Childhood PTSD or Trauma Effects - Growing Up

[anthony]

There's no way I'm sitting on my arse to get an extra few years sitting on my arse! So there!

Now that's a good quote for those of us with PTSD. Totally agree with that one...

 

[livelysue]

I hear ya piglet. My husband went to one session with the pshychiatrist and he would not go back because they did not specifically say he needed help. They told me he was using the woman he is with as a way to escape from everything that happened and that he would need help eventually whether he wanted to admit it or not.

I am learning through therapy that avoidance does not help because eventually you will end up worse off then if you had dealt with the issue right away. I have so many layers to remove that it is going to take some time to get rid of them all. I wish I had learned this when I was younger as there would not be so many layers and my husband and I would still be together.

 

[anthony]

I am learning through therapy that avoidance does not help because eventually you will end up worse off then if you had dealt with the issue right away.

Oh Sue... what can I say... bloody well done for actually knowing this now, as it is one of the most important steps to self recovery. Denial is the real killer, and you can standup and now be counted as most certainly not being in any sort of denial... and actually now proactive in your own self benefit and recovery. Bloody well done, and congratulations.

Piglet... can you get some of what Sue has please? :eek: :thumbs-up

 

[piglet]

I'm trying!! Just can't quite get there yet!

 

[anthony]

And you keep at it Piglet, because your doing very well under the circumstances you dealing with. I am really looking forward to you getting past some denial, and really getting things out of you. Its refreshing to see people get some form of relief and healing from being here... it really is.

 

[lrs]

As a kid, I was always the smallest boy in the class, but I had a big mouth, and was totally obnoxious. I was skinny, almost sickly. I had no ability to think or act appropriately, and acted out a lot. I might as well have drawn a bullseye on my forehead. I did get picked on, humiliated, and bullied.
In addition, I did not like to get into fights. The thought of punching someone in the face was repulsive. I had a few fights, won most, except for a couple that I never had a chance to begin with.
My freshman and sophomore year in high school, I had a growth spurt, finally got up to 5'10.
Then I ran cross country, lifted weights, and participated in some athletics the rest of high school. I pretty much sucked at baseball, eyesight is poor. I was even worse at football, running speed is just average, and I was still too small, though I could hit hard for my size.
One thing became apparent. As I worked out and participated in sports, I recognized I do have one physical gift, strength.
After high school I worked in construction. One of the main jobs in my construction job was setting forms for foundations. It was not unusual that I would swing a sledge hammer up to 12 hrs a day. And I ate like a government mule. After a year of this, I was seriously ripped.
Then I started college, worked on a ranch. I continued working my way through college, mostly doing manual labor. ( When President Bush states illegal immigrants are doing jobs Americans won't do, that is a total crock. )
People tell me I am built like a linebacker. Those that know me have said I look strong, but that I am actually stronger than I look. I am 5'10, weigh in at 275, carry a little extra baggage, and wear a 3xl shirt.
When I was 41, I was in drug rehab. They had a workout facility, with a universal weight machine. On the military press, it went to 140lbs. I could military press this, WITH ONE HAND, as high as it would go, and then lift that side of the machine off the ground.
I am a terminally nice guy though. That is what everyone says.
On an intellectual basis, I really do not have to worry too much about being able to defend myself.
Still, there is a part of me that really feels inferior and awkward if and when I do have to confront someone. I have never overcome that feeling. I think it is a combination of childhood experiences, human nature, and lack of training and experience.
In addition, we have some serious problems in the U.S. We are being overun be illegal aliens, there are bad gangs of all types everywhere.
We also have a very tense political climate. To be honest, if history is any indication, I foresee tough times ahead.
I have been thinking about martial arts for the past few months.
I took the plunge this week, went to my first class on Monday. It is a style called "Haganah". I had a great time, and I am excited about doing this.
I have seen that quite a number of people here participate in martial arts. I feel good about what I am doing.
What are your thoughts?

 

[Mina]

......reflective off how much trauma we can handle within our lives before our body says, "enough is enough, I'm shutting down and you can have this PTSD stuff."

Yes, I think this is true, at least for some people (like me). My counselor/therapist (I never know which is the proper term) talked about this very thing.

It's only recently I've realized how strangely I grew up...and that from the perspective of most people, it was traumatic. I never thought about it like that, being traumatic - in part because it was my reality, and in part because I wasn't being physically abused or anything obvious. As a young child, I was 'just' asked to deal with a lot of things many adults would struggle with, and I didn't have a choice. I dealt. In fact, I've even prided myself on being able to handle unusual things well.

But when I got bitten by the dog...it was like the straw that broke the camel's back. When I was diagnosed, I said, "Seriously? PTSD? Isn't that what guys who went through horrible things in Vietnam get? I mean, c'mon, I was only bitten by a dog." I believed her, but it wasn't until I thought about it like Anthony said above that it started to really make sense.