Sufferer Unsure Feel Pressured

[tangled11]

In 2011 my brother was murdered and since then I have had PTSD. At the start I couldn't leave my house by myself and had many triggers and attacks. Over the past 5 years I have worked extremely hard to the point now that I can leave the house by myself and I have returned back to work full time, everything feels like it is falling back in place then I get the notice that the guy to murdered my brother will be released in 19 days from prison in my community, It the flash of a light again things change, everyone wants to know how I am going to deal with this and how it will affect me and they keep asking but in all honesty I have no idea how it will affect me. I don't want to let anyone around me down so I say I am fine and it won't affect me. What do I do to prepare so I don't lose all the progress I have made

 

[claire east]

In 2011 my brother was murdered and since then I have had PTSD. At the start I couldn't leave my hous...

I guess its hard I rember when I saw my abuser 25 years later and I was prepared so it was more of a shock but I guess you know that he's coming out so your better prepared for it rember how far you have come and nothing can take away the progress you have made unless you let it you done amazing so far well done

 

[digger]

in all honesty I have no idea how it will affect me.

What do I do to prepare so I don't lose all the progress I have made

Do you have a therapist who might be able to help you with this? Or have you had a therapist in the past that you could go back to talk this development over with.

I think it's fine to respond to people asking by saying you honestly don't know how it's going to affect you. Why do you feel that would be letting them down?

Do you know if there will be any conditions to his release?

 

[Friday]

When you know there is a big trigger (and the guy himself? = trigger) or stressor coming... What I've found most helpful is to double/triple down on my stress management skills.

- Set up my days very carefully
- Include a whole lot of stress bleeding activities (exercise, breaks between activities)
- Self care self care self care
- Hook up with my support peeps (whether counselor, friends, etc.)
- Don't try to bury it or myself in work, play, distraction... But be very aware, this is happening, so how do I go about dealing with it. Doesn't mean I need to obsess over it. But I don't need to hide it, either.
- Make sure I have emergency meds on hand to stomp on any bad cycle kicking off
- etc.

And all of the above as early and often as possible. My anxiety may not even be inching up, yet, but act as if it is.

And also know / remember that symptom spikes in times of stress? Are normal. I may very well get symptomatic again for a few days/weeks, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go all the way back to square 1. Especially not if I keep doing the things I need to do to manage my symptoms before they start, and keep their impact low once they do.

 

[tangled11]

I guess its hard I rember when I saw my abuser 25 years later and I was prepared so it was more of...

Thank you I will try to remember that

 

[tangled11]

When you know there is a big trigger (and the guy himself? = trigger) or stressor coming... What I'...

Thank you for all the amazing tips I am going to start working on those right now

 

[tangled11]

Do you have a therapist who might be able to help you with this? Or have you had a therapist in the past...

I don't have a therapist anymore
I feel I will let people down if I go backwards and I feel like they will be disappointed
The only restriction right now I know of is a no contact order but that is just a piece of paper

 

[EveHarrington]

Are the thoughts of others and what they think about you more important than your own health and well being?

IMHO the real strength lies in reaching out for help when we need it.

 

[tangled11]

No it's not it worries me I know how to ask for help but not to my family because I am suppose to be strong

 

[Friday]

I feel I will let people down if I go backwards and I feel like they will be disappointed

PTSD is a cyclic disorder. Part of having it means that under stress or new trauma, symptoms cycle back around again. How much and for how long really varies. Knowing that it's cyclic?Is incredibly useful, in that it lets us plan for, and in large part prevent, things getting too bad for too long, again.

 

[sun seeker]

Sorry to distract from the question, but I also want to thank @FridayJones for the good timing on this reminder. I'm in one of those low places in the cycle too and really needed to hear this today.

 

[tangled11]

PTSD is a cyclic disorder. Part of having it means that under stress or new trauma, symptoms cycle...

I guess I am just scared, I don't want to lose what I have.