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Any Practical Suggestions? Work, Exhaustion, Spontaneous Si, At The End Of My Rope

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And I guess, in trying to overcome my ptsd sympoms and tendencies- they always say we can't trust- I assumed any mistrust or apprehensions or misgivings were all 'me' (unwarranted), I've tried to 'trust' more, ignore when I've felt badly and uncomfortable or misgivings, but in the process I've missed the point and threw the baby out with the bathwater. :(

I'm ashamed of that. Of course I see differences with people, or past actions/ history. But somewhere I screwed up with the principle. :(
 
Dear Abstract, xox :hug: .

Dear Abstract, do you know, how or with what step (?) does one begin, far as making a concrete plan for this (ptsd)?
 
Hi Junebug! I have a lot to say just for a change :p and when my brain allows me I will be back. I am certainly happy to put ideas out there for you for you to consider. Maybe others will have some input too and then you can decide what feels right for you.

But actually you have already taken enormous strides! Your last posts show even more amazing and helpful realisations. :)
 
Oh Sweet Abstract, thanks. As usual you are encouraging and hopeful! Not sure if it's so deserved, though I have some self-awareness it would be helpful if I could apply it before the fact, oye :( . Mind you, it is all quite new to me.

I suspect a lot of doing things differently, is to try to do them differently! But my God, in terms of a beginning it's impossible to know where or how to start. I pretty much have been 'winging it' or white-knuckling it, for lots of years.

Sweet A, :hug: :inlove: .

PS, I saw your post about the facial tingling and numbness, I am not sure? I get a lot of facial pain, but be careful as per the numbness, especially if you have pain or numbness radiating down your neck or arm. :hug:
 
Hey Abstract, was thinking, you know what means a lot? To say, one can get through (stuff). Or 'we can get through it". Probably, I think, because in the past (I) couldn't. Oh sure, on the outside it might have looked like it, but reality was I wasn't. (I mean ptsd/ Big trauma stuff).

Maybe if one is lucky enough, too, the 'we' part makes it feel less alone. And possible, I guess.

Also was thinking, "God-wise", well I like to just 'say' whatever to God, just lay it on the line, not have to be able or capable. I mean, I can say I'm not, for me that is a relief. It's funny, because I never ever could imagine God as 'parental' (for lack of a better term), but now I can (or have) in relation to a small child. Which helps a lot.

Also, as eating is a trigger if I don't smoke- but at some time I have to (eat), I thought maybe I'll try protein shakes or meal replacements? In that, it's still cheaper than ciggies, and maybe 'liquids' won't be a 'trigger' (no other word again) to smoke. That and stress management, etc. Worth a try, thank God coffee isn't a trigger. :wideeyed:

Also, was thinking, and I'm the last to think that way, but think I've been kind about this stuff to this person. I mean, it sounds kind of 'awful' to say I'm a 'sweet person', but really by-and-large I don't wish anyone any harm or discomfort. So, I don't think I've been unkind about it, and if I have to specifically address it (in the future) in words I'm using your suggested ones.

So I guess that's where I know of to try to 'start'.

Hugs (a 'double double' :coffee: :inlove: ) for you :hug: .
 
Hi Junebug,

On the topic of a plan:
I don't know if this will gel with you at all but I will put a few things out for you to consider. And then hopefully others can put some things forward for you too before you look at them and see what feels right for you.

For me what I found helpful (other that therapy) is to understand what direction I should be heading in and then trying different approaches to help that movement.

I also think it is helpful to make progress in certain areas before tackling others.

From what you have been saying on this thread it seems a bit to me that it would help to focus on:
1. Separating your responsibilities in relationships from others responsibilities and helping reactions of self hatred and blame.
2 Assertiveness and boundary setting.
3. Making your environment safe and abuse free.
4. Practice of grounding and coping skills in different situations.
This can be an ongoing learning where we carry on building on what we know.
5. Once you are able to ground yourself well and have good coping then the next step is to discuss the bigger traumatic stuff. If you feel able at that point you could do a trauma diary and I am sure there are a lot of people on here who would help you. If not then you need to look at some way to get therapy. I had a look and it seems there might be charities in Cananada that would be available to you for trauma work. Or you could try to do some emdr as it seems it works quickly and you would not need to do too many so limited cost. But there is no need to think about it yet.

You have already taken such huge steps with 1 and 2 that you astound me. To help yourself you could practice and get others input and support when you struggle - to post threads- and use books as there are many on boundaries and assertiveness. You might even be able to do a short assertiveness workshop.

