PTSD for the Newbie - What to Expect?

[Lucky Laser]

I was working in the clinic today and as I browsed over the "signs of X or Y disease" brochures I started thinking about how nice it would be if I had one of these to hand out to anyone wishing to become associated with me!

Its also been on my mind because of some recent arguments with my fiance about what is "normal" and how I can't seem to view the world in the "normal" way that he and apparently everyone else does!

So lets say you have the opportunity to create a "what to expect or not expect" handout to help the new person get a handle on basic PTSD. What kinds of things would you put down?

I would make my first point

1. Do not ever, EVER, expect normal!

 

[carich75]

Any dream worth telling someone about is more extreme than anything most people will dream about in their entire lives.

 

[anthony]

I have actually seen many good brochures, though none of them could really be understood at the level of experience that one gets having it for a while, healing trauma, then learning how to move through life with it. That is where they tend to let down the WOW factor for me, in that they aren't just honest... instead they try to educate someone who really doesn't want to be educated at that point, they just want to know what the hell they have. That is the only point I could add that such a brochure should have IMHO.

 

[fin]

Brochures & books, I struggle to read and retain them too much. I can get lost in them but it has been a while since that was a good kind of lost.

But isn't it good that we try to see the wow factor each day- that might help us, well I think maybe it might help me to manage better perhaps. Maybe gives me hope. Dreams and normality and maybe Hope. Perception is in here, maybe it's a key? And I want to say I am glad I'm not "normal" -whats normal anyway?


peace & love
~fin



*smiling hug

 

[Lucky Laser]

I just wish I could better explain that there is no "normal." Or perhaps the fact that what is "normal" for me is different than it is for others, and while it may not be the best thing for me, that is how I came to see the world at this point in time.

Also that it takes time to change. It seems like people expect me to be able to turn PTSD off like a switch... "its been over a year!" they say... yet they don't seem to expect it as much from someone diagnosed as bi-polar, or claustrophobic, or one of the other more researched and understood disorders.

Sorry... a little bitter today. :-)

 

[Blues in NYC]

One thing that I would add, especially to a "So you have PTSD. Now What?" sort of pamphlet would be:

- After diagnosis and beginning treatment, it is not uncommon for symptoms to get worse before they get better. This is a natural part of the surfacing and healing process.

Because for me, when that submarine of pain and shakes and flashbacks popped up in my life I was pretty darned shocked and thought I was losing it for a bit...

 

[fin]

I think I forgot this Blues, was getting worse again after I had planned to chill out today, it became soo full on it was not funny. Way soo much exposure, and no one in sight. I did think I was loosing it until I read you here.
I think maybe I just couldn't see or something. I am exhausted now though.

I don't know what I was thinking for sure, something like hansel and gretel...lost in the bargain...feel tiny now, and still a little dazed and confused. Thankyou for this post here, I might have stayed lost a little longer probably. Hard work knowing which way to turn sometimes.

~fin

 

[BlankCanvas]

After diagnosis and beginning treatment, it is not uncommon for symptoms to get worse before they get better. This is a natural part of the surfacing and healing process.

Because for me, when that submarine of pain and shakes and flashbacks popped up in my life I was pretty darned shocked and thought I was losing it for a bit...

I can't agree with you more on this. I have struggled with 'setbacks' and feelings way more painful/intense/worse than when I was originally diagnosed. I didn't understand it. I kept thinking, the worst of this should be over, I already survived the traumas. So why do I feel much worse than I did the day after traumas x, y and z?!

Also, this newest tidbit has given me a lot of relief in my recovery: "Healing can and will take place". It can be really easy to get caught up in feelings and think they will never end.

 

[fin]

I can't agree with you more on this. I have struggled with 'setbacks' and feelings way more painful/intense/worse than when I was originally diagnosed.

I understand this , this is me to some points. It is so complicated so much.

And I understand on this point also, I already survived the traumas so how come now??? I have maybe asked myself this question too often I dont know. I think it perhaps got me caught in it somehow, and kept me there, this is Ptsd I guess, constantly groaning on inside, and escalating it so much.

I didn't understand it. I kept thinking, the worst of this should be over, I already survived the traumas. So why do I feel much worse than I did the day after traumas x, y and z?!

"Healing can and will take place". It can be really easy to get caught up in feelings and think they will never end.

I know that this is true, I am feeling like I am going in some right direction maybe, tired today though so maybe I will have to slow some again. I don't know...actaully I do know, slow some and get some rest.


Thankyou BC for this,
~fin

and lucky, thankyou also

1. Do not ever, EVER, expect normal!

still glad not to be like all the rest but hey, this is a good one to remember for me!

 

[midi]

Why does your boyfriend need to argue about what is/isn't normal? How can you stop the automated argument from starting?

People will believe what they want to about PTSD. If they are sincere, they will listen to your experiences and accept them.

 

[SGT Bilko]

I'm not new to PTSD but I am new to treatment. Its tough because treatment involved facing what I did. I killed people violently. Its horrible thing to come to terms with. Before, when I was drinking and partying to supress the feelings life felt "better". Now that I'm dealing with them the nighmares are worse, my daily mood swings rivial that of a pregnant woman, and I really isolate myself a lot. I know in my heart if i work through this life will be better. So i'm going to stick to it, but truth be told, no pamphlet could describe how horrible this is. Its almost like re living killing over and over again.

I would dare say that this forum has been a great release. I can put a lot out there and no one really will ever know its me. I don't even tell my loved ones or closes friends that i use this forum. So in away the pamphlet should just read "www.ptsdforum.org".

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

Well from a newbie directly - I'd say:

1. Yes, absolutely things will get worse first (and even though my T told me that - I had not concept of what worse truly meant - and It's still getting worse) - so maybe a better defination of worse would be good. You can expect your anxiety level to increase, you can expect to be overwhelmed by your emotions, memories and thoughts, you might even feel like your body is physically sick - we need to know this is normal.

2. Any little amount of stress - will feel like the worst stress ever - and if you don't find a way to limit your daily stress - you will become overloaded (it's like making coffee - pot after pot after pot - but never drinking the first pot - eventually the coffee pot is going to overflow).