Can people with ptsd actually function?

[Ptsdmiracle]

@Tinyflame, and @The Albatross,

That's awesome both of you ar able to manage and cope with ptsd most of the time. I hope to one day get there too. One foot in front of another I suppose. My therapist has really only been doing emdr and talk therapy with me, when I mention specific cbt or coping skillls, she seems to just gear towards breathing and pushing myself mentally by planning some things throughout the day or doing yoga. I'm not sure if there are other specific skills or techniques I'm missing out on.

 

[grit]

You have one of the biggest tools for most mental conditions:hope!
That says a lot about your resilience.

I would say (and someone who was diagnosed with cptsd) I am in recovery and I have been functional but these words do not convey everything and the nuance of life.
The way I approach is I am no longer in danger. In fact, I am in supportive relationships that we are both authentic and aware of triggers and past traumas. I do not see myself managing ptsd but just living. If shit happens I assess my reaction if it is present and mindful anf about the issue at hand or I am reactive and acting from past programming aka ptsd. I do not confuse the two and the later is becoming much more clearer and less. I journal and I am in therapy.

My height pain in ptsd other than when I lived in it as a child were my 20s which I drank and had careless sex life and when I started therapy 2yrs ago. By far the biggest struggle was my first year therapy but thank goodness I did not lose a job or relation or limb...becuase I regressed too far and worked through.

It is not and easy recovery or Infliction but if you make small goals I think you too can achieve a state that is good for you.

 

[Ptsdmiracle]

You have one of the biggest tools for most mental conditions:hope!
That says a lot about your resilience.

I would say (and someone who was diagnosed with cptsd) I am in recovery and I have been functional but these words do not convey everything and the nuance of life.
The way I approach is I am no longer in danger. In fact, I am in supportive relationships that we are both authentic and aware of triggers and past traumas. I do not see myself managing ptsd but just living. If shit happens I assess my reaction if it is present and mindful anf about the issue at hand or I am reactive and acting from past programming aka ptsd. I do not confuse the two and the later is becoming much more clearer and less. I journal and I am in therapy.

My height pain in ptsd other than when I lived in it as a child were my 20s which I drank and had careless sex life and when I started therapy 2yrs ago. By far the biggest struggle was my first year therapy but thank goodness I did not lose a job or relation or limb...becuase I regressed too far and worked through.

It is not and easy recovery or Infliction but if you make small goals I think you too can achieve a state that is good for you.

Thank you, grit. My hope is coming from other sufferers such as yourself and continue to live life despite the pain!!

It sounds like you have come a long ways and that is amazing.

If I can just get a good nights rest, I think I could spend more energy during the day working on skills. Baby steps. Thank god for this forum!

 

[Starfish]

Thanks so much crushed! I really appreciate the encouraging words. And congrats on being med free! Wow, you lost the ability to use the computer initially? May I ask what drug it was? I've come to realize that any medicine that goes in my body 1)hugs it and 2)gives me a toxic feeling the longer I'm on it. I also had many many cognitive difficulties (still do) coming off the benzo, and since the withdrawal can last a long time, I'm pretty sure I'm not out of the woods yet from the withdrawal symptoms. These days, it's all about passing time and distracting myself using any method. I hide away in my house away from everyone, watch tv, crochet, play some games, do a little walking, call it a day. It sucks, but it's literally all I can handle at this point. Hopefully time will heal.

The main one was clonozopan (sp?) and another I cannot remember the name. Also , the last year on meds I was testing THC consumption to alleviate anxiety. I think I did maybe 2-3 years of these meds this time (did meds a few other times in 25 years for depression/anxiety before PTSD diagnosis, but never found them helpful ultimately). Yes, your description of your life ,ptsdmiracle, sounds like mine with a few different activities than yours but the same idea....get through the day without too much PTSD triggerings! Best of luck to all of us!!! One thing my therapist helped me realize the other day after listening to my life story for a couple of months (weekly or twice weekly) .... is that I have had a lot of courage throughout my life. The actions I have taken all require a lot of strength and courage for a person with my trauma-induced inner workings. I am making a bit of an effort to embrace that insight into applying it to my current journey of daily survival. I have courage, a lot of it. I'll bet all of us PTSDer's do, come to think of it!

 

[Tinyflame]

I am functional- until I'm not. But I wouldn't really say so, as it is only about surviving, externally and interiorally. I am authentic, but have only so much I've accomplished (nothing much). Bad choices too, I guess, but that's life. There aren't so many options to not carrying on. Mostlt every day is a wing and a prayer. Horrible way to live, actually.

I do really recommend cbt and dbt, they are basics; maybe in time?

Best wishes to you. :hug:

 

[somerandomguy]

Another high-functioning person with PTSD here, although a lot of it has to do with my support system. I would definitely not overlook the crucial role of a well-oiled support system in learning to deal with your PTSD. In fact, my ability to function effectively took a pretty big hit after my therapist moved away early this year, and I feel like I'm just now starting to recover from that.

 

[Placebo]

Is ptsd a manageable illness that one can have while functioning in society?

