The Signs That You Have Recovered From Ptsd

[Comfortingwall]

(1) You can recall or dismiss the traumatic event at will, instead of suffering from intrusive memories, frightening dreams, troubling flashbacks, and distressing associations (triggers).

(2) You can remember the event with appropriately intense feeling---not false detachment.

(3) Feeling about the traumatic event can be named and endured without overwhelming arousal, dissociation, or numbing.

(4) Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction, if not absent, are at least reasonably tolerated and predictable.

(5) You are not isolated from other but have restored your capacity for trust, empathy and attachment.

(6) You have assigned meaning to the trauma and discarded a damaged sense of self, replacing it with a belief in your own strength. Losses have been named and mourned; self-blame has been replaced by self-acceptance and self-worth; obsessive rumination about the past has been replaced by realistic evaluation.

(7) You are more comfortable with all your feelings---positive, negative and neutral.

(8) You are again committed to your future and take responsibility for your life, no matter how badly you were treated or defeated.

Source: The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook by Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D.

 

[Abstract]

That's wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

 

[DMerish]

I'm going to print this and put it on my wall as a reminder of what I'm aiming for. Thanks!

 

[FindingMyself88]

these seem impossible to me….

 

[Echo]

Very useful to see it set out like this. Let's hope we all get there in time.

 

[eos]

Thanks for sharing. I should do as DMerish will and keep a small print-out of this list around for a reminder of my goals.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

these seem impossible to me….

I want to tell you that it's not impossible. I have accomplished the first three and I'm now working thru the rest. It takes a lot of work and a lot of time, but it isn't impossible to heal.

 

[Barconian]

(4) Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction, if not absent, are at least reasonably tolerated and predictable.

I don't want to throw a spanner in the works and put a downer on this thread, albeit anxiety and depression, can be a separate issue to PTSD itself... If we have a disposition to anxiety due to other mental disorders, then that statement is not true, which then reflex on some of the other statements. In other words, when the PTSD is removed, you can still have anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction issues and that a fact Jack!!!

 

[Bedbug]

Good point, @Barconian. Perhaps number 4 could be re-worded to something like:

(4) Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction (when routed in trauma), if not absent, are at least reasonably tolerated and predictable.

 

[Abstract]

I think it is a good way to look at what general recovery beyond basic recovery from PTSD would look like and maybe this is what he is actually describing. I would imagine that most people would get to a certain point where the key symptoms of PTSD wouldn't be there but they would be left with such things as depression and sexual dysfunction. That doesn't mean we can't work on those at that point of course. The aim is to live as full a life as possible.

With some conditions it is about managing it if it is organic though. For example, if someone is Bipolar or has schizophrenia then I would describe recovery including being stable with these conditions and knowing how to manage them.

seem impossible

I know that feeling! I find the only way to work through it is to use Radical Acceptance. To work on tolerating how it presently is whilst taking small steps forward and just keeping an eye on the ground straight in front of me. That way I manage overwhelm and despair. I recommend radical acceptance if you aren't familiar with it Finding.

 

[Abstract]

I have accomplished the first three and I'm now working thru the rest

That is amazing Solara. You should give yourself a big pat on the back!

 

[Abstract]

The only things I have managed any success with are 7 and 8 and a little of 4. I am back to front with this journey compared to others I find as I have done a lot of work on myself before I started coming out of denial about trauma. :O_o: