Medical Caregivers support

[Dominique]

I lost my mom 15 years ago over breast cancer and I was her natural caregiver. I was there every steps of the way and my PTSD started when I turned 40 years having to go through mammography etc. Since, every little things in relation with my breast cause anxiety, fear, insomnia, hypervigilance, flashbacks.

I want to be able to coexist in peace with my PTSD, if there's such thing. If anyone has a trick, a ritual, exercise you do to help, please can you share?

 

[arfie]

hello dominique. welcome to the forum.

yes, there is such a thing as coexisting in peace with your ptsd. alas, in my own case, it takes WA-A-AY more than one trick, ritual and exercise to pull it off. more than i care to type and more than you would be able to assimilate in a single sitting. perhaps i can start you out with one exercise i use to help me find which tool to use for which occasion is to write out my symptoms and run them through my therapy support network help me with the sorting. i hope you'll feel safe to do precisely that here.

welcome aboard.

 

[Dominique]

hello dominique. welcome to the forum.

yes, there is such a thing as coexisting in peace with your ptsd. alas, in my own case, it takes WA-A-AY more than one trick, ritual and exercise to pull it off. more than i care to type and more than you would be able to assimilate in a single sitting. perhaps i can start you out with one exercise i use to help me find which tool to use for which occasion is to write out my symptoms and run them through my therapy support network help me with the sorting. i hope you'll feel safe to do precisely that here.

welcome aboard.

Thank you Arfie for taking the time to answer my question. I have an appointment with a psychologue this coming week. I will make a list for her.

 

[Friday]

I want to be able to coexist in peace with my PTSD, if there's such thing. If anyone has a trick, a ritual, exercise you do to help, please can you share?

The 2 most useful things I’ve found are (below!)

The ptsd cup explanation

Nearly a decade ago (2006) I wrote The PTSD Cup Explanation, a simple view of how PTSD causes symptoms in day-to-day life. This article is an update to that original piece. Regardless of the type of trauma endured, the PTSD Cup does not change, deviate or apply differently to your circumstance...

www.myptsd.com

&

How to use triggers as a means to recovery?

To answer this question, lets first define a psychological trigger. A trigger is an activated traumatic memory due to your present environment via one or more of your five senses, sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. A trigger will result in a symptomatic or behavioral response. To fully...

www.myptsd.com

 

[arfie]

I will make a list for her.

most excellent idea.
i benefit from keeping running lists i call, "the gentle inventory" which change with the variables of my day. sometimes i write out those lists. other times i just keep them on my awareness radar. it's okay when i'm a few fries short of a happy meal. i've worked with less, but a realistic awareness of what i have to work with helps the day go smoother.

be gentle with yourself and patient with the process. healing is a journey more than a destination.