Can Ptsd Be Overcome In Just A Few Months?

[The Albatross]

..and if I don't move I might as well die now.

Hmm. Interesting statement. But more to the original point. There is a direct correlation between my results and the lengths I am willing to go through. Do the work and reap the results.

Since starting over and moving is a very high priority for you, you might be able to move through some of the uncomfortability and make more rapid progress using it as a motivator and keeping it in the front of your mind. I've done that before with pretty good results.

Best wishes for your progress.

 

[Padfoot]

I have applied at 3 schools for work, meaning 6 hours per day at work contact plus 2 hours per day working from home. I am also able to open up family daycare which means I can make my own hours and work weekends and evenings as well.

 

[HëllaBubz]

Hi Padfoot.

I think you will find that you will be 'fixed' in the sense that you will understand by that time, that you CANNOT be fixed in that time period, but that you will certainly be on the road to recovery if you have the same amount of determination applied upto, and beyond that period.

I wish it could be 'fixed' but it cannot be, but it can be managed if you are willing to put in the hard yards.

 

[Lucycat]

I told my therapist she has until December to fix me.

Sorry, but I don't like the sound of this at all. Your therapist does not fix you. You have to do that yourself. She will just give you the tools, hold your hand and guide you along the journey. The speed at which you travel is entirely your choice but I rather suspect that the faster you try to run the more likely you are to trip up as you won't see the debris in your path.

As others have already said; aim for slow, steady improvement that can be sustained.

 

[The Albatross]

As Padfoot's introduction (on another thread) seems to indicate a single trauma that resulted in the diagnosis, and that the attacker was caught, I'm still inclined to think that there is a chance for a good prognosis. At least enough to return to work full time.

For my own adult rape/sexual assault by a stranger, I was able to work full time but quit college as the assault occurred at night. Since the goal is full time work, there is just as much chance she does it, as not... though she needs to learn a lot about maintenance and stuff.

Even with my own PTSD, the only reason I was unemployed for a time was my physical illness. I worked with PTSD though I didn't get my diagnosis til long afterwards. I still have never been unemployed as a result of PTSD.

 

[DMerish]

Since starting over and moving is a very high priority for you, you might be able to move through some of the uncomfortablity and make more rapid progress using it as a motivator and keeping it in the front of your mind. I've done that before with pretty good results.

I loved my former home, the community, etc. etc. BUT there were a few triggers that still "got me" and made living there unpleasant. When I moved, several of my triggers receded into the background. I think moving to a more desirable area (as described it) is a great idea!

. . . I don't like the sound of this at all. Your therapist does not fix you.

I believe Padfoot (the OP) may have used the phrase above as a figure of speech. She is a teacher, and teachers often function best with putting goals in place and working towards them. Many teachers also have an eye on needing to be flexible when the situation warrants.

PTSD doesn't get "fixed" - there's no going back and changing the past. What happened, happened. It is a part of you now just like all the other parts. The trick, in my opinion, is learning how to integrate it with all the other parts of one's self. Finding and using the tools to help alleviate or lessen PTSD symptoms can put symptoms into "remission" for long periods, for some people. This has happened to me.

Having PTSD is sort of like having my foot run over by a lawn mower. "My foot" will never be the same. If I take good care of "my foot" - give it the proper support (don't be around toxic people), don't use it too strenuously (thus, making it feel worse and never giving it a rest), give it the care it requires, and realize might "act up" at odd times despite what I do will cause discomfort, annoyance and frustration at times. But, hey, having a foot that was mauled is better than having no foot at all.

Wish (wishful thinking):
Is passive. It depends on something from the outside happening. (I wish I had a red dress to wear to the upcoming event. I'll just sit back and see if someone will come by the house and give me one that fits perfectly)

Expectation:
Presupposes that the outcome is known, or that a judgment of one outcome (or more) will be better than another. People get in trouble thinking that they know, or judge, one thing is good and another is bad, and then become disappointed when the expectation doesn't turn out. (I'm going to go to That Dress Shop and pick out a red dress that I'll wear for the event)

Hope: Is active. It's a motivation that spurs from the knowledge that something can be different, but it is not fixated on the outcome. (I want and need a new dress for the event coming up. I'd like it to be red and I'll try to find it at a couple of stores. If I don't find a red dress, I'll choose the best alternative.)

Good luck on your journey,

Drew

 

[The Albatross]

I stayed in my community and chose not to leave. It has not been the easier way, but I love my hometown and there was no way I was going to let my abusers run me out.

But different people make different decisions. Starting fresh, in a new place can be a good thing.

Trauma is not a part of you like all other parts though. Trauma trips instinctual responses to sometime "out of the blue" inane or seemingly unrelated present experiences. It can though learned to be managed.

Personally I have been moot to give up on the idea that my foot that got ran over by a lawn mower will ever look like a "normal" foot. I aim high though.

 

[DMerish]

Personally I have been moot to give up on the idea that my foot that got ran over by a lawn mower will ever look like a "normal" foot. I aim high though.

I love this :D

 

[The Albatross]

;) Thanks. Patience, persistence, practice, and perserverance (and the 5th "P" being optional, prayer). It can happen.

 

[franciemarnie]

What a beautiful place you are going to. Such a gorgeous natural landscape might definitely enhance your healing.

 

[Tinyflame]

I know that there is no such thing as a geography cure but I sometimes wonder if a complete fresh start would help me.

Good luck Padfoot, best wishes!

 

[Padfoot]

Thanks. Yes, by "fixed" I was not being 100% literal. Sorry for the confusion. Where I moved from, which is where it took place, I was working there in a really poor area and living in quite a poor area, it wasn't my hometown so I feel there are no ties to the place. My friends who lived there have mostly moved away, 4 of them in the place we're moving to. I'd lived there 8 years but it never quite felt like home. I do understand the work needs to be done by me, I'm also very new to a lot of this and still learning about it. I guess there are other factors that play a part in it as well. I won't live alone again, despite having lived alone for over a decade. I won't rent a house without a high level of security. There are also some smaller things, like I haven't been swimming without wearing board shorts to cover scars because I'm self conscious and don't want people to ask about them. My friends know what happened, others don't, nor do I want them to. I'm happy to show off other scars though.