Is It Good Not To Respond To The Ptsd?

[cdg]

I am looking for the best coping strategies. This means to not agree, disagree, or reason with it. The anxiety part is getting to me. I was doing great for about 2 weeks. Acupuncture and this seemed to help a lot. Then 3 days ago I had a bad day and I have been dealing with acute stress ever since. Having crying spells. What is the best way to learn how to react properly to a triggered sensation?

 

[cdg]

I posted this in the wrong forum. Can someone help? Thanks.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I will report it. In the future if you notice something wrong please click the report button and write in an explanation so the Mods know what needs fixing.

 

[Meadowsweet]

I'm not sure that I understand what you mean. But something I have found difficult, but helpful, is to acknowledge what I'm feeling but not the thoughts that go with it.

So I might say to myself 'I am feeling anxious or frightened at the moment', rather than saying to myself 'I'm frightened that someone might break into my house'. It seems that as soon as the thought is there, it will escalate into images and more thoughts, even if I try to tell myself it's daft.

I'm not sure if this is what you mean - but if it is, then it does seem to help me sometimes. But other times I'm too caught in the fear and imaginings to have the sense to be able to stop myself.

 

[cdg]

Wow. That is great advice. Hadn't thought of that. Its not responding to the thought bully that they teach you in cognitive behavioral therapy. I seem to be responding to the feeling and imagine that the future is bleak. How can I defeat that outlook?

 

[Meadowsweet]

With practise. So with this exercise, you would name the feeling, like "I am feeling__________", and it seems to help in not forming the thoughts. I guess it keeps the focus on the feeling that is actually being experienced, rather than projecting it onto the future.

 

[franciemarnie]

I find if I am willing to feel the feeling, which wasn't something I was willing to do for 45 years, it will go away or certainly decrease in intensity before it peters out. What I resist, persists.

Mindful meditation has been hugely helpful.

 

[heidi]

With practise. So with this exercise, you would name the feeling, like "I am feeling__________", and it seems to help in not forming the thoughts. I guess it keeps the focus on the feeling that is actually being experienced, rather than projecting it onto the future.

I discovered this worked for me a few times too.. to acknowledge the feelings without the thoughts. I was going to post about it once but was uncertain how to explain it.