The other thing that might help is self esteem. Starting small with affirmations can help a lot. We have to learn to tolerate treating ourselves well and break old long established patterns. darn hard of course but possible with perseverance!

In my opinion these (1 and 2) are helped by being aware of our own emotions and thoughts and why we are having them. You can access great information about emotions on the DBT self help website and through books. That helped me a lot along with journalling every day the later of which I found life changing.

In some ways you have basically been doing that. Thinking about what has happened in the day and connecting it to how I felt or didn't helped me, personally, more than anything else. I was very disconnected. It was not about telling a story and was more about me finding out how I reacted and why.

Once you have made some headway with 1 and 2 you may feel more able to start addressing 3. There is a chance you could find a way to manage workable boundaries with your sister. Some of that is not down to you at all and is down to her. If not then I hate to say it and I am sure it seems impossible to think of a solution now but I think you need to live separately at least. I could not heal when I was being re injured all the time. It tends to be easier with people outside of the family in my experience as it is never as complicated. But don't worry too much about that at present as you need some weapons and armour before you can think it through.

With 4 you have started already and there are many sources of information, including this website. The DBT self help is a great source too as are DBT books. You may even want to buy a CBT book or do a CBT course if you feel able.


Also working on acceptance can be very helpful. In a DBT way. That means accepting the legitimacy of your situation and feelings whilst still working on making things better.

We have to be careful as acceptance should feel good and not bad. If you think you are finding acceptance and the message you come to is, "I am bad and the world is bad and there is nothing I can do and I should not try" then that isn't acceptance. That is closer to despair. Acceptance brings a sense of peace and upliftment of who we are and our self esteem and not the opposite.

5.- I wouldn't worry about for now if I was you. Look at finding some basic skills on how to regulate your emotions and manage others around you. Included in that has to be general self care I think. So food and fluids and rest and fun.

I think all of us go through peaks and troughs with 1 and so it is all on ongoing project. I have found all recovery is like a winding river that winds back on itself along the way. When I am in one of the backward winds it is hard to believe I ever made any progress in the past. And sometimes some things are shooting ahead. Whilst other areas are winding back on themselves.

Remember too that even just acknowledging that there could be a different way is a huge step. Being able to share that is another one. These things take time bit they absolutely can change.

Please feel free to disregard all or some and do what only feels right for you.
 
Oh my dear Abstract, I cannot thank you enough, this is wonderful! Am overwhelmed with your effort- thank you so much!! Biggest of :hug: 's. :inlove: Amazing. :) I agree with all of it, must come back to it, as thought I had to leave for work early, but may be able to leave later- am able (so far) to leave possibly later but am on call. Not sure why, but feel so tired, like I have given blood. But yet have slept better these last few nights than for ages! I DID try to check that DBT site prior, when you suggested it, but had trouble navigating it that day. But, also, I had no idea there were places like that in Canada! Thank you. :hug:

Oh yikes, can't believe there is even one response to this thread- I am very lucky.

Realized yesterday, sometimes when I just dread work and otherwise, even good things, it's not laziness on my part, sometimes exhaustion of course but even that I can push through, it's primarily avoidance, of everyone and everything, to the "nth" degree., isolation from people. I just didn't realize or acknowledge that was why. An extreme pervasive desire to isolate, that I didn't realize let alone acknowledge. Think part of what follows is that clothes-on-fire feeling. :(

And bumped into that woman with the wrongful dismissal that affected me at Christmas, it's been overturned for her. Which I'm happy for her, but also couldn't help but realize that there were absolutely no similarities between us. Eiy, considering that also contributed to much anxiety on my part- go figure. :rolleyes:

And I see the guy at work's actions now as HIS choice. And my responsibility to have better boundaries. But still it wasn't my choice, I could never control another's actions, but only work on not only following my gut initially but responding with my own protection in mind (if that makes sense). And choosing to only be safe with safer people.

I don't want to monopolize your thread about the facial tingling/ numbness, saw it and was afraid to ask, about the lump (also, remember you saying it before). I totally 'get' that. Could someone go with you (to the appointment)? I will come in your back pocket.. :inlove: :hug:

Thank you so much Abstract, each day I am going to try to write something positive here, that I learn. I am so thankful for your help, please take care of yourself first though too!!!! Xoxoxox.
 