Asking because I'm absolutely not functional with symptoms ranging from agoraphobia, monophobia, cognitive issues with planning, decision making, short term memory, derealization, inability to handle any stress, intrusive ruminative thoughts. None of my nightmares or thoughts are actually related with the traumatic event anymore, yet I still have these symptoms. I'm starting to think that most of my symptoms are coming from benzo withdrawal rendering me dysfunctional. I know I have ptsd since ive been diagnosed with this, but I wonder if I have to heal from benzo withdrawal first to be semi functional.

So to those who have ptsd without another illness affecting symptoms such S benzo withdrawal, is it possible to have a job, relationships, etc?

Just trying to gain some insight as to what's what in my complicated situation, most of my docs are clueless as to what's benzo withdrawal even is.

I have been on and off Benzo's and other drugs. Now I am only on Pristiq (anti depressant with anti anxiety) Lamictal (my shrink said it was just in case, so I don't get so depressed due to PTSD that I lose it), and now CBD during the day and marijuana at night. I was off the Marijuana for almost two years then went back to it when I couldn't function for a few days and had to call into work because of flashbacks. I just wanted to be able to survive the pain is why I have ever taken a benzo. Weed works better for me as the effects last for 12-24 hours usually.

I used to hear voices badly because of my trauma. It was about a little over 10 years I herd voices on and off but mainly on. I was on disability for 13 years, but recently went back to work under the SSDI Ticket to work program. I am also in school full time now. It took me 26 years to be this functional in life of constantly working to get better. I was broken badly from torture at 17.... well that was the straw that broke the camels back anyway and caused full on voice hallucinations. I no longer hear voices. I am fully integrated as far as that split that left me wide open goes. I have not had a relationship with a man after what happened to me at 16-17, but I did go gay for a few years and had 1 relationship with a woman..... I am not gay so it didn't work out in the end. I can say I am still not functional in that area of my life as men scare the living hell out of me even though I think sometimes I would like to be in a relationship of some kind.

I used to be so bad. Now like today I sobbed hysterically with a flash back, but still made it into work. I am on a break right now. I need to get back to work. Some days are even really good. Some days I am so grateful to be alive and live such a blessed amazing life, but the ptsd doesn't seem to let that always happen. I only get nightmares a few times a year that I know of now. This year I have only cried myself awake a few times under 5 times so its not bad like it used to be. I can sleep now instead of being up all night thinking too. I can handle so much more pain than I ever could before with out having any outward symptoms. I have worked very hard not to check out mentally when in pain as that is what puts me in bad places.

It does get better even if it is bad now, or it can get better I should say. I know people who have been hurt and traumatized and don't work to get better and I see little improvement with them. I have been working my ass off for 20 years to get better, and I can honestly say it has changed me and my life. I will keep working until the day I die, I guess. I have no choice but to always try to get better. Its that or lay in my bed and cry which I did from 18-20 seriously non-stop. I could do that, but I would rather work to get better. It didn't seem like it at the time, but everything I have done is to get better. Every pill took or not taken was to get better. Every decision I made was trying to get better even if it made me worse. Keep trying no matter what. Keep trying it will get better and recovery from dysfunctional symptoms does happen. I used to count 200 voices in 40-45 minutes a night while laying in bed all insulting me and some spitting on me and I could feel the spit. I almost did kill myself a few times, but I didn't die. I lived and now I don't hear voices anymore ever. I have even been re-traumatized and don't hear voices anymore. I don't scream at night waking myself up anymore crying every night. So much has changed looking back just little at a time. Your doing good, trying different things is healing. Your doing good work and it will pay off.

 

[Deanna]

I have been on and off Benzo's and other drugs. Now I am only on Pristiq (anti depressant with anti anxiety) Lamictal (my shrink said it was just in case, so I don't get so depressed due to PTSD that I lose it), and now CBD during the day and marijuana at night. I was off the Marijuana for almost two years then went back to it when I couldn't function for a few days and had to call into work because of flashbacks. I just wanted to be able to survive the pain is why I have ever taken a benzo. Weed works better for me as the effects last for 12-24 hours usually.

I used to hear voices badly because of my trauma. It was about a little over 10 years I herd voices on and off but mainly on. I was on disability for 13 years, but recently went back to work under the SSDI Ticket to work program. I am also in school full time now. It took me 26 years to be this functional in life of constantly working to get better. I was broken badly from torture at 17.... well that was the straw that broke the camels back anyway and caused full on voice hallucinations. I no longer hear voices. I am fully integrated as far as that split that left me wide open goes. I have not had a relationship with a man after what happened to me at 16-17, but I did go gay for a few years and had 1 relationship with a woman..... I am not gay so it didn't work out in the end. I can say I am still not functional in that area of my life as men scare the living hell out of me even though I think sometimes I would like to be in a relationship of some kind.

I used to be so bad. Now like today I sobbed hysterically with a flash back, but still made it into work. I am on a break right now. I need to get back to work. Some days are even really good. Some days I am so grateful to be alive and live such a blessed amazing life, but the ptsd doesn't seem to let that always happen. I only get nightmares a few times a year that I know of now. This year I have only cried myself awake a few times under 5 times so its not bad like it used to be. I can sleep now instead of being up all night thinking too. I can handle so much more pain than I ever could before with out having any outward symptoms. I have worked very hard not to check out mentally when in pain as that is what puts me in bad places.

