The Ptsd Cup Explanation

[Hiding the Pain]

Thank you so much this really helped me understand that I am not just short tempered, but that I have a full cup. I know that I always seemed to find fault in all the little things around me. That no matter how good of a day I was having one small bump would send me reeling and ruin the whole weekend for me. My husband has always told me that I need to relax and not let things get to me, but no matter how hard I tried to let the little things go I would get even more angry. Angry for the thing that started it, and angry at him for not understanding why it upset me so. The biggest fights we have are because I feel no empathy from him. We are currently in counseling because I can no longer handle not having him understand my PTSD. I need to help him understand me so we can be supportive of each other, but flying off the handle for the little things are not helping. Maybe this awesome example with help us. Thank you again!

 

[DocsGal]

While I agree that those of us who suffer from PTSD have much fuller 'cups', our biggest stumbling block is our lack of coping mechanisms for dealing with the 'bad' stress. The fact of the matter is that those people who are generally healthy and have not been exposed to mental traumas, physical & sexual trauma's have an easier time dealing with and coping with "bad stress."

Those of us who are just plain trying to get through each day carrying that half full cup around tend not to be able to deal with even ORDINARY stress very well, let alone BAD stress. I know that personally my coping mechanisms go through highs and lows and some days I can handle major issues like a pro and other days if I drop an egg on the floor I am in tears. So the cup demonstration does not always hold true in that type of situation . It is also ALL about coping mechanisms and how your daily "mental health thermostat" (which is what I call my situation) can fluctuate. Just saying this is how it works for me personally.

DocsGal

 

[Bucky'sAngel]

I love this. Along with the "Spoon Theory" to deal with my fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, I think I am much better to understand (even though I don't always understand myself)

 

[squireparty]

I like the analogy. I too fly off the handle at stupid little things and have for quite some time. I just don't have the patience for them, haven't for years. This makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[shoulderblades]

they fly off the handle at such little things, i.e., the toilet roll is around the wrong way, someone walked in front of you, that stranger looked at you

I experience near explosive rage, aggravation and/or freak out at those exact things, and other things equally as stupid/insignificant/unimportant. Have been battling with it since... jeez, thirteen or so years now. Reading this just now has made me realise the pattern. I thought that pattern was just part of my personality and I've hated myself for years because of that - convinced that I'm a horrible person.

I've learnt to modify the behaviour so that I don't embarrass myself in front of people, though it's very difficult to do so, and all the restraint in the world doesn't stop the rage or intense irritation that builds up and explodes elsewhere over really... stupid things, as though the world is going to fall apart if the toilet roll isn't turned around the right way, or if the tap isn't turned off properly, or if people walk slowly in front of me, or if I think people are looking at me. Many times, I fly into a rage even if my ex-husband just looks at me in a way that I perceive as critical or cynical. Then again, he does a lot of things to provoke my rage deliberately because he thinks it's funny.

Anyway. Thank you for writing this. It's been a big help.

 

[oneforjustice]

Excellent. My husband will appreciate this.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Hey who said getting out of bed, cooking dinner or day to day tasks were easy. Maybe PTSD part sank all the way to the bottom and mixed bad and good together, hopefully they'll separate like a fancy cocktail but right now it all blends into one another. I'm presuming the amount I freaked out at sellotape being stuck to me was probably PTSD though!

 

[miamo2011]

This is a brilliant depiction of typical and pathological (PTSD) responses to stress levels. I'd always thought I just a defective personality. Recently I got diagnosed with c-PTSD caused by having abusive parents. This is great, thanks so much.

 

[GRANOLA]

Thank you so much. This explains my anger outburst lately and also my daily pet peeves.

 

[Me Myself and I]

What a great, easy explanation. Thank you very much for sharing this.

 

[Joan]

Thank you! This is something that affects me and is so foreign for me compared to how I used to be. Nice to have an explanation. Thanks.

 

[devildoc130]

Well that was useful.