Sufferer Living with PTSD & looking for services & coping mechanisms

[StevensFan]

Hi all—

I’m trying to do all I can with all resources in order to help with trauma.

When I was 15 my father died. It wasn’t a beautiful hospital passing, it was me and my younger sister, with only me to attempt to revive, while keeping my sister from seeing. Prior, we spent a year getting him detoxed from overdoses of carbon dioxide weekly, while watching him die.

Well unfortunately this left an imprint of his dying face in between my eyes and anything I’m looking at—it’s the only way I can describe.

I’m and working on locating services but these services are months out—and I really want to learn more coping mechanisms for the byproducts of PTSD like anxiety anger sadness and irrational guilt (blaming myself for not being able to save him.

Might not be the best introduction but hello all. Thank you!

 

[Sideways]

Welcome to the forum - I’m sorry for your loss.

 

[StevensFan]

Welcome to the forum - I’m sorry for your loss.

Thank you for the welcome! I’m so excited for o have found this forum.

 

[rondd]

I am sorry that you are experiencing PTSD. Are you seeing a therapist and do you have a support system. When the mind is faced with a disturbance such as the imprint that you described, it doesn't want to let it go. I have some traumatic experiences that I am dealing with. These are some of the strategies that I do to help me to manage these disturbances I hope they help.
1. Stay aware of your thoughts, pictures in your mind, and self talk. When these disturbances occur, you will only notice them. You do not engage you simply let them be. They will go away on their own. Every time you engage, it energizes them. They then become more frequent. Our brain likes to problem solve every issue that bothers us. But there are some things that just can't be solved. As a result, we spend the majority of our time reliving these issues. (rumination) You have to fully accept what is happening, and then let it go.
2. Mediation - whenever I start getting overwhelmed with these issues, I go to a quiet place and meditate. I focus on my breathing. In do a deep inhale and a deep exhale several times for about 5 minutes. When your mind wanders, just notice it only and gently bring your attention back to your breathing. This will help you to relax and lesson your disturbances. This will take time for you to receive the full benefits. There are lots of resources on the internet.
3. Heavy duty exercise to the point that you sweat. It could be running, aerobics, weight lifting, etc. It has to be intense. The brain releases more dopamine which can give you more positive feelings. When the disturbances occur, notice them and refocus on the exercise. Thirty minutes should do the job.
4. I love myself by treating myself well. My self-talk is positive. I think about things that make me feel better. Here are some examples:
"There is that picture in my mind again, I am going to let it be. If I leave it alone, it will go away on it's own." I am going manage these issues and they are not going to control me." I am not a victim and I am going to get through this." "I am a wonderful person and I like "who I am.
5. Journaling - This helps to prevent the thoughts from looping in your mind and it gives you some distance.
6. These disturbances are like bullies and they want to take you over. You can't reason with them because you they are illogical. It is similar to trying to reason with an unreasonable person.

By utilizing these strategies, you are creating new pathways in your brain that are positive. Instead of the disturbances controlling you, these strategies will help you manage them. Will I ever be rid of this crap? The answer is "yes." The most important thing is to not entertain any disturbance. We may not always be able to control our thought, but we do have a choice to not interact with them.
Let me know if this helps. I know your go to get through it!

 

[StillPen]

Welcome. This forum can be a great resource for healthy distraction and peer support until your professional help gets lined up. The social threads are especially helpful when your symptoms are spiking.

 

[StevensFan]

I am sorry that you are experiencing PTSD. Are you seeing a therapist and do you have a support system. When the mind is faced with a disturbance such as the imprint that you described, it doesn't want to let it go. I have some traumatic experiences that I am dealing with. These are some of the strategies that I do to help me to manage these disturbances I hope they help.
1. Stay aware of your thoughts, pictures in your mind, and self talk. When these disturbances occur, you will only notice them. You do not engage you simply let them be. They will go away on their own. Every time you engage, it energizes them. They then become more frequent. Our brain likes to problem solve every issue that bothers us. But there are some things that just can't be solved. As a result, we spend the majority of our time reliving these issues. (rumination) You have to fully accept what is happening, and then let it go.
2. Mediation - whenever I start getting overwhelmed with these issues, I go to a quiet place and meditate. I focus on my breathing. In do a deep inhale and a deep exhale several times for about 5 minutes. When your mind wanders, just notice it only and gently bring your attention back to your breathing. This will help you to relax and lesson your disturbances. This will take time for you to receive the full benefits. There are lots of resources on the internet.
3. Heavy duty exercise to the point that you sweat. It could be running, aerobics, weight lifting, etc. It has to be intense. The brain releases more dopamine which can give you more positive feelings. When the disturbances occur, notice them and refocus on the exercise. Thirty minutes should do the job.
4. I love myself by treating myself well. My self-talk is positive. I think about things that make me feel better. Here are some examples:
"There is that picture in my mind again, I am going to let it be. If I leave it alone, it will go away on it's own." I am going manage these issues and they are not going to control me." I am not a victim and I am going to get through this." "I am a wonderful person and I like "who I am.
5. Journaling - This helps to prevent the thoughts from looping in your mind and it gives you some distance.
6. These disturbances are like bullies and they want to take you over. You can't reason with them because you they are illogical. It is similar to trying to reason with an unreasonable person.

By utilizing these strategies, you are creating new pathways in your brain that are positive. Instead of the disturbances controlling you, these strategies will help you manage them. Will I ever be rid of this crap? The answer is "yes." The most important thing is to not entertain any disturbance. We may not always be able to control our thought, but we do have a choice to not interact with them.
Let me know if this helps. I know your go to get through it!

Thank you very much. Most of that I am doing with the exception of therapy which I am working on actively. Also, I just started journaling too. I’ve been working with meditation for quite awhile and finally had success about a week ago for the first time—quite exciting. I truly appreciate the information and care