Sufferer Has My Ptsd Returned

[jacko.uk]

Hi, I'm new to this site but glad I found it.

I was diagnosed with ptsd 2 years ago, after being a victim off a violent knife/attack /mugging in broad daylight at an atm machine with my 13 yr old daughter witnessing it all. The men was caught and sentenced to 2 and 6 years. I was holding it together until the actual trial which went to court 4 months after the attack, watching the cctv footage brought it all back.

I spent 6 months off work barely left the house and became a virtual recluse. I got my life back on track to a extent but recently all my old symptoms are back . I'm terrified to leave the house again I've sunk into a deep depression, nightmares are back reliving it over and over in my head. I've not been able to go to work for 2 weeks as the moment I leave the house it feels like my hearts going to burst through fear.

My gp was very understanding but I have not had to see him since my last diagnosis 2 years ago. One of the men has just been released from prison 3 weeks ago. Is it possible to get PTSD all over again as I thought once I got over it before it wouldn't return.

 

[KP the nut]

Hi Jacko and welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately, PTSD is with us forever. It sounds as if you were managing the symptoms and regained your life. Although not a professional I'd guess that one of the men being released from prison has triggered your symptoms again. Please go and see your GP and ask to be referred to a therapist and discuss meds with him/her. I'm in the UK and had an amazing NHS therapist, so they are out there.

You have had this under control before and you can do it again. There is great help, advice and support here. You are not alone.

 

[madmax]

Don't let anyone trivialize your actions or feelings

 

[DMerish]

Welcome to the forum, Jacko - You'll find a lot of good resources and support here.

I've had PTSD for 20+ years. The events that caused it were not as horrific as experiences that others have had. My symptoms bombarded me a few years after the initial event. With therapy, medication(s) and learning mindfull meditation I've learned how to "manage" my symptoms to a good degree. My symptoms go into (what I call) "remission" for long periods - years. However, when the remembrance of something related to my trauma or a new trauma occurs my symptoms come back in full force.

As KP mentioned, the standard medical opinion is that PTSD is with us forever. I don't know if that's true. I'm not a medical professional. The opinion seems questionable to me - I'm guessing that there are a lot more people who have/had have PTSD at some point that don't come forward after they've learned how to "manage" - That leaves me eternally hopeful that the opinion of it being "forever" is untrue. Nevertheless, as I said, I've had it for 20+ years . . . It's a cyclic thing.

It sounds like it might be time for you to return to therapy and/or medication. I suggest you see your GP and begin (again) there.

 

[intothelight]

Welcome to MyPTSD forum! :)

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[jcat]

Glad to see you found this site.
Yeop.... As the others have said, PTSD is pretty much life long. I've had it over 25 years myself. Certainly go back into therapy. For myself, group therapy helped tremendously. Xanex can help with the panic attacks but be very very careful with benzos. They're very addictive and a good doc won't let you be on them long.

Symptoms will return and for years to come. You can probably expect to be in and out of therapy for years. The good news is that usually gets further and further apart and the symptoms become less severe over the years. At least that's the way it's been for me.
I'd tend to agree with dmesh. I feel that PTSD isn't.... Hmmmmm.....I dunno. I'm a surviver now and not on medication anymore. But offering hope, some good advise and a lot of understanding to people on the site is a kind of therapy I guess.

I would really suggest looking for a group therapy situation. There you can find a couple friends to call on if you start to backslide. And they can call you as well. The better you develope coping skills and use them the less severe a backslide will be. If you have the opportunity to use those skills to help someone else it helps you maintain and can even prevent a set back.