Can You Stop The Symptoms?

[fairywings]

When I feel that coming on. The whole freak out and PTSD symptoms panic and paranoia migraine dissociation etc. Are there ways to stop it?

A magic pill? :)

I know about hot baths and meditation deep breathing. Essential oils. But nothing really makes it stop until I ride out the symptoms.

 

[freakofnurture]

Antidepressants and anxiolytics can take the edge off quite effectively. You'll still have to use DBT techniques like the ones you listed, though, to keep yourself stable.

 

[fairywings]

ok.

 

[gms1976]

Personally, I would like to move to a nice tropical island with my hubby. I think that would do wonders and keep annoying family and workmates across the pond so to speak. What I find when I start getting heavily triggered is to do my best to remove myself from the environment but sometimes that isn't possible. For a back up plan, my therapist encourages me to create a safe and wonderful place in my head (real or imaginary) where I can just sit for a few minutes and keep the world out. While doing so I tap each thigh alternately - this is a basic form of EMDR - that helps the anxious brain slide into a calm peaceful place and helps to diffuse it. My problem is that my brain is like a rebellious teenager and refuses to do anything I ask of it as I have uncontrollably intrusive thoughts and I struggle to imagine a calming place. It has good value. I hope it helps.

G

 

[Srain]

I wish there were a magic pill! I do find my symptoms have eased quite a bit from this time last year at least the flashbacks, emotionally flooding, night terrors, and unbearable anxiety. There was a time I thought it would never stop. I set up a safe room for myself, set up with a trauma specialist, and started a journal here and at home.

You hit on some good things to used while dealing with the symptoms, I also make sure to get in some exercise (I power walk), and talk to people I can trust about what is going with me. Diversion is something I use as well, I can only take so much grinding it out before I have to remember that laughter is a healing activity.

Please take good care.
Peace and healing thoughts,
Rain

 

[fairywings]

Thanks for the replies. :) I still feel "out of it" but not so much.

GMS I am going to try what you did and see if it works. I just realized how bad this was affecting me. I learned to live with it . It is like a part of me I just learned to accept.

You know people like to make things worse, she's always going to be that way. Oh, that's just the way she is, no one can help her.

Like you said about family I know how toxic mine is and I don't know why I think they are going to stop.:unsure: Just when they seem to be ok they have a major problem "that they usually create" and want me involved but then they want me out of it because I respond in a logical way and they are having none of it.

I do good with walks in the park . Drawing and making stuff helps, and getting out of a bad environment. But I have a long way to go. Rain, the journal sounds wonderful.

I also want to find a trauma specialist. That sounds like it would help a lot.

Just posting helps a lot. I looked at my post and realized how much better I feel.

 

[Taven Carlsen]

I think I can, but I've been told it really doesn't work. Really, obviously, hugely. I react badly to cops (even when neutral or friendly) and I try to just settle myself down and not get frightened - but they all tell me it's obvious there's something wrong, I look frightened, etc.

So I guess the only correct answer is a slight drunkeness. ;)

 

[Elizabeth-Ann]

Jin Shin Jyutsu, Qigong, everything that helps balance breathing, eases tension and energy blockages seems to help me, physically and emotionally.

I have constant medication too and some "magic" pills when I have panic attacs.

I also try to eat healthy and balanced and take vitamines (B's for the nerfs). I like teas too for calming (especially in the evenings) and created my "helpful ceremony", for example I light a candle and drink orange blossom and tea before going to bed...

Relaxing essential oils in the house could be nice too, especially if you are triggered by certain odours as I am.

 

[BloomInWinter]

Those which I resist hold greater power over me. Those which I have stopped resisting, faced them, and let them teach me something about myself have greatly lessened.

There's just so many triggers, it's going to be a long time to defuse most.

 

[circe47]

I use my creative talents to distract me from the PTSD symptoms. I have acrylics that I paint, and poetry that I write. I am also learning to design websites using pre-created templates. I have been shooting a lot of photography lately with the hopes of launching my own website that I have created. I have discovered the joys of GIMP, which is the open source version of Photoshop. Gardening has also been working wonders. I am enjoying the planting, watering and nurturing, and seeing my dog "attacking" the water as it comes out of the hose when I water the lawn.