Sufferer Looking for advice after symptoms deteriorated

[Kitkat84]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this group. In fact I have never been part of an online support group/ forum, so I am a little nervous!
I was diagnosed with PTSD about 5 years ago and unfortunately have experienced a deterioration in the last few months. I am looking for your shared experiences and thoughts on how you manage your difficulties and whether the bad patches can be avoided, or intensity of symptoms reduced, what works for you and what doesn’t. I am a bit shy , so I find it hard to open up fully and it took a lot of effort to register here. I am a mother of 2 teenagers and unfortunately my recent deterioration has affected my boys. I will hopefully in time share what events in August 2024 led to my downward spiral. I am on the way up but the road is extremely bumpy. My nightmares with flash backs are so bad that I wake up in terror , crying and takes me about 30 minutes to realise I am not in the trauma situation.
I would appreciate any advice you have. Thank you in advance.

 

[Riley Jones]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this group. In fact I have never been part of an online support group/ forum, so I am a little nervous!
I was diagnosed with PTSD about 5 years ago and unfortunately have experienced a deterioration in the last few months. I am looking for your shared experiences and thoughts on how you manage your difficulties and whether the bad patches can be avoided, or intensity of symptoms reduced, what works for you and what doesn’t. I am a bit shy , so I find it hard to open up fully and it took a lot of effort to register here. I am a mother of 2 teenagers and unfortunately my recent deterioration has affected my boys. I will hopefully in time share what events in August 2024 led to my downward spiral. I am on the way up but the road is extremely bumpy. My nightmares with flash backs are so bad that I wake up in terror , crying and takes me about 30 minutes to realise I am not in the trauma situation.
I would appreciate any advice you have. Thank you in advance.

Hello Kitkat84,

Welcome to our community. It's truly brave of you to take this step, and I want you to know that you're not alone here. Many of us understand the courage it takes to share your story and what you're going through. This is a safe space where others can relate to your experiences and offer support and understanding.

PTSD can be incredibly challenging, and I'm sorry to hear about the tough time you've been experiencing. It's natural to have periods of ups and downs, and reaching out here is a positive step toward finding stability and support. Sharing experiences can be helpful, as you're likely to connect with others who are walking or have walked similar paths.

Managing symptoms and reducing their intensity often involves a few strategies. Some community members find that grounding techniques, mindfulness practices, and maintaining a regular routine can help to regain a sense of control. For some, engaging in creative outlets or physical activities provides a little relief from the stress. Everyone's journey is unique, so it might take some exploration to discover what works best for you.

Communicating openly with your teenagers, as much as you are comfortable with, can also be beneficial. It might help them understand that your reactions are not because of them and encourage a healing and supportive environment at home.

If you haven't already, I urge you to consider reaching out to a professional if things become too overwhelming—therapy can be a critical part of the healing process. And remember, here at myptsd.com, you are welcome to explore specific forums that address various aspects of PTSD and CPTSD.

Thank you for trusting us with your story, and when you're ready, we are here to listen to anything you'd like to share. You're finding your way through, and that's something to admire.

Take care and be gentle with yourself.

Warm regards,
Riley

 

[Sideways]

Welcome to the forum!

Ptsd is typically an episodic condition, so it’s normal to experience ups and downs in symptoms. Emptying out your stress cup with daily self-care strategies can be a helpful way to get through the downs, as well as using the coping tools that helped you through the last time.

If you don’t already, reaching out to a therapist for additional support might also be helpful:)

 

[Kitkat84]

Hello Kitkat84,

Welcome to our community. It's truly brave of you to take this step, and I want you to know that you're not alone here. Many of us understand the courage it takes to share your story and what you're going through. This is a safe space where others can relate to your experiences and offer support and understanding.

PTSD can be incredibly challenging, and I'm sorry to hear about the tough time you've been experiencing. It's natural to have periods of ups and downs, and reaching out here is a positive step toward finding stability and support. Sharing experiences can be helpful, as you're likely to connect with others who are walking or have walked similar paths.

Managing symptoms and reducing their intensity often involves a few strategies. Some community members find that grounding techniques, mindfulness practices, and maintaining a regular routine can help to regain a sense of control. For some, engaging in creative outlets or physical activities provides a little relief from the stress. Everyone's journey is unique, so it might take some exploration to discover what works best for you.

Communicating openly with your teenagers, as much as you are comfortable with, can also be beneficial. It might help them understand that your reactions are not because of them and encourage a healing and supportive environment at home.

If you haven't already, I urge you to consider reaching out to a professional if things become too overwhelming—therapy can be a critical part of the healing process. And remember, here at myptsd.com, you are welcome to explore specific forums that address various aspects of PTSD and CPTSD.

Thank you for trusting us with your story, and when you're ready, we are here to listen to anything you'd like to share. You're finding your way through, and that's something to admire.

Take care and be gentle with yourself.

Warm regards,
Riley

Thank you so much Riley.
Mindfulness and exercise are very beneficial for me and I agree keeping up my routine is key to maintain my functioning. Unfortunately my children have had recent flare up and more challenging mental health issues too.
I have been wondering if I should share my diagnosis with them and I don’t want to burden them but your point is very valid, it might help them realize that my reduced functioning is NOT their fault and this might actually help them. They are 13 and 15 so they are probably going to understand it now. I have waited years and always tried to keep it together but I think it’s obvious that I am not the same person I was a year ago and they are likely reacting to my deterioration. I feel it’s the right time to start the conversation about my challenges and PTSD diagnosis.

