Help After Relapse

[adrian_newbridge]

Sorry I haven't been on here for a while, I spent some time back in hospital after a relapse back in November. I need some advice here from fellow PTSD sufferers. My psychiatrist said to give up looking at things on the web to do with PTSD. I've missed being on here as I feel part of a community of people I can identify with and get help from. He also told me to give up the part time Psychology course I was doing. I've stopped that but don't know if that has made any difference. I'm now seeing a new psychologist but she hasn't had any training in PTSD, nor has my psychiatrist. I'm sure my relapse was made worse by the meds he prescribed me back in September, Lyrica or pregablin for anxiety, and side effects? hallucinations and depression. They got worse and I ended up seeing the devil outside on a horse, thats when they took me to hospital. I've stopped taking the meds and should I get by without insisting on PTSD trained people to help me. Sorry I've gone on a bit. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.:dontknow:

 

[Deleted member 541]

Hi Adrian,


Welcome back........I'm sorry that you have had such a rough time lately....Did the hospital stay help you at all??? Did they do a med change?? Or did you just stop taking them???? Are you feeling better now????

I know that when I went therapist shopping a few months ago, I specifically asked up front if they were PTSD trained. If not, I passed on them. I think it's crucial when finding a therapist, that they be trained in PTSD. It's important that they are fully knowledgeable, and can offer you much more than a normal therapist.

Working on your trauma head on willl help you the most, but you also need to learn coping skills, and relaxation skills first......

Hang in there.....

 

[patrick]

Definitely agree that a therapist with PTSD expertise is important. From what I've read by other people from England, your choices of who you can see might be limited. If that is the case for you, and you can't get access to a PTSD expert, I would tend to think that one with less knowledge in that area would be better than seeing nobody at all, unless you really don't feel like you can develop a therapeutic relationship. Good luck to you. Let us know how things are working out for you. I guess I can't agree with your shrink about staying away from places like this, but then I am pretty biased. I like the community here...a lot!

Pat

 

[Luthien]

This forum is meant to help with PTSD, but it is recommended that when your symptoms start to get worse you take a break. I think that is a healthy, moderate way to do it.

I think it requires a balance, and if you find the forum to be healthy, and helpful, do not give it up entirely, but take breaks as you need them. Psychologists. unfortunately do not always have the answers, and very often give generalized reponses to things. You do not have to follow their advice to a tea, if you doubt that it will be positive for you.

I hope you are feeling much better than you were, and that you find the advice you are looking for.

Take care

 

[Mercy]

Hi Adrian,
I agree with the last posts- a therapist that is experienced with ptsd is best.

Best of all would be to find one that is an expert. Perhaps your Military Medical people would be the best source for referals. I'm sure some of the English soldiers must be coming home with ptsd. Some of our ptsd symptoms will not make much sense to a therapist who is not trained to recognize them.

I hope you find the help you need from an experienced therapist who is compassionate and supportive.

 

[fin]

Hey Adrian...welcome back

I had stuff I had written just now until I realised that perhaps not such a good idea...

I am supposed to be starting this week with a new psychologist who has spent 2-3 months weekly assessing me. She isn't PTSD specialist so I know where you are coming from.
I have been misdiagnosed over the years and bounced around between health professionals... I am hoping this time will be ok.
I dont know if you are talking about private healthcare or NHS the problem is getting a choice on the NHS invariably there isnt one.

I want to say something else but am having focussing problems so I will have to come back sorry
fin

 

[adrian_newbridge]

Thanks everybody for replying, I've missed getting the support from people who know what they are talking about, as opposed to psychiatrists who don't seem to be able to get a sentence out without the word antidepressant in it. Hospital did me good, the psych who admitted me said some trauma based therapy would be best and came up with some really good ideas, such as seeing myself on TV and changing storylines etc, that gave me hope but then I never saw him again and ended up seeing two other psychiatrists who only recommended more meds and stronger ones. I get so screwed up taking antidepressants, the side effects out weigh the good they are supposed to do and the Lyrica just made me feel like I was falling over all the time. The first psych suggested I have a brain scan as hallucinations can be a symptom of a brain injury, now that made me think I was getting somewhere but his superiors said it was a waste of time as I wasn't showing any physical signs of brain injury. Anyway, I seem to be recovering from the relapse, I'm trying some over the counter calming meds and they seem to help a little.
THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT EVERYONE, it's good to be back.

 

[cragger65]

Adrian, I can relate on the meds topic - psychiatrists in general seem to believe they are the "answer" for some reason. The viewing yourself on Tv and changing the story lines sounds like a very interesting avenue of thought, I might give that a go myself.

I have a brain injury myself, and though I do have physical symptoms of that, I really wonder if that is the case for everyone with a head injury? I thought it depended on the area of the brain, but I could be wrong. Something to look at again? Don't know.

I'm glad some things have worked for you recently, here's to the best possible.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[the racha]

adrian-- i'm sorry that you are having such a difficult time. i agree with others here that having a therapist that has been trained or has experience with PTSD is important.

the therapeutic setting, at least for me, can be very triggering for many reasons. so it's important that your therapist know/understand that and still know how to work with you and help you.

the racha