Are People With Ptsd Super Human? Perks To Ptsd

[ashdawn8287]

I have a friend, that I am lucky to have that suffers from PTSD. He is at a different stage with coping than I am. He is still drinking is what I mean, if that makes any sense. I feel like their are stages with PTSD that each of us face, but it's up to us to choose to go on to the next stage. I have always choose to move on. Anyways, my friend and are talked about the PTSD today.

I told him about stuff I have been researching, just to see what he thought of it. We looked into the epigenetic principle and this is how it started.

I said, "We are aware, but unaware. We battle between the past and reality. Our PTSD takes on many forms. Yes, we are different, but not wrong or crazy."

He said, "I agree with you 100%. There are some perks to PTSD though. For example heightened senses, awareness, reaction speed, fast reflexes, and being able to see things in slow motion, if that makes any sense. This is the stuff jedis and ninjas are made of."

After I laughed I said, "Yes, I completely get that. It's like we are super humans."

He said, "I know right? But we are super humans that need medication and hugs."

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[just me here]

Is it better to go through life literally peeking around the corner before you walk around it because you feel vulnerable to attack? Is it better to feel like every other driver on the road would willingly put you and your family in the hospital before they would call a cab because they are too drunk to drive home? Why would anyone think that being hyper vigilant and constantly on the edge of fight or flight is a desirable state of mind?

The part of my PTSD that MIGHT be a good thing is that I am not one of the majority of people in this society that go through life being surprised by life altering events. I have heard literally hundreds of them ask the same question in so many ways- How did this happen? Why me? What did we do to deserve this?

I go through life knowing that bad things happen to good people everyday, all day long. I might ask "why did it take so long for this inevitable disaster to finally happen?" I go through life feeling a real danger all the time. Every time I get in a car or walk in public places or become part of an audience or gather in a crowd. The other side of that is that I feel true relief to get home, and making it through a day and crawling into bed is a victory and I feel like I have finished a hard job and reached a great goal. Is it worth having to struggle with PTSD all day to get the reward of escape at the end of it? Maybe, but I don't think anyone would ever choose to be this way willingly.

This happened to me over the course of a lifetime. I feel like I probably don't have as many years as it would take to undo the damages left in my life. Maybe this is a curable condition, we just don't live long enough to reverse the effects of the traumas after we come to realise that we are suffering, and we don't realise we are suffering because we feel like we are just doing what we are wired to do- finding a way to survive the threats as we become aware of them.

 

[ashdawn8287]

I agree with you and that saddens me. I try to be as positive as possible. With lots of faking at first, I think it is starting to pay off. I think your will to not let it take control of your life has to be greater than the control it takes over your life and carefully examining and basically researching yourself by writing, searching out answers, and coming to piece with everything. I have accepted responsibility for the way I have over reacted.

I realize it is the PTSD, but I am not going to let it negatively affect me or look at the negative aspects of having it. Yes, I love escaping at the end of the day and I'm on constant get me home mode when I am out in the world. I feel extremely uncomfortable in crowds, but I am going to face those fears and push through whatever is holding me back. I will find out the answers for myself by working hard at what triggers me, what my body does, and then working with that to figure out ways I can cope in a healthy way.

I'm sick of my body and mind using all my energy on this. I refuse to let myself sufferer. And I don't believe in cures externally. I believe the curing takes place when one gets that will to do the unwilling and separate from the PTSD. I believe in getting a holistic view on PTSD. A reason why I am on this site.

Yes, I will have bad days, the goal is to not compare yourself to others. Small steps are success and it takes a lot of time to break habits and coping skills. I realize that, but the effort I am putting into this will pay off because I can feel it. I couldn't feel it before because I wasn't trying hard enough. I have my drive back.

Yes, I see a therapist, but I am in control of my life, my feelings, my triggers, my reactions, and my thoughts. I will challenge myself everyday until it becomes a habit. I do not look to others for answers as they cannot help me only I can help me. Only I know my trauma and know how it effects me. It is nobody's job to fix me, but myself.

 

[Hashi]

ashdawn, I'm wondering if you meant this in a mainly humorous, light-hearted way - in which case, maybe it's something more for the chit chat forum?

Could you clarify whether you're saying is for serious discussion and how much is for fun? I'm asking because it hits a very raw nerve with me to suggest there are perks to PTSD, but if it's intended to be light-hearted then that makes the context different.

 

[ashdawn8287]

I did not mean to hit a raw nerve with you. I believe in open discussions and I did mean for it to make people laugh as it made me laugh a little. I was trying to bring up peoples spirits since on here I see a lot of negative stuff that just makes me feel worse. I am trying to look at the positives is all. Again, I am sorry if it touched a raw nerve.

 

[Hashi]

It's OK. I hope this will help you with what you want to get from it. I still wonder if it belongs more in chit chat, but anyway I'll treat it as such in my own head and not post.

 

[ashdawn8287]

It's okay. I am sorry. That was not my intention at at all. I use humor to deflect. My friend and I battle every day with it and it is not fun, but it helps to humor myself. I did not mean for you to take offense. I am well aware of the downside of PTSD so I was trying to looking at any kind of positives, even if small about having this horrible thing, so I can come to peace with it. I am healing, it is hard and sometimes I just want to laugh because life is a cray mess. Please do not feel bad about my thread, as I am only here trying to lift people up with me.

 

[ashdawn8287]

I will keep that in mind about the chit chat next time I post. I am still new on here trying to get use to where to post stuff. I'm sure if it doesn't belong they will move it to where it does belong.

 

[Hashi]

We're posting at the same time. I edited my last response because I hadn't seen yours above it. This is getting too confusing!

I was checking because I didn't want to respond seriously (and negatively) to something that was meant to be humorous.

I understand what you've explained. I'll stop posting and confusing things now. Wishing you well.

 

[ashdawn8287]

Thanks Hashi. I wish you well too. Message me if you want a new friend, I'm a pretty good one. :)

 

[Pencil]

But we are super humans that need medication and hugs.

Just love that. It will be my new description of PTSD.

 

[ashdawn8287]

It made me smile so I thought it might make someone else smile too! Glad it worked :)