Additional Traumatic Experiences When You Already Have Ptsd

[JennieM]

Hello Everyone!

Thank you for adding me to your forum. I looked through some of your posts, and you all seem like really nice people.

When someone already has long-term PTSD from multiple situations/occurrences and *another* completely unexpected traumatic event occurs, will it take longer to recover from the latest event? My PTSD most likely stems from childhood abuse. I've also had some health issues recently and I am not used to having health issues. I've been quite stressed over these issues for several months.

I had a frightening experience this past weekend and am really struggling to get past it. I cannot seem to go more than a few hours without crying. I am taking Wellbutrin and Buspar. The WB is long-term and just started the Buspar about a month ago.

Does PTSD reach a point where One. More. Thing. just puts you permanently over the edge? Is is possible for me to EVER get past this? I really want to heal but it seems as though every time I start feeling better, something else traumatic happens (such as the event from last weekend) and I'm back to experiencing panic attacks, anxiety, crying all the time, etc.

Thank you all. Hope everyone here is having a good week.

 

[Silver.]

Hi there, welcome to the forums.
Depending on your level of progress in coping with PTSD, it could be possible that new traumas are harder to deal with, and could feel like a setback. I don't think it will always be *this bad*, I think because you just went through something, and are still experiencing the stress from it, it's making you feel like it will be impossible to get over. I know when I have really bad downs, I feel hopeless, that things will never get better, even when I know it's part of my personal cycle.

Do you see a therapist, someone who can teach you coping techniques to help pull you through these periods? If not, I would highly recommend one, as they can teach you so many different ways of navigating life with PTSD to help you on your path to healing.

You have found a good place, with some great posts and people, I hope you can find the help you are seeking here.

 

[JennieM]

Thank you for such a kind and informative reply, Silver. I am not seeing a therapist and am strongly considering doing so. I agree with you that it would be really helpful.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Good coping skills, grounding techniques, a therapist, journaling about what you've been through and are feeling, and meds. And of course, being here and learning. All of these things will help to aid you, but you have to do the work to get there.

Good luck and welcome!

 

[Friday]

I've had a lot of additional trauma/stress after getting PTSD. And after mostly recovering from it.

Sometimes? Nothing.

Sometimes? Increased symptoms for a while. Whether a weekend or a few months, they always went away on their own, just me living my life.

Once? I got kicked back to 'go'. Full range of symptoms, and having to relearn everything all over again. I wasted about a year thinking it was going to resolve like the rest of them. And then another year refusing to focus on the PTSD side of things, but only willing to look at the new trauma & stress. Things got really bad for awhile. (Read a few years.) This is where I'm at right now. Some improvement, but a long way to go.

So my advice if things are starting to get bad? Get into or back into treatment on the que vive :) If it would self resolve? Awesome. But if not? Then you're already working at getting yourself better, again.

 

[JennieM]

Good coping skills, grounding techniques, a therapist, journaling about what you've been through and are...

Thank you, She Cat! Wonderful suggestions.

 

[JennieM]

I've had a lot of additional trauma/stress after getting PTSD. And after mostly recovering from it.

So...

Thank you for sharing your experiences, Friday. I actually do have a pretty good life and just "living my life" will most likely help. Right now, I still wake up thinking it was all a dream ...

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Like the others, another trauma can make recovery longer and harder but if you have good coping skills it may not.

Certianly not forever if you are actively working on things.

Also, welcome! :hug:

 

[JennieM]

Like the others, another trauma can make recovery longer and harder but if you have go...

I am definitely trying to work on things and not lose ground in my recovery. It gets a bit easier each day. Great advice! Thank you!

 

[Deleted member 34328]

I hear you loud and clear @JennieM I'm in a similar scenario right now. I'm in therapy and have learned a lot of really good coping tools and helps for when stressors and unexpected surprises come up. I'm in the anxiety/stress/exhaustion right now from the last 4 weeks of non stop stressors and triggers. Each day that passes does help, but I'm back to having to do the relaxation exercises, charts... all the things that seem so long and "not again".

I too get very caught up in the current situation. It resurrects memories of the trauma and I find it worse because of the similarities. So yes, for me, dealing with something new feels huge and insurmountable. However, it's not and I'll get there. At some point, I'll be able to say a real "yay me" just not yet.

You will too. Maybe you aren't there yet, but you will be. Seeing a therapist is definitely a very positive suggestion. They have a lot of skills to teach us that will help us to move forward even when it feels like another 2 steps back. I really think that PTSD can be a lifetime of misery, or it can be a tool that will make you more sympathetic and stronger as you face each new person or event. Your eyes will see things and your ears will hear what's not spoken.

 

[malachi]

The way I think about it is that everyone can handle a certain "volume" of issues / stressors / symptoms etc. Let's call it 10 gallons. Once you have more than 10 gallons in there, things fall apart and everything becomes overwhelming.

But for me, the stress disorder takes up let's say 5 gallons by itself.

So a new major trauma will, of course, be overwhelming until the "volume" overall (everything in your life, combined) drops.

I don't know about you - but for me, the way I manage being overwhelmed like that and the way I get the "volume" to drop to below distress levels is though therapy (and the self-care tactics learned in therapy).

 

[The Albatross]

Good post topic and welcome.

"Permanently" over the edge? Nope, not so far and believe me I've had my share of additional traumatic situations.