewhere, it really doesn't matter what life is like, I will get exhausted and need to take days where I just rest all day. My muscles shake and sometimes I feel like I don't even have the energy to draw air into my lungs. Right now I'm working full-time. I don't engage in any other activities other than work and I need to take a sick day probably once a month or so just to rest. In some of the previous posts, people have spoken of their fatigue, but I don't think any of them were long-time PTSDers. It makes me curious: did it go away for people over the years or improve at least? I would love to hear from others who have had PTSD for a long time and whether or not they struggle with fatigue still. It would really help to have more info.