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Sufferer Recent loss of mother, and newly ptsd after bank robbery

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Abbysmom06$

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Came across this forum while researching PTSD and hoping it helps me to have a support system who really understands the symptoms. I was recently diagnosed by my Dr and therapist after I pretty much completely had a break down about 6 weeks ago. The previous 12 months had been tough ones but I never saw this coming. In February 2017 I was at work as a loan officer in a small community bank. It was just me and one other employee in the branch when a man came in obviously disguised and jumped up on the counter and pulled a gun out and pointed it to the tellers head. As my mind tried to quickly come to grips with what was happening, I went to press the alarm button at my desk. The robber saw me and turned around and pointed the gun at me and started screaming at me to get up from my desk. I complied and in that moment thought wow I screwed up! He is angry now and going to kill us both. I thought of my kids and immediately had immense regret for trying to sound the alarm. Obviously the robber did not shoot us (although the gun was loaded). Instead he took the money from the register and left.
I was struggling with this event when 3 weeks later on my birthday I received a text from an acquaintance that my mother had 12-24 hours to live. My mother was ill with COPD and while our relationship was somewhat strained toward the end for the majority of my life we were extremely close. I had just spoken to her a week before this text and knew she was sick but had no idea it was that dire. No one in my family communicated anything to me. Because of the robbery I put off seeing my mom who was several hours away, but if I had known her illness was grave I would have been there. My father finally left a message that it was too late and she would probably not make it through the night. She died the next day. I tried to reach out to my only sister who hadn't spoken to me in years for a reason unknown to me. Sounds like bull but I tried and tried with her and got no answer. I was able to finally message her on FB. She refused to give me any information other than there would be no service for my mother. I had to go online and search obituaries to find out when her service would be. My sister lashed out at me that she did not want me there, that I better not be there, and promptly blocked me on FB. I did attend my moms service but it was a surreal experience that left me with no closure. Anyway, to sum up my rambling a couple of months ago my life seemed to unravel. I lost my job at the bank, had to take a job I despise for less money, and was constantly having sever panic attacks and bouts of serious depression. My doc has me on an antidepressant and an antipsychotic because I started experiencing dissociation and paranoia. Nothing has really helped yet. I am currently on a leave of absence from my job. I'm hoping and praying this gets better as my whole life seems to be falling apart because of it. Too "scared" to leave the house. Anyway sorry for the long post but I'm hoping you guys have some insight you can share with me that helps me get my life back. Thanks in advance for listening!
 
Welcome to the forum @Abbysmom06$ !

Sorry you went through two stressful situations, one after the other. I can't even imagine how terrifying the bank robbery at gun point would be. After that happened your stress cup was filled to the brim. And then you had to deal with your mother's illness and death. That's beyond difficult.

Have you read about the stress cup? It gives an explanation about having PTSD and adding bad stresses on top of it.

Are you seeing both a psychiatrist and a trauma specialist? I found there's a definite difference between a therapist and a trauma specialist who's a therapist. Though I've been helped by both, I've found that the trauma specialist helps more with coping strategies than a therapist without the training.

I can relate to not wanting to leave the house, though for different reasons related to my childhood abuse.
 
Hi and welcome.
I'm sorry about your robbery experience. That sounds horrendous.

Forgive me if I'm out of line, but I was just wondering if there's perhaps more stuff than the bank robbery? Trauma and rubbish experiences don't add, they multiply, and if you're not on great terms with your family there might be something there.

I've found a trauma diary really helpful in coping with the day-to-day and the unexpected stuff.

Welcome again. Sorry for what brought you here, but glad you found us.
 
Hi and welcome.
I'm sorry about your robbery experience. That sounds horrendous.

Forgive me if I'm out of line, but I was just wondering if there's perhaps more stuff than the bank robbery? Trauma and rubbish experiences don't add, they multiply, and if you're not on great terms with your family there might be something there.

I've found a trauma diary really helpful in coping with the day-to-day and the unexpected stuff.

Welcome again. Sorry for what brought you here, but glad you found us.
Thank you for your comment. The robbery was definetly the beginning for me, however the death of my mother and problems with family I believed exacerbated my condition. Along with that, I ended up losing my job at the bank. It has been a series of bad events that really came together and devastated me psychologically. A diary is a great idea. I have attempted that but I struggle so much with organizing my own thoughts lately that tying my shoe seems to trigger anxiety for me right now. That's the most frustrating factor to me! I am usually a person who prides myself on being very organized and methodical and now I can't remember what someone told me two seconds ago! Does anyone know if and when this gets better??
 
It can get better. My biggest advice would be to have patience with yourself right now. Also. My trauma therapist taught me grounding right away. It’s when you turn your focus to the external world by focusing on what you can experience with your senses- colors you can see in the room, what you can hear, how your clothes feel on your body, if there is a taste in your mouth or a smell in the air.

I am sorry you went through the things you went through.
 
It can get better. My biggest advice would be to have patience with yourself right now. Also. My trauma therapist taught me grounding right away. It’s when you turn your focus to the external world by focusing on what you can experience with your senses- colors you can see in the room, what you can hear, how your clothes feel on your body, if there is a taste in your mouth or a smell in the air.

I am sorry you went through the things you went through.
Thank you for your response! It never ceases to amaze me how many kind folks like yourself are out there going through this nightmare but still willing to help another. I have done a little of the grounding in the past , but you've encouraged me to be a little more persistent with it and I thank you because it does actually work! Thanks again it's good to know people do get it and we are not alone.
 
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