How Do You Cope?

[Tosh]

I have a recent diagnosis, but believe I have been living with PTSD and GAD for quite some time prior. I was just wondering how you cope with your symptoms and triggers? Sometimes I have trouble after I am triggered getting back. After I am triggered once it makes me more sensitive to additional triggers while I am in the "high anxiety" state and then that leads to panic and depression. I talked with my therapist about methods for lowering my anxiety/fear: Here were some of her suggestions:

Listen to relaxation cd's - waves, nature sounds, rain
Take a hot bath
Cuddle up with your significant other
Breathing

I have read online that acupuncture is very effective in treating PTSD. Has anyone tried it? How do you cope with PTSD? What helps you when you know your symptoms are out of control?

 

[Tosh]

Some more things came to mind...
Journal - write down how your feeling
Read about PTSD
When a nightmare wakes you up - turn on relaxation music
Exercise - go for a run
Call therapist
Light a candle

 

[ronin47]

I think you've got an excellent list already, longer than mine usually is. Something that has proven very helpful for me is "Raisin Meditation." It sounds silly but the idea is to sit and focus your attention on something very small; contemplate the veins on a leaf, the fibers of a carpet, the bumps and dips in a painted wall, things like that. I first heard about it from a woman who called it Raisin Meditation because she would have participants sit in a circle and look at a raisin and examine the little pieces of sugar, the folds, the shape, etc. When I first heard of that my reaction was "That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard." However and I went through therapy and we explored different coping mechanisms, I realized the whole premise behind it was just to concentrate on something little. It forces you to push out all other intrusive or overwhelming thoughts and distractions.

I haven't tried acupuncture before. Somehow the idea of being turned into a human pincushion doesn't really appeal to me, though I've heard it's been helpful for others. I'd be to nervous.

Excercise is one of the best tools in my opinion. It is a miracle cure.

 

[ForestOfPain]

Something that really helps me is reading. Getting lost in a book is the best way for me to escape from my own reality. Also, meditation. If you just sit in a quiet room and count your breaths in and out for a minute it should bring you back. Hope this helped.

 

[hazen]

I would say that acupuncture has been very helpful for me. In fact my last session was the best one yet... the acupuncturist has to stay in the room with me during my sessions or I get triggered. Getting triggered while laying on a table with needles in you is un-fun.

However my last session was great because I got into a deeper state of relaxation and calm than I can normally ever get on my own. The acupuncturist took me thru a guided meditation and it was quite effective for me.

So anyway I recommend acupuncture! But to each their own. I would also recommend exercise, and believe it or not, chiropractic care. In my opinion chiropractic is essentially Western medicine's answer to acupuncture. They too have treatments for PTSD.

 

[Lionheart]

My therapist suggested that I take a walk when I get triggered as it gives physical release to the built up adrenaline. It also allows me time to think about what has triggered me and what, if anything, I want to do about it. Writing in a journal can help too, (but it doesn't give the same physical release). I have CFS so running is out of the question for me at this point, but a nice walk can really help me to find the balance I need to return to the situation in more control of myself and with a better understanding of how I want to face things.

 

[Tosh]

Thank you for your reply hazen! I may try acupunture when I am in a low spot to see if it will help me snap out of it. I'm so glad it was effective for you, maybe it will work for me too. That being said I think I may check out what services are available in my area. That way I am ready when I need the help.

Thanks Lionheart 777 Exercis is something I have yet to incorporate into my program. I think my depression gets in the way sometimes and I just want to sink into a hole and hide there until I feel better. I am going to try and push myself to get back into the groove of exercise. I used to love to work out, but when my PTSD kicked in, I found it hard to do. I'm gonna give it a try.