Long Term Goals ~ Stretching Yourself Outside Of Ptsd

[ClairBear226]

It was actually Crafty Cath's suggestion in the "Treading Dangerously" thread that we have an area where we can put our long term goals. Short term goals can sometimes consume us when we have PTSD, and sometimes the simple process of completing the activities of daily living is not so simple. But for most of us, there are good days too. I think that if we push those good days for all they're worth, long term goals are very much achievable.

So, let's start with a two-pronged question. 1. What is something you would really like to do? What are the smaller steps you can take to make that happen? 2. If you did not have PTSD, what would that goal be? Would it be the same, or different?

And lastly, I'd really love it if we kept track of our progress towards our long term goals here. Report in. Tell us how it's going. Did you tackle one of the steps needed to reach that goal? Great! Hearing your success is encouraging to the rest of us, so let's hear it.

I'll be back later with mine. I need to thing about this a smidge. ;)

 

[Red Feather]

1. I've always wanted to make an album of my music. I have lots of songs, more than enough. I've been wanting to do this for at least 5 years now. The steps in getting would require getting better, and find stabilsation. So that I can concentrate on it. And get off the internet... i.e. this forum! :roflmao:

2. If I did not have PTSD, the music and content would probably be different. If I never married, then maybe I would have gone into filmmaking. That was my original intention in anycase.

 

[Charmedone]

1, To be a teacher and to travel

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Oh My. I have a ton!

1) Continue taking classes and earn a certificate or two. I already have advanced degrees which I earned before getting sick, so another degree isn't necessary, while certificates will help me broaden my horizons. I've just started classes today, and for now I'm focusing on this semester rather than what course programs have what requirements and so on. Too much focusing on the future got me into trouble in the past, so while I have a potential plan of action for schooling, I'm very much taking things as they come. (A healthy balance, I think!) And simply going to school will help with my social anxiety and help me step out of my comfort zone.

2) Volunteer. I'm in contact with a local organization to see if they can use me as a volunteer. I'm a bit cautious at this point as I don't want to overextend myself. I'd love to do something more, but not at the detriment of my health. Again, its about finding a healthy balance. I can't work right now, so volunteering is the next best thing.

3) Form more substantial relationships which include friendships (I've recently given a number of toxic people the boot) and romantic relationships. I'm happy to say that I'm working on both of them, bit by bit!

4) Become independent! I'm on disability, so this is probably the biggest goal I have right now, and everything that I'm doing somehow fits into becoming independent one day. (ie going to school, becoming more social, volunteering

As for how my goals would be different if I didn't have PTSD? I can't even fathom that right now. I mean, I left my studies because of my PTSD, but from where I'm sitting, I don't want to go into that field anymore because it doesn't interest me and the job potential is pitiful. I've had PTSD my whole life, so I don't see the alternative? And I don't know if I really want to as I'm happy where I am right now and don't see the benefit to looking at what I could have had.

 

[ClairBear226]

I've had to put some thought into this. I've actually achieved the goals I had already set for myself, and it's been awhile since I've made any new ones; I've just been going with the flow of late. I started with two very large goals the night I flew with my 2 very small daughters after leaving an abusive husband back home with my tail between my legs. I was 21, had no job, only a recently acquired GED, no home, and no way of supporting myself. Plus PTSD symptoms out the hooha, though it wasn't diagnosed yet. I wanted to be able to support myself and my girls on my own, and I wanted to raise them to be strong enough to stand on their own two feet. Later, my goals got more specific, like graduating from nursing school, buying a house, establishing a career, having a successful outcome to infertility treatment (in which I had daughter #3 with the love of my life). The list goes on. Now I feel like it's time to do something I want to do, not for survival's sake, or for anyone else, or because I should, but just for me because I want to. The question is, what?

So, having given it some thought, I think I'd like to do something with writing. I've dabbled in writing for years, but never very seriously. I'm not sure if I want to pursue anything so serious as publication, or if I just want to wade in a bit deeper than I already have. My goal is none too specific, I'll grant you. I've already been blogging, so as to get in the habit of doing it regularly, but I'm thinking a writing class may be in my near future. I'll need to revisit and refine the goal a bit later down the road.

If I hadn't had PTSD, or a lot of responsibility at a very young age, I might have done it sooner. I may even have pursued a carreer in it, if I hadn't had to worry about supporting anyone but myself. But the garbage in my life is what made me as strong as I am, so I can't really say for sure if I would have had the guts or not.

 

[DharmaGirl]

Wow, this is hard. I rarely think beyond next week.
1. I want to go back to work full time. I am hoping to hear about a part-time job today and if that works out, I would like to work full time.

2. I want a real vacation. I want to go on an Alaskan cruise. I want to go to Disneyland again. I loved it there.

3. I want to get my Master of Nursing degree.

If I didn't have PTSD, I would have already had my Masters, would be working and be able to vacation wherever I wanted.

 

[piratelady]

I want to create a real and full life for myself again. Have hobbies to enjoy outside of work, make friends outside of work...I want to build a life for myself that does not revolve around my job. I just need to make more of a life for myself...my goal is to create balance.

 

[ClairBear226]

Sounds like a good goal, Piratelady. Got anything specific in mind?

yey - another nurse, Monster!

 

[intothelight]

I have been giving this thread a lot of thought and I have two very large goals to achieve. The first one is not so much by choice, but the second one is.

My first goal is to get through a Stem Cell Transplant, and not only do I want to survive it for obvious reasons; but I would like to be able to manage and perhaps even improve upon my own PTSD symptoms. The details are in the works.

My second goal is to complete (with myself) in a triathlon by next summer, as a fundraiser for cancer research. Again, still working on the details.

I really haven't thought too much past these two points. I really need to get well both physically and mentally and those are the ultimate goals.

 

[piratelady]

Sounds like a good goal, Piratelady. Got anything specific in mind?

I am going to join a new church. I am going to go to the gym regularly, and re-build my endurance. Once I've begun doing that, I want to join a local running group. They get together for runs periodically, have BBQ's stuff like that. That's as far as I've gotten with my plan so far.

 

[anthony]

Mmmmm.... long term goal? Keep my sanity the best I can. :roflmao:

 

[a3a2]

"I flew with my 2 very small daughters after leaving an abusive husband back home with my tail between my legs."

ClaireBear, One cannot leave their abuser, especially with children in tow, with their tail between their legs. It takes too much courage. This was not a small accomplishment and you did it at the tender age of twenty-one!