Okay So How Do You Habit/behavior Bust A Ptsd Remission?

[The Albatross]

I think I'm finding myself in new territory. I'm experiencing a remission. My check in's have more to do with life than my mental/emotional landscape. Not sure how to resist picking this thing apart and/or sabotage. I am fully engaging in my day to day life... managing thoughts and feelings to do what needs doing. The behavioral/habitual thing is to open the next can of worms. How can I/what do I do... to just increase the duration in the cycle?

How do I use this remission to my advantage? How do I live a generally beneficial life day to day and loosen the grip of management on a potential remission (let go of the handle bars while riding the bicycle)? Advice welcome.

 

[illusionist]

You start to trust your freedom, the longer it goes on, like anything else really...the more you do it the more you believe it. I remember stressing about not stressing...wondering if I was going to feel as good the next day, week, month. I now know the signs, basically times of heavy stress and accept that I may fall back but because of experience I know I can get myself back up again and have months/ years of remission. Because of this I don't have so much fear of it.......it is part of me, so I accept it. Losing some of that fear has certainly helped me enjoy my periods of relative freedom. I think we always have to use a certain amount of management....it has become a normal way of life for me now, I don't have to stop and think so much...almost instinctive.

 

[Nam]

Leave. No, seriously. When in remission, live your life. Not through a computer or through a screen. You'll have this weird moment (or at least I did) of not wanting to write anything for coming across as too chipper. Or to talk about my family because my excitement about doing things in the future might just be really annoying. I know that others probably don't agree with me on this because good posts are awesome too. When feeling good, you should surround yourself with other people that are feeling good. If you feel like you want to help some people for a bit back on the forum, then come back and do so, but not at the expense of your happiness. If it starts to bring you down, take a very loooooong break.

Try hard not to second guess your feelings too much. It can be odd. I remember giggling for the first time after my diagnosis. It was weird and giddy. Or dancing. Seems really silly, but don't stop because the former you wouldn't do it!

You will always hold onto a little bit of caution. You know how fragile the psyche can be. In some ways, this insight will help you judge people, trust in people, and be able to care for people in the appropriate way. This is all good. It's just a little bit of goodness that came out of all that badness.

Be warned that if the symptoms return, you will be very angry. I was surprised at my anger. I threw things, I shouted angrily to fate. "My life is fine now! Why?!!" But the struggles seem to not last long. You've already paved the way before so traversing is easier.

I've just begun to understand why I came back. I had dealt with the physical abuse and even the sexual abuse. But the abandonment...I had not addressed. So I'm working through that and am already starting to go back up. I'm starting to feel better already. Just be aware that there are many layers to abuse. The emotional ones may not seem as obvious, but they cut the deepest so we tend to keep them for last...for when we are strong and ready.

Hugs!

 

[Upside Down Eagle]

Be warned that if the symptoms return, you will be very angry. I was surprised at my anger. I threw things, I shouted angrily to fate. "My life is fine now! Why?!!" But the struggles seem to not last long. You've already paved the way before so traversing is easier.

I am very thankful that you wrote this :)
As I am in a bit of a dip where my symptoms are returning. Needed to be reminded of it.

(let go of the handle bars while riding the bicycle)

That is an awesome way of putting it... I don't have any advice for you, but I have to agree with the ones above!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I think that this is an extremely healthy post! Why? Because you are keeping yourself grounded in the fact that this is a remission and not a sign that you are "cured". Maybe you'll have a very long remission that goes to the end of your life! That would be pretty awesome, right? But given that this disorder is prone to resurgences in symptoms, I think it is good to think of it as a remission. If you know that symptoms could spike again, you're much more likely to be accepting of a spike rather than beat yourself up because you are a failure as you thought your PTSD was cured. (I think you know what I'm talking about as you've been here awhile, too!)

 

[The Albatross]

Hmm. My life includes check ins as part of my recovery... though they have become rather life oriented rather than retro or introspective with regard to PTSD. I could cut myself off from the forum, but would not want to do so if it meant losing contact with my by phone or email support system.

AA has a book about how to live while sober... too bad for us it's a dive right in approach, unless someone out there has a book they'd recommend.. Perhaps though it is time to limit log ins and times, and the areas I participate in. Sort of a challenge/planned approach to get myself some confidence and experience relying on myself to set my head in the mornings instead of a regular check in.

Thank you for the responses all.

 

[digger]

How do I live a generally beneficial life day to day and loosen the grip of management on a potential remission (let go of the handle bars while riding the bicycle)?

One hand at a time, so yeah, this...

Perhaps though it is time to limit log ins and times, and the areas I participate in. Sort of a challenge/planned approach to get myself some confidence and experience relying on myself to set my head in the mornings instead of a regular check in.

 

[Tinyflame]

I would think keep your balance in your life, & like the bike have fun. It's ok to fall off once in a while too. :)

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I am experiencing a remission of my anxiety and dread when I drive right now, and I am so happy to be like my old self before anxiety and dread. Thank you for this thread because it is very helpful in reminding me that it is more about managing symptoms all of the time, which you do so often.

Lots of practice and self discipline will forge new confidence and better habits in time which I think you are well on your way. You work very hard on your recovery Alby. Pat yourself on the back for doing so well under so much pressure. Rather like the oyster making a pearl out of the irritating grain of sand.

 

[shell]

It's great for others to be able to see there is light at the end, when I was going through hell I could see no point to it all. I like the way you put it, I too have been in a really good place of late, and have naturally moved away, while dropping in from time to time although it's less often and only for a few minutes.

Get away from the screen and live life, the only moment is the present, right here, right now, you can't change tommorrow because it hasn't happened, and all the worrying won't change it. Maybe you don't need to let go of the handle bars, because you need direction but rather take take your hand off the brakes so fear doesn't hold you back. Enjoy it you didn't get here without hard work..