Daily Jump Count

[drgnfl2078]

So today I jumped out of my skin 3 times when co-workers tap me on the shoulder at work. One of which I yelled an obsenity. I have a lot of stress going on at work right now and I'm so frustrated because I used to deal so well with stress and now I'm like stress crippled. Felt like I drove home white nuckled and now that I am safe to talk about it and okay to cry I can't. There are times I wonder if I actually have PTSD...then days like today happen where I'm so jumpy I make others jumpy by proxy. Then I can't focus...feel like I can't do things that should be simple....Thankfully others have stepped in to help and see its not as simple as it should be....but I still feel like I should have found an answer by now. Then I just get more and more frustrated at myself...I try to change gears and work on a different project (I know that prevents frustration...walking away from problems after you get stuck) but just feeling so stressed and incapible right now. What are you suppose to do when you get overstressed?

 

[Ian Vp]

Hey drgnfl, I can relate to being jumpy and the frustration with the physical aspects of PTSD. I am far from being an expert but I know from being told myself not to think " I should". Having said that I still think it a lot I just dont say it. Basically there are things that you are aware of that you may not be able to do that you used to be capable of doing and it may be that way for a while but we all put pressure on ourselves by comparing what we are capable of now to what we percieve we were capable of pre PTSD. I too tend to move onto another task if I get bogged down becasue I just cant nut it out and I need to keep busy doing something. In answer to your question of what to do when you get over stressed - I do something physical like push ups to get my body working hard to catch up to where my heart rate and head are. I find it grounds me to something here and now. I am starting to use some breathing techniques to slow down my heart rate and thoughts. Feeling complete loss of control over your body and mind is upsetting but if you read enough stories on this forum you will realise that people do work their way through PTSD and move on with life. Hope this helps.

 

[broken_one]

Drgnfl - oh man, I can SO relate. I knocked over my drink one day this week when someone startled me at work. I even have bells hanging from my doorknob in an effort to keep from being startled. My office is actually a closed (with window), so the only place to put my desk is to have my back to the door - ACK! corworkers know I'm jumpy (though they have no idea why). Some are thoughtful and knock before the come in, but when I CAN concentrate on work, I rarely hear someone come in and I just go through the ceiling. It's really kinda embarrassing.

My T has me doing some tapping therapy. Tap each index finger alternately. That is supposed to be calming. I often take my knitting to work and knit during lunch which is calming.

Best of luck to you.
Broken

 

[dgmstocks]

I have jumpiness too but my doctor gave me a medication that they are using with the veterans, Tenex. It is a blood pressure med. I'm on a low dose. It has helped a lot but not a cure. My PTSD is from being a survivor of gun fire so any sudden noises make me jump. I would jump at everything even the noise from the coffee maker. I now don't jump that much unless someone taps me on my shoulder or comes to my side and I didn't hear them. I don't think there is anything out there to help with it. I could never have my back to the door just thinking about it makes me anxious. The worse part is I hate this time of year 4th of July. This year I went to the mountains and I slept great with no fireworks or gunfire. I knit too. Very calming for me keeps me focus then on my anxious feelings.