Military discipline to help ptsd?

[Awakening]

Been a long time since I've posted here, but I continue to suffer depression and anxiety.

I've spent 10 years in various therapies, in hospitals, different meds etc.

I'm starting to wonder if in fact these "treatments" are hindering rather than helping.

I feel by continually having to open up, it tends to reinforce my helplessness and victimhood.

Which leads me to military discipline or perhaps what I really need is self discipline.

When you are hospitalised the first thing they do is instill some routine, encourage you to wake/sleep at certain times, eat 3 meals a day, shower etc.

Therapy tends to make me stop doing all these things and yet I'm constantly told to take it easy, be kind to yourself etc.

I guess I'm wondering is it some tough self love I need?

 

[Deadman]

Are you ex-military? Not that it really matters.

I find that a strict minimum routine helps me.

My minimum:

• walk dog at least twice for 30 min
• other exercise at least 20 mins
• at least two proper meals for the day
• basic hygiene

Even if I accomplish nothing else I consider that a successful day.

 

[Justmehere]

When you are hospitalised the first thing they do is instill some routine, encourage you to wake/sleep at certain times, eat 3 meals a day, shower etc.

Therapy tends to make me stop doing all these things and yet I'm constantly told to take it easy, be kind to yourself etc.

Ideally, it's not either be disciplined or be kind to yourself, but both.

It strikes me that the kind and compassionate thing to do to oneself is to instill some routine and the discipline to have good self, which includes eating 3 meals a day and etc. That's why hospitals do that.

They are not opposites.

 

[Awakening]

No military background at all but for some reason the discipline of it has started to appeal to me.

It's not about being harsh with myself (something I used to do) but having some self respect and pride.

And I've noticed when hospitalised it's almost military like in having healthy routines.

However I'm also aware of lots of military suffering ptsd. Is that from the strict routine (stoic unable to express emotions) or from what they witness?

I'm even wondering if you can apply the idea of military discipline to therapy/showing emotions.

Are you ex-military? Not that it really matters.

I find that a strict minimum routine helps me.

My m...

No

 

[Awakening]

Ideally, it's not either be disciplined or be kind to yourself, but both.

It strikes...

I think you've just nailed it for me! There's my black and white thinking again.

Prior to going into therapy it was recognised that my perfectionist ways, lack of emotional expression and harsh inner critic lead me to depression.

I think I've gone too far the other way.

Thank you.

God I love this group.

 

[Deadman]

I've noticed when hospitalised it's almost military like in having healthy routines.

Thats the idea alright. And thats why I do it. Being disciplined about putting your basic needs first is being kind to yourself.

 

[Deleted member 541]

@Awakening Hey, it's been awhile..... The thing with being hospitalized is, they keep you on a schedule, to keep you active and to keep you doing things. It's like diversion. An idle mind isn't good, as it allows you to think too much, or over think, and we all know that people with PTSD, tend to overthink way too much.

So, I think what you might be looking for is a balance. Keeping busy, but not to the point of exhaustion, but enough to keep your mind focused on the task at hand. Then reward time, self soothing stuff that you enjoy...

 

[holdenmonty]

I see where you are coming from in relation to the military discipline, with how basic training was regimented and not doing them wasn't an option. That might be a good idea thinking of different self care things as not being optional but mandatory.

However I'm also aware of lots of military suffering PTSD. Is that from the strict routine (stoic unable to express emotions) or from what they witness?

I can't really speak on the military ptsd sufferers as a whole but for me it's more of what I guess you could say witnessed or experienced. Without getting to much off topic I would say it's more of being trained to go to war but not really trained to come home from war.

 

[Freedomfighter]

Been a long time since I've posted here, but I continue to suffer depression and anxiety.

I've spent 1...

Well, in the military people are trained to function as a whole, as a unit that is ready to go into combat. PTSD is combat of the mind, maybe somehow they think there could be a connection.

However, when left to my own devices I am not in need of military discipline at all. I am extremely disciplined, and always use my resources to the best of my abilities.

To make someone eat, drink, sleep at certain times a day rather seems like a prison sentence to me, which incidentally was used by an abusive ex, always eat at the same time.... blabla

I have totally different wake sleep cycles and I eat at totally unpredictable times too. It is an inner clock that I can then follow instead of being forced into a norm.

Boy, do I wish I could always do that, it is so liberating to be able to do that, without anyone else trying to get into my fricking life.