Can You Treat Your Ptsd Yourself? Or Do You Need Therapy?

[Lucycat]

I, personally think professional help is vital. Once stability is achieved there is a lot of self help that can be done between therapy sessions, so I would suggest the best is a combination.

You don't mention where in the world you are. Of course you don't have to, but I would like to point out that here in the UK Therapy can be accessed via the National Health Service. If that is not helpful or appropriate there are also some charities that offer therapy at reduced rates to make it affordable - depending on the cause of the PTSD diagnosis.

Good luck in your search for help.

 

[The Albatross]

@ Bedbug, Acting out violently in or out of a flashback is an instinctual reaction to a perceived threat. If your reaction Bedbug was involuntary, then I share Anonymous' concern but your decision is ultimately your decision. I didn't read the post as a criticism of any sort, only as concern.

Glad to read that you've sought help of some sort and are making efforts to initiate change and progress in this area. As Anonymous shared, consequences could be dire if acted out with someone who would pursue action (either criminal or civil) or damage could affect one of your supporter relationships.

Sheesh, obviously I am editing trying to tag Bedbug... oh well.

 

[Bedbug]

I really don't want to hijack this thread, but I would like to make a couple of comments in response to @Solara.

Firstly, my disorder and symptoms are documented. My doctor has diagnosed me with PTSD with dissociative symptoms and delayed expression. This diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by a psychiatrist.

Secondly, I discussed both of my violent outbursts at length on here and after receiving a lot of advice I spoke to my doctor about getting a referral to a therapist. After a lot more discussion, which included seeking advice from another psychiatrist, we decided not to proceed with that.

While I am not attempting to minimise what happened or make excuses for my behaviour, I would like to emphasise that my decision not to go into therapy was carefully thought through and endorsed by my doctor. If he had not agreed, or thought me incapable of making that decision for myself, I would be in therapy. Without question.

Finally, I am not "dead set" against therapy. I have stated numerous times that it is not my preferred method of treatment and I do not consider it to be essential to healing my trauma (I am not speaking for anyone else), but that I would consider it if l, or anyone else directly involved in my care, thought that it was necessary.

Incidentally, I have undertaken anger management training, which I alluded to in my original post, but didn't consider that to be "therapy" as it was not geared towards PTSD sufferers exclusively.

I contributed to this thread to offer an opinion, as my PTSD has a similar cause to that of the original poster. It is a personal viewpoint and by no means a definitive or correct answer, either for me or anyone else. I hope the original poster can take something from it, while also considering all the other viewpoints offered.

I do appreciate the concern that is being shown towards me here, and would happily discuss my situation elsewhere, but please can we let this thread get back on topic?

 

[Tinyflame]

@jess_trustno1 , I think there are a lot of good suggestions here. Like @arfie I don't find the ptsd neighborhood safe to travel alone. But I also consider supplemental activities 'therapeutic' if they are beneficial to you personally. Even self-care, eating, exercise, nature, anger management (as bedbug said above) , spirituality, yoga etc- anything that benefits your well-being and reduces anxiety or hyperarousal, can help.

I am at a loss other than sliding scale for therapies, or perhaps at a University or through rape or domestic abuse counselling. Also supplementary (free) 12-step groups if applicable, for example AlAnon, Depression groups etc. If they are good groups there will be support.

I agree as @Bedbug said that 'details' proper may not always have to be disclosed, from what I recall seeing with a trauma program (that was free but not offered here) that it was actually very possible without it.

I am scared of therapy and cannot afford it. Cannot envision connecting to a T without much time. I agree with what @Abstract said.

I am also loathe to continue to disclose to a friend, considering what I have read and considered in terms of it being too much for them. Family (I have kind of one person) is also not an option.

But, keep going and do the best you can each day. You never know what options will unfold. :hug:

 

[Tinyflame]

Oh, not to hiijack but this reminds me and maybe can be of use to Jess as well as per reading/ self-management and study, does anyone know of anyway to copy a PDF document to a hard copy in any other way than just printing it off one's own computer? It is long, uses much ink. If it were a book one could bring it to a photocopying place (much cheaper). I realize there probably isn't (a way), but I'm not that familiar with computers overall. I don't have a kindle or iphone.

Just wondering if you @jess_trustno1 , or others, find it more helpful to be able to 'see' (on paper) info and manipulate it (ie hightlighters, etc), than just reading? I can't seem to retain very much reading or hearing, I either have to write it down or keep reading (repeat it), or group parts together etc.

Thanks!

 

[Bedbug]

You could email it to yourself or save it to a memory stick and then access it from another computer (workplace, college, library, friend) and print it there, but it is still going to involve a cost. You can also convert PDF files to Word files (search online for tools to do this) so that you can adjust the formatting to reduce the amount of ink that will be required to print them.

Reading is difficult for me sometimes too, but I haven't noticed any difference between reading on a screen and reading on paper. I tend to re-read things many times and then re-write (typing on my iPod or my tablet) what I read in my own words to help me understand and remember it. I would have consumed many trees if I had been writing on paper!

 

[Tinyflame]

Thank you @Bedbug! Oh I know there would always be cost of course. I thought of shrinking the print- I can read small print very well. But through e-mailing or conversion to word, possibly(?), I could manipulate it and cut out what I don't need, also even 'run it together' and indicate paragraph breaks myself, even. Good idea! :)

Oh yes it might be just me, I recall the same in school/ University although I (technically) had very good marks. Perhaps a hands-on/ kinesthetic approach? I think however also my brain has fallen apart as it were. I just can't retain stuff off the screen. :( Putting things on my phone immediately (before I forget) and repeating them helps.

Or perhaps the info is just too emotion laden/ hits too close to home.

Thank you! :hug:

 

[Tinyflame]

And strange, my mind responds to 'colors', a lot. Always did but seems even more pronounced now.

Editted to add, I guess I mean my brain works this way (which I wonder if it is a consequence of compartmentalization or exhaustion?), for example, I would underline or star 'parctical application' in blue, self- hatred reduction in green, anti-SI in red, or whatever. Or, I would use a 'hopeful' color or happy color (connotation) for whatever and go to it when I need it.

Yes I know it sounds bizarre.:confused: ;)

 

[Bedbug]

Oops, now I'm guilty if hijacking the thread again. Sorry, @jess_trustno1. Stepping away now...

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

I don't think I could do it. For me my symptoms did nothing but get worse until I got help. And even with help it's been a slow process. There are places that can help if you have financial limitations. But I think therapy and the help it brings is very beneficial.

 

[Tinyflame]

Yes Jess sorry from me also. :sorry:

Even if you are unable to pursue conventional therapy right now if that is what you'd hope to, working on your own on these things until then can only help. :hug: