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How do you pull back when you feel ready to give up?

SeekingAfrica

Diamond Member
I am so beyond okay I no longer remember okay. I keep thinking I can't do worse, but as it turns out, you always CAN. There are always 10 crises at the same time and I have a handle of 2 or 3 at the same time. It's just never a good moment for this, but there is certainly a worse one. And having a hard time consistently for too long, I feel like it changed me. Like I wasn't okay before, but right now how I was feels like a breeze. Like I learned things I can do and improve, but I made so many other things worse that it doesn't matter. Like I have nothing left in me to be positive or have good attitude or to keep telling myself this will get better.
This will be a steep climb in any case, how do I even do this if I can't get more positive? I'm scared all the time, my chest feels like there is fire all the time, and I am just tired of having nothing to look forward to. If you have advice, any advice, please tell me because I'm losing grip to be honest.
 
Ok, @SeekingAfrica , this is going to sound a bit brutal, but I'm trying to help you. You have been in the same state for years, and rather than keep a single diary/thread, you consistently post and open multiple threads (I guess)... hoping in some way that this will change something...opening new threads will not help. And has never helped.

We've discussed medication ( I think), and you said you can't get any because of where you live, etc...alot of things you can't get because of where you live, so why don't you leave the country, get a job, save money to leave, get therapy, go to gym, get a hobby?? There are so many things you can do.
 
The first thing for me is am I covering the basics, eating, sleeping, outdoor exercise. Next, I look at my surroundings, am I keeping up on keeping my place clean and inviting to me? If it all seems overwhelming break it down to small tasks like doing the dishes or taking a shower. Meditation is helpful, google jack Kornfield for some good guided meditation. No one can fix the problems except for yourself. If you want to fix the problems you need to get into action. Each small achievement will make you feel better about yourself and your life. Good luck, I know you have been struggling for quite a while.
 
Well we disagree, big deal. It works for me. At a certain point we have to get off our behinds and make the most of our lives. Yes, we all got a bad hand. We can wallow in it or we can take steps to overcome it. We are our own worst enemies. We need to retrain our brains so we are not continuing endless cycles of counter productive thinking and behavior. The problem is inside of each of us and no one can reach in and fix that but ourselves. Therapy, medication, etc are all tools to get us there but ultimately we are the ones who hold the keys. Nothing is going to change by complaining, we need to get into action on our own recovery. It isn’t a generalization at all. Successful people face problems with a problem solving attitude. Other, I call them “Yes buts” always find a reason that they cannot do what they need to do.
 
@Lost in the Woods Who on earth is "we"??!!!
Sounds like you're only talking about yourself from YOUR point of view cause it's ONLY possible to speak for your own mind! And like I said it works for SOME people but not everyone's damn brain is wired like yours, these kind of words will get someone killed who wouldn't stand for themselves and I will not let that mistake happen again! I used to think you're a friendly person but don't trust your judgement anymore.

Still waiting for an answer to the first question, it's highly distressing.
 
Hey @SeekingAfrica, I'm sorry it's all so overwhelming

This bit jumped out at me...
how do I even do this if I can't get more positive? I'm scared all the time, my chest feels like there is fire all the time,
Being scared is ok. Like I know it's awful, but being scared isn't failing .I am personally absolutely terrified of any of the work I have to do to get myself out of the situation I'm currently in. I'm equally though, scared of living my life as I do forever too. They are both awful options, but going through recovery, as horrendous as it is, results in maybe something 'better' for me at the end. To stay where I am, nothing ever gets better. Does that feel safer, sure, but it's deeply painful too.

I can't picture what a better future looks like at the moment either, so I have to try and trust those around me that there is one. That's my OT, and my peer support here, and I grumble and protest and roll my eyes x100 but I try and believe (or at least a bit of me tries to) that people here over the other side of this path, who are now steadier and living a life they couldn't picture either, are telling me the truth. That nothing is forever, that things grow and move and change.

Reading people's recovery helps me, even if their difficulties and lives look different to mine. Engaging with my support even if I am absolutely adament I'm not going, if I can drag my backside there anyway it helps as well. Even if I just sit and talk about the weather. Kind words, gentle care, and a sense of being seen in this space go such a long way too. Sending a hug 🫂
 
so why don't you leave the country, get a job, save money to leave, get therapy, go to gym, get a hobby?? There are so many things you can do.
I think it is important here to acknowledge structural issues that prevent someone from "just leaving the country." It's not that easy. I am trying to move countries as well, and it isn't just a matter of picking up and moving -- there are financial matters, visas, etc. And as far as visa waiting times ... it takes a million years to get the paperwork together to even apply, and then the government will take its sweet, sweet time to process everything. It takes time, massive effort, massive perseverance and planning. It just isn't helpful to accuse someone of this. (Hope that I am not being too forward here, but I feel like these things need to be said by someone who truly understands the struggle).

