Sufferer Diagnosed Complex Ptsd

[KatJ]

Hello, I was diagnosed with complex PTSD two years ago during marriage counseling.

I am now divorced after 13 years with an abusive husband. I've been working through this abuse and what I suffered growing up in an alcoholic family (father drank).

Fortunately, the counselor I was working with shared an office with a psychologist that uses EMDR. I started EMDR with the psychologist while my counselor was in training.

It has been a rough road but I am in a much more peaceful and safe place now.

 

[Slynn]

Hi KatJ, Glad to hear things are going better for you! My partner is highly suspected of having complex PTSD, so it is good to hear that things like EMDR help!

Slynn

 

[KP the nut]

Hi Kat and welcome to the forum.

EMDR also helped me.

 

[LizardViolet]

Hi KatJ, welcome. Congratulations for making some changes in your life and moving in a positive direction.

 

[Lucycat]

Hi Kat,

Welcome to the forum. I too was diagnosed with complex PTSD and was so lucky my CPN is trained in EMDR. For me it really has been a life saver!

Regards
Lucy x

 

[KatJ]

I've been very blessed to find the counselor and psychologist that I did. This was our third attempt at "marriage counseling." When my (ex)husband fired our counselor, he started with someone else and I continued with the current. He was the one who told me I was with an abusive husband - I didn't know it as I'd grown up in an abusive family with an alcoholic father and didn't know anything different.

It has been a long, hard road and I'm still in therapy and still using EMDR. I left my husband almost two years ago and have been divorced for almost a year.

I don't know if everyone can "recover" from PTSD but I know my life is so incredible now compared to before. The work is hard - the hardest thing I've ever done and just when things seemed better I regressed and had to deal with that disappointment. My counselor stuck with me and I've stuck with EMDR and working on my issues. Part of it has been finding away through the emotions and part of it has been changing the way I think and avoiding triggers (ex-husband).

My primary care physician has also been supportive and helpful, prescribing the meds I need (anti-depressant and anti-anxiety). Even as a nurse, I struggled with the stigma of taking "psych" meds, but after noticing the difference between how I feel, I know I need them. I would never expect someone with diabetes to just tough it out and get off the drugs, so that is how I approach these meds now.

For anyone struggling - keep working. If that means finding a better counselor or physician please do. It can make a world of difference.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Welcome to the forum. :)