Research Ptsd Major Project

[Scaredy Cat]

Hi James, I am a PTSD sufferer, from a non-service background. I would certainly be interested in trying to bring awareness of what is a complex subject to the greater population. But, like the other sufferers, I find it hard to travel most of the time. I am currently in the North of England, but have been known to visit friends in Devon. (If I can make it out of the door!!!) I am new to this forum, so I am not sure if there is a way of you contacting me privately?
Kind regards,
Scaredy Cat!!

 

[soulofLC]

I am a photographer/artist who has PTSD. I have thought of doing work about it and bringing it "out of the closet" but right now, I am still struggling to get my symptoms under control (if that is possible!). I applaud your interest in this serious subject, however, like the others, I feel the need for some privacy. If I am in control of the project, I think I would be more likely to participate! I was just reading an article on PTSD and this caught my eye, and may help you understand the problem you may face. I cannot speak to the medical jargon, but the underlined phrase is right on with my experience...just to give you an idea of where we are coming from.

"In PTSD, the normal checks and balances on amygdala activation have been impaired, so that the restraining influence on the amygdala of the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC, especially the anterior cingulate gyrus and orbitofrontal cortex) is severely disrupted (2,3). Disinhibition of the amygdala produces a vicious spiral of recurrent fear conditioning, in which ambiguous stimuli are more likely to be appraised as threatening..."

Online page Source: National Center for PTSD, US Dept of Veterans Affairs, page name: Pharmacological Treatment of Acute Stress Reactions: A Neurobiological Systems Approach (sorry, could not post link, as I am new member).

<Edited for mixed font style. By Amethist>

 

[Meadowsweet]

Hi, I feel quite passionate about raising awareness of PTSD because of the mistreatment caused through ignorance. I would need to know more about it and would need to consider if it was me or PTSD that was being exposed. Im in the midlands UK.

 

[PTSDtheBlackHole]

I would be interested if my identity was protected. PTSD has affected every aspect of my life. Early childhood trauma, Catholic religion, marriage, work, intimacy, 25 years of surviving difficult marriage leading to divorce, bankruptcy, maintaining a career and raising 4 children. PTSD was always there and dealt with each day. That is why I refer to PtSD as the black hole. It always has a hold on you and sometimes during those PTSD episodes you get stretched or drawn into that hole. You always have to fight to be present in the day to be in the here and now.

 

[cdinwv]

Hi James: I think it is commendable for you to want to raise awareness for PTSD. I personally would like to assist and contribute to the cause. I have found that PTSD resources are not readily available to civilians of trauma with PTSD especially in my rural area of West Virginia.

It can be also be very triggering for a PTSD survivor to talk and share their stories of abuse, recovery, healing and symptoms. I have been a local advocate in West Virginia for many years when I am able to get mobile and to speak out against PTSD, child abuse, and to encourage child abuse survivors to seek help, therapy and truth within. I am a survivor trying to make the most quality of life that I can for me and others around me. I would be very interesting in telecommuting information to you that may help you in compiling your documentary.

Good luck on a difficult project. I am sure there are other survivors like me who will use their hardships, misfortunes and survival to help others. Even though, sharing may trigger PTSD symptoms, it can be very liberating and helpful to others to know that we are not alone and help a person in their own recovery. It is a personal choice for each survivor.

 

[JamesAllen]

Thank you all for your support and advice, im pleased to say that my project is taking form and purpose and could not have done so with out the advise and bravery of a few people, please feel free to continue to post if you have advise or opinions or would like to become involved.

Thank you all

 

[PTSDtheBlackHole]

Writing was the only way to express the trauma. I could not get words out to verbalize the pain. If my therapist did not allow me to write---I would have been much worse off. I really don't want to think where I would be without the writing. But as that PTSD episode becomes less severe so has the writing dropped off. I know it is there though when needed. Again I can't express enough how important the walks through nature has been. It is true (for me) that reconnecting to my body actually happened -- it seemed like "years before or earlier" I never existed---but today I am finding out I do and learning more about myself.

Music MP3 with headphones & hiking & writing---yes even as a nondrinker --- Finding out what liquor I liked was definitely happening. so liquor was a help and luckily I am not an alcoholic. (but I rarely drank before so that says something) Keeping busy essentially was my plan to NOT address the trauma. I worked 2 full time jobs for 7 years. 40 hours Mon-Fri and 12 hours Sat & Sun (which as a nurse was considered Full Time with full time medical/dental/vision benefits) and I was raising (trying to) 4 children and married to an alcoholic/drug abuser. I just never could understand why we never had money---he was spending it all on drugs and alcohol. but my trauma also goes way back to childhood.

 

[Emilie]

I am quite interested in your project but I live in the northeastern US. I might however be interested in video blogging anything you'd want to put in(maybe). I do however have a chronic form of PTSD.

I grew up in a small town where I was ostracized for putting my brother in jail, and called a liar and made fun of for being sexually abused by family members and other women, including my mother. People don't realize how complex the inner workings of a situation like that can be, and write things off with ignorance and dismissal. People ask, "why didn't you say it sooner, did you like being abused?" So wanting my message out runs pretty deep with me, because it kills me so deeply inside that they would rather side with the perpetrators (because it easier) than bare the burden and pain I experience. Even family members as well(my aunt is actually the one that asked the above question). I wish more people understood the depth of PTSD suffering. Much suffering could be prevented.

I also am an artist and I have done some works of art, some of which are online and some are here at home with me. I recently have started to delve into painting my trauma. I would love some publicity to be able to sell more of them.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

James,

I admire you for wanting to undergo such a project. I hope it enables others to see the "real" side of PTSD while decreasing such stigmatization.

As for those who feel you are being intrusive, please understand that it's due to the stigma associated with having PTSD as well as possible safety issues for those still in proximity of their perpetrators. So no, you are not intruding here... (Anthony wouldn't have even created this sub-forum if researchers et al were unwelcome on the forum.)

 

[Barberian]

My 2 copper.

While I do applaud your project, I have serious reservations about you being on this site. Having you here on the forum is a bit like having an unwelcome person in my house. This is one of my "safe places" I go to and let it all hang out. I post personal stuff I expect only others with PTSD who understand the condition to read (I know this is a bit nieve of me, anybody can make up a story and log on the forum).

My suggestion - Go to your local veterans medical center. Get permission from the admin to set up a table near the entrance with a sign stating your goals, objectives, qualifications. Wait for someone who is interested in your project to aproach you. Don't come here into our house and start asking about our lives.

This is of course only my opinion. I am new here, and have no authroity what so ever on this site to affect or enforce policy.

(/rant off)

 

[PTSD sufferer]

Hi James,

So glad to hear you are progressing. I do hope you let us know when you complete and the BBC picks it up?

 

[JamesAllen]

Thanks again for your comments of support and you constructive criticism. The project is entering a new phase and i hope to complete by early June. I will be sure to provide a link for the work when i do complete.

My reason for working is to fight stigma and assumption and i have strived to do this, even if it helps one person, or changes one persons mind then it will be worth while. I would like to point out i respect this forum and its users and as an outsider i never go anywhere but straight to this discussion board, it is not my business to snoop into other peoples business, and read personal disclosures. I will only read, discuss, listen to people's experiences if they approach me directly. I respect everyone.

Thanks again.