Sufferer Newbie, Smiling, Diagnosed Ptsd Due To A House Fire.

[Bliss55]

Hello Forum,


I am currently in treatment for PTSD stemming from a house fire on Dec23,2010. The fire destroyed my home,and fortunately my family and I escaped with our lives. With the up and comming Holiday season, I joined this forum for some support and insight.

 

[AS1975]

I have PTSD from a hotel fire and then a fire at home (as well as a couple of other incidents). Fire is an absolute bastard to deal with. It is so very elemental, it is all around us and the smell of smoke is so very hard to avoid where I am now (Tasmania) during winter. I'll get all OCD at night, I cannot sleep, I dream of fire, I go around and check only god knows how many times a night.

Did you have smoke alarms fitted? One major problem I had was that we didn't in the Hotel and I was woken by accident, and that sincerely sucks. I don't imagine it would be particularly pleasant dealing with a house fire at Christmas, but I'm hoping you have made some progress?

Welcome to the forum:)

PS One thing I've found is that a lot of people don't understand fire and exactly how scary it can be, especially when dreaming about it, it can be evil in its purest form, hell isn't depicted the way it is for no reason.

 

[intothelight]

Welcome to the PTSD Forum!:)

I hope you find the information and support from this site helpful as you work on healing.

 

[Bliss55]

Thank you both for the warm welcome. AS1975, I am so sorry to hear about your truma. I too suffer from sleep disturbances. I have been working on this in therapy( Cbt,guided imagery for the days when I am triggered). Unfortunately, I find that when I am severly triggered and hyper-vigilant there is nothing that truly works. I am up and on edge for days. After I would have an episode I would feel like I got hit by a bus- aches, headache and horrible brain fog. We had smoke alarms that sounded after the fire had spread in the walls. I agree with your interpertation of hell- perhaps, Dante depicted it correctly. I struggled with OCD too. I would constantly check the outlets in the house before I left to make sure nothing was plugged in( I have pets) and constantly worried for their safety. Sometimes, I would actually get in the car drive away and come back(embarrassing ) Interesting that you addressed the smell os smoke- it sends a feeling of panic down my back. I truly appreciate your honesty, it has brought me comfort.

 

[KP the nut]

Hi Bliss and welcome to the forum.

I hope the information and support here will help you on your journey.

 

[Bliss55]

Thank you Kp

 

[Whitneys story]

Hi Bliss, Welcome to the forum! There is something here for everyone. Take your time and learn your way around as it can seem overwhelming. On the home page are some great articles. Whitney

 

[Bliss55]

Hello Whitney, thank you for the warm welcome. I will definitely read the articles on the home page. :)

 

[Jenny0329]

Hi,
welcome to the forum, I also had a house fire and had to live in a hotel for 3 months(I don't have PTSD from this but can get upset about the event)

 

[Bliss55]

Hello Jenny,
I am sorry to hear about your experience. Thank you for the hello. My family and I were displaced for a year, and the PTSD was at its worst when we moved back in. I have an anniversary approaching very soon.

 

[Jenny0329]

Anniversaries can be hard, something happened on my Birthday so I had to change it so my day isn't as bad. Why don't you keep occupied on the day so It doesn't seem as bad.

 

[Bliss55]

Ugh! Sorry to hear about your birthday. I am hoping the distraction of the holiday season will be enough to get me through. If this experience has brought me anything, it has forced me to look at other aspects of my life- both positive and negative. Perhaps, that's what a good therapist does :) forces us to view our past hurts, future goals and daily perceptions. Thank you for your suggestion- I think I will change up what I would have been doing. I hope your future birthdays- and all days are filled with happiness.