@SeekingAfrica I understand the struggle and I think the first thing to acknowledge is that you consistently want change. That's the first step! And the rest will come. I think it's important to start to break things down, into the smallest of smallest steps, and then celebrate each step. What are some of the small things you can do? Eating a healthy meal? Sleeping just a little bit more/less as needed? No victory is too small to celebrate.
 
Oh boy. Really did not think this would spark the debate it has. I see both sides of the coin, and I suppose that as someone seeing only the threads I post that could be fair assesment, but that is rarely the full picture.

@Survivor3 I both understand what you are saying an I don't. Am I struggling for a long time? Yes, that is true. Just because I write a lot doesn't mean you have the full picture. As @RainbowSearchParty mentioned, moving isn't as simple as just picking up and leaving. For the record, I had done that, long time ago. I was doing better too, with therapy and life, and it wasn't easy but I was growing a lot. The pandemic happened and the war nearby, and it changed the economy. All those things triggered a trauma I hadn't dealt with and I spiraled. I tried coping but in the wrong ways I suppose. There were great moments and really bad ones, but I didn't understand what I didn't understand yet, so last year I had to come home having failed in my health and in every aspect. Was my life there better even in the worst moments? Yes. I am still trying to go back because it's home. But that takes time.
Also just because I seek advice don't presume I'm doing nothing. Yes, I was at doing nothing for few months at first, losing everything hit hard. But at least since February, I've been planning and tracking and trying to improve things every single week. I just can't afford help, or move at the moment and every single week is hard. So I am allowed to seek support sometimes. Does it change anything? Yes, and no.
I don't have enough support around me since I moved. And sometimes all I can do to give myself hope is talk to someone here or talk to chatGPT. It's not ideal, it's just where I'm at at the moment. Should I rely on others for hope? No, but again, right now I am just consistently taking action and still consistently behind. There is just a lot I'm sorting through, it's a brutal process and the little progress doesn't feel enough compared to the big picture. I'm sorry if this method of coping doesn't seem the best to you. It's the best I can do at this moment. It's all I can do. I've been avoiding the forum for few weeks exactly because I am concentrated on trying, Just trying is impossibly hard on good days sometimes. And on the bad... well, that was yesterday. I'm not saying I'm handling this the right way, but it's also not fair assesment that I'm not taking action. I am doing the best I can do and trying to do more every week. I just having nothing around that sustains me. Hobby sounds great, but I don't earn enough and at some point it felt selfish to leave time for hobby when I can't pay some bills. I know maybe it's a good idea, and I am trying to get back to it.
I swear I am listening to every word and I'm trying to change things. It doesn't happen in a week. In fact, as I said it's been months of trying to turn things around.

Actually I also agree with @parrotthepolly on this.
It's never just black and white. Also 'complaining' sometimes helps me see the bigger picture and find a solution. Second when I was first diagnozed with PTSD and anxiety my anxiety was so severe that I couldn't think or talk about problems until I took medication and suddenly I was capable to do so. And to be fair my problems at the time were a children's play compared to this. I am more capable now, hence why I haven't actually given up.
Also consider that sometimes nurturing works more that tough love. For me it always did anyway.

Thanks everyone. I'm doing the best I can I promise. Just this is a long journey. It takes time. I just needed a little hope and encouragement to keep going. Maybe that wasn't fair. I'm trying to be stronger. I kind of thought the point is that there are some spaces in life where you don't have to be strong so that you can be strong where you should be. I didn't mean this as trying to complain for no reason.
 
Tough love is not only an oxymoron, but I believe also a lie. Complaining is a good first step to change as it expresses and a knowledges dissatisfaction. Keep on keeping on.
 
@Lost in the Woods Who on earth is "we"??!!!
Sounds like you're only talking about yourself from YOUR point of view cause it's ONLY possible to speak for your own mind! And like I said it works for SOME people but not everyone's damn brain is wired like yours, these kind of words will get someone killed who wouldn't stand for themselves and I will not let that mistake happen again! I used to think you're a friendly person but don't trust your judgement anymore.

Still waiting for an answer to the first question, it's highly distressing.
I have better things to do than argue with you. We see it differently, big deal. My comments were about helping someone and I stand by them. Please have a great day.
 
on my own long and winding trail of tears, learning how to give up gracefulhas been a cornerstone to my recovery. in the early years, forcing solutions was SOP (standard operating procedure) and not often sustainably functional. the solutions i forced to escape the throwaway kid camps were not highly functional in my military service, much less collegiate happy hour. i had to give up quite allot of those survival tactics to sit comfortably in civilized company.

fast forward half a century and giving things up remains an integral part of moving forward. the tactics i used to survive the 2019 inheritance of 3 orphans are not going to guide a 12 year old through band camp. i don't feel like i can afford to stop giving things up now. there is growth to be accommodated.

side note
my personal favorite definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results.
some things are worth giving up.
 

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