Help, I Am Not Myself After A Fire!

[Ally83015]

Hi everyone, I just made my account cause I couldn't sleep and stumbled upon this website. 2 months ago I was in my apartment while my husband was out. My building had a fire. I was in bed as people started banging on my door. I got so scared I had no idea what was happening. The fire alarm was pulled and I started running around, I needed to get my phone and my 2 cats. To some people this may sound dumb but my cats are everything to me. I couldn't catch them so I desperately called for help. 2 people ran in and we caught them after the longest few minutes of my life. I ran outside and cried like a baby, because one minute im in bed relaxing, the next I'm thinking I'll lose my cats and everything else. We were relocated to a different apartment building after that. Since then there were 2 MORE fires in other buildings of these same apartments. And both those times I was home alone. And both those times I heard and saw about 15 fire trucks driving in through our entrance I just couldn't see where the fire was. Could be close or could be far. Each time, I chased around my cats while hearing the fire alarms go off. After I had my cats safe I would run outside to see where the fire was and both times it wasn't my building. I would come into my apartment and weep and shake for hours. I hear fire trucks in my head. I hear them for real about 2 times a day, we live on a busy street. Every time I hear it I run time the window praying it isn't driving into my apartment. At night I can't sleep. During the day I'm always so scared always and anxious. The word fire makes me feel sick and scared and I'm starting to feel like I'm crazy. Every day I feel like there will be a fire so I can't go out or my cats will die. I can't sleep normally I feel like I can't even have a normal life. What should I do I can't take this anymore.

 

[hodge]

Welcome, Ally. If I were you, I'd find a therapist to help with this.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

Welcome to the forums!
You would definitely benefit from theraphy from what I read.
What you went through was not a good experience and it obviously left a trace on you.
I hope this place helps in getting better again :hug:

 

[Ally83015]

Welcome, Ally. If I were you, I'd find a therapist to help with this.

Yeah I know I should, but even the thought of going to a therapist gets me kind of anxious.. I guess I never thought of myself as someone who would need therapy cause i grew up in a family where when you have a problem or you're scared you just suck it up and deal with it. but this isn't something I can just ignore or let go, even though I try.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

I understand that @Ally83015
My family has often been throwing stuff like "only dumb people get mentally ill" and similar at me a lot... Making it much harder

 

[Ally83015]

I understand that @Ally83015
My family has often been throwing stuff like "only dumb...

Yeah it's pretty much the same with mine sadly. And my husband would never understand..those 3 times, he wasn't there and so he doesn't get why I'm so upset about it. We got insurance money from it and a better apartment so to him that fire is like a good thing. He can't understand why I'm so jumpy now and why I'm scared he just tells me to calm down, I'm over reacting. But even if I am over reacting it's not something I can control, it's just always in my head. I know he wouldn't want me to go to therapy, he would think it's unnecessary or I'm just over reacting.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

Theraphy would definitely be helpful, and I hope you don't end up with PTSD :hug: So start theraphy ASAP

 

[Ally83015]

Theraphy would definitely be helpful, and I hope you don't end up with PTSD :hug: So start theraphy ASAP...

Thanks for your advice. Is ptsd for life? How would I know if i had it? ?

 

[Deleted member 28403]

There is a whole list of criteria, one of them being time... You need to display the symptoms for a longer period.

Only a psychiatrist can diagnose you, but DSM-IV and V criteria are a good guideline.

PTSD is for life, though some people believe it's curable, I am not in that group. It is treatable, and can be lived with though :)

 

[Kintsugi]

If this was recent and you are showing signs of post-traumatic stress, you need to get treatment ASAP. Getting treatment and the social support you need now could prevent you from developing post-traumatic stress disorder, which is chronic. Please see a specialist and try to find people who will be loving and supportive toward you. It is extremely important.

For my own bit of support, I want you to know that you are presently experiencing a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. You are not broken, and you can get better and embrace a life moving forward that is healthy and nurturing. You just need some tools (therapists etc) to help you get there.

 

[Ally83015]

There is a whole list of criteria, one of them being time... You need to display the symptoms for a long...

I talked to my husband about it, and he understands better now. I'm gonna go see my doctor and ask what he can recommend, which therapist to go to and stuff like that cause i have alot of questions

 

[Ally83015]

If this was recent and you are showing signs of post-traumatic stress, you need to get treatment ASA...

Thank you for your support. I know this is normal it Just doesn't feel like I'm normal for some reason. It kind of feels like I'm crazy...but yes I'll be seeing a therapist really soon, I'm pretty nervous!