 

[osiris]

Hey Kitkat84, welcome to the site.

My experience is slightly different as with hindsight and proper diagnosis I realise I’ve been dealing with PTSD for my kids whole lives, but I’m at the point now where I can try to be more open with them. They are slightly older than yours and in the last year or so I have started being honest just about going to therapy.

I’m not sure if/when we’ll get to more detail with that as there’s a lot of my history I’m not sure I want to share with them, but I just wanted to let you know that I get where you’re coming from. I think the more open I have been with my kids has been better for them and it’s starting to break some of the generational trauma in my family.

I hope you find comfort in the support of this site - so many people here have helped me.

 

[Susan Jane]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this group. In fact I have never been part of an online support group/ forum, so I am a little nervous!
I was diagnosed with PTSD about 5 years ago and unfortunately have experienced a deterioration in the last few months. I am looking for your shared experiences and thoughts on how you manage your difficulties and whether the bad patches can be avoided, or intensity of symptoms reduced, what works for you and what doesn’t. I am a bit shy , so I find it hard to open up fully and it took a lot of effort to register here. I am a mother of 2 teenagers and unfortunately my recent deterioration has affected my boys. I will hopefully in time share what events in August 2024 led to my downward spiral. I am on the way up but the road is extremely bumpy. My nightmares with flash backs are so bad that I wake up in terror , crying and takes me about 30 minutes to realise I am not in the trauma situation.
I would appreciate any advice you have. Thank you in advance.

I can say that I understand, I had a downward spiral when my son turned 20. I had always managed to hide my symptoms. To be honest I didn’t know I had it, I was diagnosed with depression/general anxiety before my son turned 20. Anyway, I had to tell him something and I was terrified to do it. First, I was scared he would get it, and my panic drove me to ask questions about it. Long story short, now I am mostly honest with him. I am in a rather bad episode at the moment, and was able to tell him I wasn’t doing so well. I spoke to a therapist about how to tell him. I am reading or listening to a book called complex PTSD by Pete Walker. I understand the terror and I hope you find comfort in knowing you are not alone. Susan

 

[Kitkat84]

Hey Kitkat84, welcome to the site.

My experience is slightly different as with hindsight and proper diagnosis I realise I’ve been dealing with PTSD for my kids whole lives, but I’m at the point now where I can try to be more open with them. They are slightly older than yours and in the last year or so I have started being honest just about going to therapy.

I’m not sure if/when we’ll get to more detail with that as there’s a lot of my history I’m not sure I want to share with them, but I just wanted to let you know that I get where you’re coming from. I think the more open I have been with my kids has been better for them and it’s starting to break some of the generational trauma in my family.

I hope you find comfort in the support of this site - so many people here have helped me.

Hi Osiris
Thank you for sharing your experience. I think being more open with the kids is a good idea. Will probably will help the kids understand me and not feel in any way responsible for my struggles. inter generational trauma is I’m my family too. Unfortunately my son has recently witnessed my father’s verbal abuse towards me. I have condemned his behaviour and no longer speak with my father but I continue to have a strong relationship with my mother.

 

[PamelaS]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this group. In fact I have never been part of an online support group/ forum, so I am a little nervous!
I was diagnosed with PTSD about 5 years ago and unfortunately have experienced a deterioration in the last few months. I am looking for your shared experiences and thoughts on how you manage your difficulties and whether the bad patches can be avoided, or intensity of symptoms reduced, what works for you and what doesn’t. I am a bit shy , so I find it hard to open up fully and it took a lot of effort to register here. I am a mother of 2 teenagers and unfortunately my recent deterioration has affected my boys. I will hopefully in time share what events in August 2024 led to my downward spiral. I am on the way up but the road is extremely bumpy. My nightmares with flash backs are so bad that I wake up in terror , crying and takes me about 30 minutes to realise I am not in the trauma situation.
I would appreciate any advice you have. Thank you in advance.

Welcome Kitkat,
My son has had night terrors. There are medication’s now that can help with that. At a recent stay in a facility they started him on one and for the first time in 23 years he got a good night’s sleep. Hope you can find that help as well. Glad you reached out and you’re finding connection and feedback. Take good care of yourself and be gentle on yourself.

 

[PamelaS]

I can say that I understand, I had a downward spiral when my son turned 20. I had always managed to hide my symptoms. To be honest I didn’t know I had it, I was diagnosed with depression/general anxiety before my son turned 20. Anyway, I had to tell him something and I was terrified to do it. First, I was scared he would get it, and my panic drove me to ask questions about it. Long story short, now I am mostly honest with him. I am in a rather bad episode at the moment, and was able to tell him I wasn’t doing so well. I spoke to a therapist about how to tell him. I am reading or listening to a book called complex PTSD by Pete Walker. I understand the terror and I hope you find comfort in knowing you are not alone. Susan

I am reading another book that has been very helpful The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk. Very in depth and scientifically based information about what happens inside our bodies and mines when trauma occurs and when triggers occur. It helps me to understand how to deal with it and have to care for my body and mind. Wish you well. Thanks for connecting.