Sufferer Sleepy Daughter

[Lexi H]

Hello everyone,

I am Peter H (Worried Dad)'s daughter. I am 21 years of age, work full time, study part time and an RFS Volunteer.

3 and a half years ago I witnessed my best friend pass away over Skype by unnatural means. Every night since, I have had numerous nightmares and night terrors reliving the trauma. This has left me living on approx 2-3 hours broken sleep a night if I'm lucky. I'm okay, just sleepy.

I've seen quite a few counsellors, psychiatrists and psychologists who have all told me that there is nothing that can be done, I'll either get over it one day, or I'll have it for the rest of life. Very close to giving up hope of the nightmares stopping, but giving a psychologist who specializes in PTSD a try at the moment.

I've also had stomach problems for the last 7-8 years. My dad thinks this is related but it's not, it started many years before my trauma did. But I will agree that the trauma may have made it worse.

I've seen many heartfelt, welcoming posts by people which is comforting. But please do not take offense if I'm a bit shy or apprehensive, this forum situation is new to me and I've never met anyone with PTSD before.

Look forward to chatting with you all.

Kind Regards,
Lexi

 

[Lucycat]

Hi and welcome Lexi.
What is the RFS?

 

[Lexi H]

Volunteer Bush Firefighters

 

[whserenitynluv]

@Lexi H welcome to the forum, these people are a great bunch:)
I'm also new, but have been able to openly discuss things in a anonymous manner. I read your dad's post the other day about your trauma and wanted to say I'm sorry you had to go through that. Please feel free to chat with me anytime if you would like. Have an awesome night! :hug:

 

[Anarchy]

Hi Lexi,

Welcome to the Forum.

I'm sort of new here myself, but have been doing some background reading over the past few weeks.

There's one of the academic papers linked off John Briere's site (he's a researcher into trauma responses) which suggests that flashbacks (which I'll count your nightmares as a form of) may serve a natural purpose of gradually de-sensitizing you to the possible triggers associated with the event.

The form of your trauma - watching, while totally denied control over the situation, and as a result feeling completely helpless... No wonder it has had a lasting effect on you.

The stress hormones which flood your system every time you flashback, and due to the hyper vigilant state that you are now living in, evolved to keep us alive over a period of a few seconds or minutes, as we escaped a predator, or dodged an enraged mammoth that we'd just stuck a spear into.

They put the body into a state that is optimised for fight or flight, to survive the next few minutes - and bugger the long term cost.

If those hormones (Adrenaline and the cortisols) are circulating for long periods, they do have big effects on some of our major organs, including the digestive system. There are some very good lectures up on youtube by Robert Sapolsky, who's academic career is focussed on stress responses, He explains some of what is going on, and some of the simple and freely available things - such as social contact and friendship which can lower the stress hormone levels.

I'm not at all well read on post traumatic stress responses to a single trauma and whether there are specific differences to the handling of flashbacks to a specific incident compared to complex trauma (mine were too early in life to have conscious memories of) , there are tips up on pete-walker's site, for how to self sooth and mindfulness techniques for use during flashbacks which may be applicable to you as well.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[GWhizz]

Welcome @Lexi H I also read your dad's post the other day. I'm so glad it was able to encourage you to join the forum. Maybe you could consider beginning a trauma diary in that section when you're up to it. I have to admit I've been a little lazy about mine but I definitely think it helps just getting some of the feelings down there when you need to. Having people who've experienced trauma to talk with has been a lifesaver for me - even moreso than therapy. We're here for you 24/7 and wanting to help if we can.

 

[Jane.l]

Welcome - I am sorry you have been through this horrible event and that you haven't found much help yet - just wondering if EMDR would be helpful ? Have you looked into this at all. It is meant to be very effective for a 'one off' trauma .

 

[Recovery4Me]

Echoing greetings and salutations with the group! :tup:

You've come to the right place to meet others and feel acceptance within your trauma and PTSD. Your post was such a courageous step and I admire your quest to heal. The best part is now during those sleepless nights, others are here to chat with or spend time with through on-line conversation. Other countries-other hours...lol...or other 'not' sleeping people, you know?;)

Friendship is a beautiful thing, glad you are here among us!

 

[Deleted member 20280]

Hi Lexi and a warm welcome to the forum.

:hug:s

Laurie

 

[Kefira]

Hi @Lexi H. So sorry for your trauma but very glad you're here.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Lexi H]

[DLMURL="https://www.myptsd.com/c/members/whserenitynluv.28156/"]whserenitynluv[/DLMURL]: Thank you :) everyone seems really nice so far.

Anarchy: Would it really be a flashback? I don't get it at all during the day unless I see an image of the same sort of situation. I'll have to have a look at the videos you mentioned next weekend (away from home long hours due to work). And what is complex trauma? Would that be for example, if I was also traumatized by what I see in Emergency Service work? Sorry, this is a new term to me.

GWhizz: Thank you :) what's a trauma diary? I'm not so good with feelings, no idea how to express it without anger. And wow really? Better than therapy?

Jane.I: Thank you, My dad looked into that a little while ago, but havn't heard much about it hear in Australia, only know one specialist who does it, but they don't specialize in PTSD so I'm not sure if I should??

Recovery4me, Santa_Laurie and Kefira, thank you all :) means a lot.

 

[KwanYingirl]

@Lexi H Welcome! Your stomach pains and nightmares are very common in PTSD. I just want to tell you that I suffered for many years before I found a good trauma therapist. One of the things he recommended to me is energy/somatic work. I've been getting Reiki for about 4 months and I am doing yoga. I don't know how it happened, but I'm not having nightmares. I still get pelvic pain, but that has diminished too. Just sharing that with you for what it's worth. Best wishes.