Sufferer Desperately Seeking Solution To Upcoming (& Unstoppable) Triggers

[erbear]

Hi all,
I've never really spoken about my PTSD, but I'm desperate so here it goes. A large tree fell on my house during Hurricane Irene, burying me and my family under our demolished house, everything in the attic, and the tree itself. Remarkably, we escaped with minor injuries (broken nose, severe concussions, cuts), but the trauma of watching the house fall on me, thinking I was dead, and being buried and immobile haunts me daily.

I shake and loose sensibility when its very windy out (the hurricane winds brought the tree down), and last year during Sandy I could not control my emotions. I slept in the basement for days and couldn't eat, crying a lot, you know the deal. Well hurricane season is coming again, and I cannot go through the torture again of fearing a tree will fall. Hurricanes are predicted to get more severe, and barring moving to Kentucky,

I do not know of any solution of how to deal with the fear of hurricanes/trees falling. During Sandy I wished more than anything I could be sedated for a couple days and wake up when it's over, and I realize that's not realistic. Does anyone have similar experiences and/or found solutions for how to deal with inevitable triggers?
~B

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Are you in therapy right now? I think that exposure therapy and/or cognitive behavior therapy could help you.

 

[Rosalia]

I think that one good EMDR session might seriously help you. Perhaps you should find a trauma therapist that specializes in it.

 

[WillThereBeCake]

Welcome ErBear! I had a similar experience when a tree fell on my house during a hurricane about 15 years ago. Mine was a really bizarre situation because I had left the room I was hunkered down in to check on a noise and when I tried to return, my cat wouldn't let me. I know, sounds crazy, but he threw a complete hissy fit and I settled down with him in the hallway and the tree crashed right into the space I had been sleeping in. I couldn't sleep for weeks immediately following it. Now, for me, that incident was classified as PTS (Post Traumatic Stress) because the worst of the symptoms subsided within a few months. However, I have the same reactions you do to storms, compounded from a childhood of living in a high volume tornado zone. My actually PTSD was caused by other situations, but my therapist agrees that the tree tragedy does play a part.

As the other have said, I highly recommend a qualified therapist to help. As for the triggers, I have tried to empower myself by focusing on the tangibles of the storms. I go a little overboard on storm prep, but hey, it makes me feel like I have some level of control. I have lived in four homes since that storm, and have had the trees cleared away from all the homes we've bought since. I have all the gadgets (generators, etc.) and actually write out storm plans/preps for each day leading up to a hurricane depending on the strength. If I hit three days out, and it still is ranking at a Cat3 or higher, I am prepared to book it. I won't list some of the others things I do or have purchased, because it is almost embarrassing, but feeling protected or being able to escape is something I'm sure you can relate to.

I do hope that you will find some relief from what is a very tangible fear. Welcome again to the board.

 

[KP the nut]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

If you are not seeing a therapist, I would advise going to see one. They will help you develop techniques which will help.

I think that one good EMDR session might seriously help you

EMDR is not something to go into lightly. It was of great benefit to me, in fact it helped give me back my life. However, I doubt one session would sort the issue.

 

[Rosalia]

EMDR is not something to go into lightly.

You're right, I'm sorry. It's not something to go into lightly, but I have complex PTSD and in one session an awful memory that would haunt me could completely lose its power. If you don't have other trauma in your past, then one session might seriously help you. You should speak to a trauma therapist to find out.

 

[JustBe]

Welcome to the forum erbear!:)

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Welcome to the forum. :)

 

[intothelight]

Welcome to the PTSD Forum! :)