Toolkit: Affect Regulation

[safenow]

I'm so glad you are doing better, BloominWinter. A lot of stages of our lives are spend really screwed up. I for one and tickled to death that we can all share what works for us.

safenow

 

[DharmaGirl]

Thanks for this thread, Bloom, it is a huge help. My T says I've come so far in a year, but I am still struggling. I am moving forward though and making better decisions for myself.

 

[BloomInWinter]

Thank you, dear friends.

It is such a relief to be able to have a 'trail' to look back on so I can see my progress.

Things that used to be so hard for me are now just 'typical life stuff.' I'm so glad all this work I've done has finally brought me into what feels like a normal life.

If it weren't for my PTSD, I'd have gone on existing as I was. I don't want that impoverished life. I don't want to spend all my energy on people who don't appreciate it. I don't want to clutter my mind with what I *think* others are *thinking*.

All that was such a waste of my life. I have my bad days now, sure, but there's no situation that I feel I can't handle now as an adult with the ability to ask questions, request help from safe people, and especially, trusting myself.

((((((((((Alba)))))))))) ((((((((((safenow)))))))))) (((((((((monster1977))))))))) (((((((((((Loloma)))))))))

To all of you on this forum who have helped me SO much, THANK YOU!

 

[BloomInWinter]

I had to revisit this to remind myself how far I've come.

Now I have some real progress in my work life thanks to learning some affect regulation skills. I'm so glad I went through Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

 

[DharmaGirl]

((((hugs)))) Hugs right back to you for being the path breaker!

 

[shell]

Thanks for writing on DBT, I am starting DBT at a day hospital and was really anxious and freaked out when I read it was for Borderline Personality disorder. Reading that it has helped you with PTSD has helped settle my fears somewhat, although I am too scared to ask if BPD applies to me.

 

[BloomInWinter]

I finally asked for clarification and though my Cognitive-Behavioral-Therapy therapist originally put on my intake 'rule out BPD,' he never confirmed a diagnosis on it.

So, my Trauma Therapist went through it with me, and showed me exactly why my BPD-like behaviors weren't from a personality disorder but from responses to specific traumas. This also jives with the behaviors I first presented with no longer being an issue most of the time.

Not to say being Borderline-Personality-Disorder is bad. But in my case, I'd be likely to lose my security clearance. Hence, why I needed clarification.

 

[BloomInWinter]

I needed to go back and read through. I've been hyper-vigilent since my last EMDR though it seems to finally be settling.

Miles to go...