Feeling Lost

[ConfusedandLost]

This is the first time I have reached out for help ....

I was diagnosed with PTSD about a year ago and currently in therapy but I am really struggling with accepting the fact I have PTSD ;-(

I am also in recovery from drug addiction and have been abstinent for nearly 18 months and are on no medication! I fully accept that I am a recovering drug addict on a daily basis but feel lost with PTSD!

Can anyone help or suggest how you can accept PTSD and the symptoms ...

Thanks

 

[Ti Vu]

First and foremost, that's a very brave move and sometimes the hardest. But I'm glad that you are reaching out. And you couldn't have chosen a better place:) and happy almost 18 months on being med/drug free:)

It's definitely difficult to come to terms with, but, it happened. Whatever "it" may be. It happened to me, it happened to you, it happened to thousands of others on this forum. And it's affected us all. But we still survive. That's why we're here. It takes time to heal, but we'll keep each other company along the way and help however we can:)

I'm sorry I can't be of any actual comfort, but I wish you nothing but the best. :)

 

[Deleted member 20280]

@ConfusedandLost firstly welcome to the forum. You will find lots of help here from both members snd articles alike.

I believe thay we can all reach an inner peace to a degree.

Although I am primarily upbeat most of the time, I like most still have my bad days.

It takes a lot if inner healing and processing / understanding to get to a state of acceptance that we were all traumatized in differing and similar ways.

Having a support network both at home and here in the forum will help.

Kindest regards and :hug:s

Laurie

 

[shimmerz]

@ConfusedandLost can you pinpoint what it is about having ptsd that is bothering you so? Do you doubt its relevance? Is it the media and how it portrays those with ptsd or is it a fear of what is to come? Is there anything you can think of that is throwing you off?

It sounds like you have done the really hard work in getting your addiction in order. That is huge! You sound very strong in character. I bet in retrospect you will find that in having identified this issue (PTSD) that it will empower you and improve your quality of life and understanding of yourself.

Love and Light,
Shimmerz

 

[GWhizz]

Welcome to the forum. Well done for reaching out. It is hard but a good 1st step. I find this site my 'go-to' lately in times of need and it really has not let me down. We all want to be here for you. Maybe you can clarify specific concerns? PTSD is difficult to accept but I am now happier that I know what I'm dealing with rather than just feeling plain crazy lol

 

[ConfusedandLost]

@ConfusedandLost can you pinpoint what it is about having ptsd that is bothering you so? Do you doubt its relevance? Is it the media and how it portrays those with ptsd or is it a fear of what is to come? Is there anything you can think of that is throwing you off?

I am really struggling with most of the symptoms ... Being emotionally numb I feel nothing :-( and also overall accepting that therapists are saying that I have PTSD ... I just thought it was my addiction.

I use the 12 steps for my addiction and now also going through prolonged imaginative exposure therapy and thinking 'do I really need this'

I have read many articles on PTSD and identify that I have most if not all common symptoms but just really struggling to come to terms with it ...

 

[Go Hungry]

It's a rough thing to accept. I know in my case I had trouble believing that I could have it, because there are so many other people out there which had stuff go on that made my life look like a cakewalk.. But it didn't matter, trauma is trauma, and the human body deals with it in similar ways no matter what it was.. So I just had to come to grips with the fact that I had an illness that I had been denying for a very long time. I don't know if this is what you're experiencing, but trust me.. You count among us.

:hug:

 

[ConfusedandLost]

@Go Hungry , Hi

Yes that is exactly it :):) And I do just need to come to terms with this ... I have only been on this site since last night but finding it great and really feeling the support :hug:

 

[shimmerz]

that made my life look like a cakewalk.. But it didn't matter, trauma is trauma,

Trauma is trauma. It is all equally valid. @Go Hungry that is so key.

finding it great and really feeling the support

and that is so what this journey is all about. Trauma is so isolating by nature. This can be a boot in the butt to get in there and interact and learn that we are not so different after all. We are the ones dealing - and that takes strength and courage in so many ways. @ConfusedandLost, you may well be surprised at the person you see looking back at you in the mirror one of these days. I am not happy about the things that happened to me, but I am VERY happy about the person I am becoming. :cool: