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Why Does This Forum Make Me Panic?

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Grama-Herc

MyPTSD Pro
I have the most weird reaction to coming to this forum and I gues I just want to know if anybody else does this.
By the time my computer is u and run ning and I am signing on to the forum I am covered in sweat. I am completely soaked. My hands are actually dripping wet. My heart is about to beat out of my chest and I have to remind myself to breathe! I knlow that this is a full blown panic/anxiet attack, but why does the forum set it off to such an extreme level? I enjoy this forum--or at least I think I do! ! ! ! Anybody got an answer
 
I haven't felt like that with the forum, but when I first did group therapy - I often had panic attacks before anything even started. I think part of it for me was knowing that I was going to a place to talk about things that would probably trigger me, and that I was going to have a place I could talk about what happened to me - which meant I was going to have to allow myself to remember what happened.

I enjoyed the group therapy, and I knew I was healing and getting to know people who were going through similar experiences with their healing but it didn't mean I wasn't still having anxiety about it. I found that some of the things I did around the group made things better - like talking about animals, or after group walking with one of the other people to the bus stop and always seeing a lady walking her dogs - it was the things that were mundane that made it easier, and after a while I found that I could control it and be less likely to have a full blown panic attack.

I'm not sure if this helps - but maybe setting aside a certain period of time to go on the forum may help. Along with having some rewards set up for yourself for afterwards - a bubble bath, a glass of wine, a good book, dessert of some sort. Something that you can positively associate with working on your healing.
 
Herc, have you read Anthony's sticky at the top of this page, Reading Forum Increases Symptoms? If not, you should read it. Here's the link:

[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/thread556.html[/DLMURL]

It's common to have an increase in symptoms from coming here, basically it's a form of exposure therapy. Its therefore recommended that you take breaks, and don't come here every single day. I know I had to learn that the hard way myself.
 
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Hey Batgirl, You are right. Been coming here for about 3 straight weeks. I think it is time for my second break from the forum Thanx for the facts ot should I say the truth HERC
 
Yes, what Evie pointed out and that is why the sticky is there. We all need breaks. Tonight I am exactly the same way and skipped last night. I will only be here briefly. 3 yo gave me all the stress I can do for today.
 
Take it easy on yourself herc... start small and build up.

I think I may have screwed up, and I am confused and not sure where to go or what to do.

And my links don't seem to be working anymore.

I thought I was building on my small steps, but I am not sure of anything at all now.

I'm sorry, and I know this isn't my thread to bring forward, but I feel a little lost and cnfused, and it isn't that I am panicing I just don't quite know what it is that I need to do.

Please can someone help me again?

~fin
 
Yes! Its exposure. I have to be careful. Sometimes ?I ignore the forum for days or even weeks. I have had a long period away and come back as I have been readjusting to my return to work. I find the forum does set me off but I am using the CBT skills I have learnt to keep me level. So it has become a testing ground for me. And thanks to all for that!

This has helped me realise that for the first time in 2-3 years I am healing and moving in the right direction. Its a rocky road and some steps are backwards but the general push is forwards. And a major part of that is being able to read other peoples experiences (especially bullying/car crash type experiences) and monitor my own emotional response to them.
 
Irton Pike said:
This has helped me realise that for the first time in 2-3 years I am healing and moving in the right direction. Its a rocky road and some steps are backwards but the general push is forwards. And a major part of that is being able to read other peoples experiences (especially bullying/car crash type experiences) and monitor my own emotional response to them.
Well done mate... really well done and congratulations on using your learnt skills, commonsense even, and applying this type of rational thinking to your healing. Well impressed and let me just say, with this self work you are well and truly on your way forward. You have returned to work, that in itself is a huge step for anyone who suffers PTSD. Truly congratulations and keep up the great work. Don't be afraid to fall, admit it, learn from it, and use your experience to aid you in making further progress towards a much healthier future with PTSD.
 
Yes! Its exposure. I have to be careful..

And it's; awesome.

This has helped me realise that for the first time ... I am healing and moving in the right direction. Its a rocky road and some steps are backwards but the general push is forwards. And a major part of that is being able to read other peoples experiences (especially bullying/car crash type experiences) and monitor my own emotional response to them.

Totally Awesome.


Don't be afraid to fall, admit it, learn from it, and use your experience to aid you in making further progress towards a much healthier future with PTSD.

Completely and utterly, totally and brilliantly AWESOME.

Thankyou for helping me in this too!

~fin
 
I have read Anthony's story on Reading Forum Increases Symptoms. My symptoms are all back today with a vengence, first time for months. I think it came from reading posts and feeling angry and frustrated that the person was saying their feelings over and over. I am ashamed to admit I got angry with this, but I want to do more than that and I also want to help people. Anthony said that is a major part of healing is to realise we cannot control anyone else just our own responses.

I dont know when to try to help and I dont know when to stop.

Aw crap, I dont want to rave. I am guessing this means I need a break from the forum, but I have felt so connected and not alone that I didnt want to miss coming here for a day. I even hid my own mouse from myself so I couldnt check the forum. Hid it myself!!! Its not like I didn't know where it was..WTF.

Can someone please help me with this. We push though the pain of writing and reading, but when we get triggered by reading the forum, we need a break for a few days or a week?

I really am intelligent except for when the PTSD Monster comes to visit.

Now I have just raved about feelings, the very thing that triggered me about others.

Do others feel anger? I am also angry that I cant send all this info to my brother or tell him about this forum. He needs it but wont face it.
 
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