It does get better even if it is bad now, or it can get better I should say. I know people who have been hurt and traumatized and don't work to get better and I see little improvement with them. I have been working my ass off for 20 years to get better, and I can honestly say it has changed me and my life. I will keep working until the day I die, I guess. I have no choice but to always try to get better. Its that or lay in my bed and cry which I did from 18-20 seriously non-stop. I could do that, but I would rather work to get better. It didn't seem like it at the time, but everything I have done is to get better. Every pill took or not taken was to get better. Every decision I made was trying to get better even if it made me worse. Keep trying no matter what. Keep trying it will get better and recovery from dysfunctional symptoms does happen. I used to count 200 voices in 40-45 minutes a night while laying in bed all insulting me and some spitting on me and I could feel the spit. I almost did kill myself a few times, but I didn't die. I lived and now I don't hear voices anymore ever. I have even been re-traumatized and don't hear voices anymore. I don't scream at night waking myself up anymore crying every night. So much has changed looking back just little at a time. Your doing good, trying different things is healing. Your doing good work and it will pay off.

I can relate to your post. I heard voices and did the out of body thing. Talked to dead people but it got to where I couldn't breathe. I put myself on a benzo from doctor way before I was diagnosed. I've cried myself awake.. So I get that. Welcome! You I shared quite a bit! I've worked my as! off physically. Went to school for awhile. I couldn't sit still.

 

[Placebo]

I can relate to your post. I heard voices and did the out of body thing. Talked to dead people but it got to where I couldn't breathe. I put myself on a benzo from doctor way before I was diagnosed. I've cried myself awake.. So I get that. Welcome! You I shared quite a bit! I've worked my as! off physically. Went to school for awhile. I couldn't sit still.

I did the talking to dead people thing professionally for a while in a metaphysical shop, and on my own. I also had the voices do things like tell me what was going to happen in the future like scary weird stuff sometimes. Most were insults and odd things like like, but some odd voices would pop in and instant weird spooky physics stuff happened too.

 

[Deanna]

I did the talking to dead people thing professionally for a while in a metaphysical shop, and on my own. I also had the voices do things like tell me what was going to happen in the future like scary weird stuff sometimes. Most were insults and odd things like like, but some odd voices would pop in and instant weird spooky physics stuff happened too.

Sheesh.. We are twins! :laugh: I got tired of being bombarded... So everyone was attacking me in my sleep! That's when I got the benzo because I had enough. Different deminsions, silver cord.. Going to far! had an experience with a guy I used to to work for in my sleep. He was an engineer and it was important to explain himself. He talked all night long in my sleep, explaining a few things that was crossed, or obscure, but it took him forever to explain about 3 things. So the next morning I called a few people and sure enough, he had passed and I didn't know.I got the response that his obit was in the paper ( bi$chy lady thought I wanted something) Crab.

Anyway, so now im taking my benzo and nothing happened! ?. I am so happy but if I am suppose to know something.. It will come through ( the information) I was so mad! That's like getting raped when you are vulnerable in your sleep! Now I take about three things to sleep. Once in awhile..I am not so lucky

 

[Placebo]

Sheesh.. We are twins! :laugh: I got tired of being bombarded... So everyone was attacking me in my sleep! That's when I got the benzo because I had enough. Different deminsions, silver cord.. Going to far! had an experience with a guy I used to to work for in my sleep. He was an engineer and it was important to explain himself. He talked all night long in my sleep, explaining a few things that was crossed, or obscure, but it took him forever to explain about 3 things. So the next morning I called a few people and sure enough, he had passed and I didn't know.I got the response that his obit was in the paper ( bi$chy lady thought I wanted something) Crab.

Anyway, so now im taking my benzo and nothing happened! ?. I am so happy but if I am suppose to know something.. It will come through ( the information) I was so mad! That's like getting raped when you are vulnerable in your sleep! Now I take about three things to sleep. Once in awhile..I am not so lucky

Benzo's work, but for me often they didn't. I had someone tell me it looked like I was open and splayed on everything around me as a self defense mechanism. Like I had to know what was going on to keep myself safe, so I used my mojo to do it. That does cause problems. I meditated on my "hara line (core line right in front of spine in some Buddhist mysticism systems)" and pulled everything back in. The house was creaking and cracking and all kinds of weird paranormal stuff went on during the time I did this. Spooky physics is all I can say. After a few other things happened I had another spiritual awakening and long story short I mind my own business now. Yes people do stalk you if they know you are gifted, so be careful when I did it for money people became dependent on me for support, and I couldn't handle it. I stopped doing it all together now. If you found a cure than stick to it.....

 

[Friday]

@Deanna & @Placebo Lets keep this thread on track... If you’d like to start a new thread to continue this discussion, please use Contact Us and we can merge the last 4 or 5 posts into it. Thanks!