Gosh I cant believe days have gone past Junebug! :wideeyed:

I am so very glad that was OK with you. I was a bit worried doing it as this needs to be your journey.

But I am sooooo happy for you that you can see so many things so clearly! Your words had me smiling very widely. :happy:

I doubt you have any idea of how much progress you have made since you started this thread. :singing::woot::tup:

I can understand about the DBT helpsite. I felt like that the first time I visited it.

Here is one that connects a bit with some of the things you have been discussing. About listening to yourself as well as evaluating the situation logically. http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/html/core_mindfulness.html

You could even post a thread on each of the lessons (one by one) and get input from others.

I hope the creep is staying away.
 
Abstract and Junebug :)

Thank you for these recent posts - just reading them is helping me to re-establish my own self help patterns. Am going to take this back to my journal and start going through the layers of "horror monsters" so that I can keep on processing - especially 4 and 5. Could not ground this morning - that's OK if it is a one off, but I do need to be able to settle myself and cope with emotional turmoil as I am going through my journal writing.

Wishing you both all the best with this :hug: GF.
 
Dear GF, I hope you are going easy on yourself. I find no matter the harder I tried, the worse it got. Some things take time. And like you said, STABILITY, STABILITY, STABILITY, first. :hug:

Dear Abstract, oh gosh thank you. I must come back as have to get a birthday cake in the oven- one of the better-than-sex series, ha, if it dive bombs I'll be off to the store tomorrow for a cheescake, my back-up plan. :)

I hope you are well, such strange days have passed. Had horrible argument, then discussion that left me in some ways more scared and feeling worse. Hurt feelings and rage (not my own but directed to me), go far back with seemingly no way to be forgiven. Yet my recall is of the 'horror' parts; that being said however, for what I legitimately did wrong, perhaps I deserve them.

However, despite that, even though I can see for myself it brings me so down it renders me incapable of any normal self-care and barely an ability to accomplish what I need to- actually totally utterly feeling that nothing matters and suicidal- better if I didn't exist, I am able to be at a little better place than those days.

Off the subject, I heard today to be thankful for how good it is that 'we' (ourselves and those we love) are alive, today, right now. Not only to make ammends or change what needs to be, but the real fact of it. In essence, to let that feeling, that reality and all its implications, sink in. That reminded me of how close it was I know I wasn't.

But the one thing I did think, which is perhaps positive, although I learned early to try to say what I meant, etc, that is, not take others' presence (or being alive) for granted, and not to leave things unresolved etc, yikes, I hope you know what I mean. Well, I think battling (and I do use that term) the inclination to end my life in the past, gave me the 'need' to say some of what I had to. In the sense that, not as a reason and then change my mind about the plans to do myself in, but if I couldn't overcome it then it was all the more reason to try to live with a heart wide open. A little similar perhaps to how one feels when they survive a bad prognosis for an illness, but with sadness and gratitude, instead of the joy. However, the key I think partially being giving myself 'permission' to thus be true to myself in some ways (and yet because it did not feel possible to sustain hence the only option left as not remaining 'here', ie did not 'dislodge' the suicidal plans. Though hey, I'm still 'here'. ) But there's something people don't realize with such plans, too, it's hard to have to say "good-byes". To the average rational person, it seems like the choice is one's own, but some times it seems it really isn't, it's done-you-in, so to speak.

But what I'm wondering is, if that could be part of the basis those types of thoughts? To be true to one's self, in a way? To cut through the BS and transitory unimportant things or resentments etc etc most people cling to so tightly. Hope that makes sense.

Also, however, one has to be 'alive' to love others, too, or share anything together. A basic pre-requisite. And that we can forget the destination is the end of the journey, everything else 'is' the journey.

Yes, in the meantime, as per the guy at work, not sure if I'm zooming out a bit- it certainly feels like it for certain, when I see him or have to talk to him. But I try to think only of what he did kindly initially, and combine that with firm boundaries. The zooming out is decreasing a bit, it doesn't feel 'surreal' anymore at least.

My other sisters, too, I wish I hadn't lost the time with them, or could reconcile in so far that they/ me (who knows) might not live much longer. (They are not ill that I know of but have been and that's most of my family's genetics).

(((((((Sweet sweet Abstract)))))))), will come back for the other- wish me luck with the cake! Hope it's not :arghh; , lol. Truly thank you, oh no OMG I need all the help I can on this journey, yikes. :rolleyes: :) :hug:
 
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