Princess, you have come so far!!! YEAH!! Just remember it is small steps..nothing comes in leaps and bounds. You have begun to view your surroundings differently. Seems to me you have discovered that the world is only an unsafe place if you let it be. YOU have control over your environment, and...
I only went for counselling after my accident. When I did go, it was almost too late for me. I was at the point in my life where I could have not seen anyone for weeks before they missed me. Tempting when you have depression and close to suicidal. What I had not realized was that the abuse and...
Princess..yes, you will have bad days...it's normal, honest. Honestly you deserve a good cheer for what you've accomplished. Right now the feeling is new, and your mind is not quite used to it. I have discovered that alot of trauma patients usually spend a good amount of "fun time" waiting for...
Congrats Princess...My therapist told me that once you start facing the thoughts and triggers of PTSD that the symptoms begin to lose their power. It is a powerful thing when all the "secrets" come out in the open...they are no longer dark and hidden, they lose their control. For me I kept my...
Anthony...kudos for your words..you have the best way of putting "medical talk" into laymans terms, and the compassion ALWAYS comes thru :) Princess, I think your brother is so worried about you that anger is his only defense now. We all end up in anger and frustration when our own emotions get...
Princess..you really aren't alone in this...
All of us across the board have been struggling with the same problem. It's hard enough to understand PTSD on your own, let alone having other people tell you all the things you are supposedly doing wrong. The slightest word or simplest situation can...
Walking during a break or lunch probably would help...kinda like fooling your mind, it would put you in the frame of mind you have when you DO walk your dog...automatic relaxation. Of course you might miss your dog, but it would give you time to recharge, even if only for a short period
Anthony, you do give good advice...the ONLY good thing with PTSD is how it forces you to be self aware. Look at the bright side right? I never would have looked so hard at who I was if I didn't have PTSD. Who wants to really? Sometimes it feels more like self absorbtion. Fine, it keeps me off...
What you're feeling isn't so strange...it is hard to see where you're going when all you see is the places you've been. We've all felt this way at different points...the proverbial "high days and low days" Trust me, in your mind disappearing always seems like the best solution, ask anyone here...
Stress does tend to make some symptoms worse...it depends on how you were before the PTSD. Russian Roulette of the mind..some things will trigger the nightmares, some won't...
Anthony...the crazy chicken reminded me of me...it was the one closest to my personality...I wondered about my...
We've all suffered Piglet...I have no professional advice for you..I can tell you that you are not alone...if it helps..I used to wake in panic...thinking I was dying...afraid without knowing why...I would wake myself crying or half screaming alot of the time..needless to say I did not sleep...
write it down
Welcome to the forum. It is hard communicating with someone when you don't understand what is going on yourself. My therapist suggested a letter. I found it easier, something to try. It is harder to explain what is going on when your own guilt for PTSD gets in the way as you look...
It is hit and miss when it comes to finding something that works. You just have to keep at it and persevere, which seems to be what you are doing. Sometimes the only way to find out what works is to find out what doesn't work. Your doing great Piglet..keep it up!
Welcome Boggy! Have a look around the site, read the posts. The people are great, give sound advice or if you need it, offer support when it gets too hard.
This site has done more than just help. It gave reason to an unreasonable affliction, it provided sanity when insane seemed like an easier option. The support and comments on this site shows us that we are not alone...one of the hardest parts that PTSD puts upon us..you guys deserve every praise...
I heard this one many years ago, it sticks with me still;
"Time heals even the scars of the soul; and perhaps, in time one can remember the beauty and forget the pain"
Losing time IS scary. I spent alot of time only half remembering my days. Struggling back to reality was tough, I know I was staring at something, but if you had asked me, I couldn't tell you what it was. It is as if your mind shuts your conciousness out for a time, a mild battery charge of...
I know exactly what you mean. I couldn't have a dog in my apartment, so I got a cat. I wasn't really a cat person..but something was better than nothing...a couple months after I got him I had my accident. I can't even begin to explain the comfort he brought me. I was in a full blown depression...
To an extent Anthony that would be beneficial, half the effectiveness of this forum is the balance between the professional and personal experiences, judging from the posts I am seeing that most people on this website have attended therapy sessions, I am glad to see that most of the advice is...
It is a safe place to be. I understand totally what you are saying. And it seems like such a small thing. Sometimes when I am speaking to my family/friends about what is going on it is almost like I am speaking another language, they listen, but only to an extent. It is beyond what they are...
Piglet, I too had the same problem. Two hours of sleep here and there (never all at once) Anxious about seemingly ( I say this because nothing is without reason) with no cause at all. Not knowing what was wrong, I had tons of energy (high point for this my house was spotless lol ) I finally just...
Thanks Anthony,
As you said, not everyone finds a "perfect fit" with a therapist. It is only fair to pass it along, I would hope that when I needed it, the help would be freely given in such a manner.
it's hard to find the right one
I too was diagnosed with "complex PTSD" (is there a simple kind?) what I got lucky on was my doctor ( Canadian.... not American Anthony :) she was good enough to make my behaviour a mirror. She related to me with the exact sarcasm I gave to her, she help me see...