Sufferer Grad student w/ptsd

[Darsha5000]

Hi everyone,

I just decided to make an account here. The last couple of days I have been having lots of eye blinking. I also had the thought today, "wouldn't it be nice to be able to be a part of a PTSD support group, then id be able to talk to people who are going through the same things Im going through."

I mention I'm in grad school because that is all I am doing right now, Just going to class and trying to stay active. I recently moved from California to Georgia to go to get my MA in psychology. Im pursuing my dreams, which is really amazing, but it has been tough living in a new state, on my own.

I'm been doing some really solid work in therapy the last couple of years, and I have definitely been making progress.

One of the hardest things for me though is the depression. Often times I will finish class and will feel very overwhelmed. I will rush to my car without talking to anyone and drive home and jump into my bed. Its tough though because I tend to get down on myself for not being as "active" and "productive" as I could or "should" be. I've been going well on lightening up on myself, I think, but its still a challenge.

Trying to keep everything in balance. Am I going to easy on myself? Am I being to hard on myself? These are questions I wrestle with at times.

 

[littleoc]

I'm so glad you found this forum, then :) Welcome!

As for if you're being too hard on yourself: You can encourage yourself without being insulting to yourself. It depends on your thoughts, but most importantly, be nice to yourself, even when using tough love. :)

 

[EveHarrington]

Welcome!

 

[jmad]

Welcome! You've come to the right place.

I am also in graduate school in California, so I stayed where you left ; ). PTSD is something few understand,and we are surrounded by a culture that is not equipped to understand it, to place it in the order of our interior lives that it claims to represent. I hope that this group and other support avenues help you through it.

As for the depression and not "doing anything", I can relate. So many times I have retreated, withdrawn myself, and isolated my life - that was most of my youth - so much I missed out on, so much I suffered from because I didn't acknowledge the pain I was caring. I don't have an answer to that, other than I know. I know.