Tree Therapy - Nature Helps My PTSD

[piglet]

Maybe. Feeling very shit at the moment. Lots of nightmares, feeling very frustrated and off-the-scale angry. I feel like just walking away, but I know there is nothing to be gained in doing that. I'll just have to stick to walking generally until the feeling passes.

I'm supposed to be going on a camping trip with friends starting next week. It's for 3 weeks - dog is coming too. At the moment, I feel so crap that I keep thinking I'm going to have to pull out. We have been planning this trip for a year. I tried to cancel it when the ptsd reared its head, but my friends would not hear of it. I feel very confused about what to do.

 

[anthony]

Oh.... have you just discovered the problem in that statement Piglet? Think deep now, and if nothing else is causing your current symptoms, is it this coming camping trip? You said you wanted to cancel it, which jumps out at me saying, "I am thinking about it now way too much" hence causing the symptoms to flare.

We often know the reason to why our symptoms suddenly flare, but often need someone else to point it out too us. Kerrie-Ann still has to do this with me, even though I am pretty good at spotting my own issues now, we all still miss bits and pieces, maybe from over processing... I think that could be your reason for the flareup Piglet. Care to discuss what is going on about this camping trip in your head?

 

[piglet]

Interesting point. I am actually not overly worried about the camping trip as such, it's just with all the current stress with the work situatio, I'm not doing so well, and I'm worrying that this will make it damn hard for me to cope with the camping trip. The friends I'm going with know the basics about the ptsd - I told them in case they felt uncomfortable about it. They have in fact been very supportive.

I know it's going to have its stresses, but previously, I didn't think there would be significant problems - I felt there was more to be gained by going than staying. Managing to confuse myself very well here!!!!

 

[anthony]

I would think that also Piglet, in that there would be more gained by the relaxation that not going, however; I have been in these situations myself, and exactly stressed as you are now, and when I thought about them, they where causing me stress, but when I got out and about onto what was distressing me thought wise, I enjoyed myself immensly and calmed myself down. When I looked back upon it, I was actually thinking about silly things, but important things when PTSD is not controlled, being... just having to attend, having certain timelines imposed upon me to achieve things, etc etc, all of which I worried about, but enjoyed so much. Basically, I was over thinking the event, an event that was actually more positive for me than negative.

That might not be it then, and as you say, could just be the straw that broke the camels back, with all the other current issues you have with your work. Honestly piglet, a toilet roll being around the wrong way is enough to set us off when we are already under stress from other issues. This could just be that, and very possibly not a significant issue for you to worry about analyzing, more just an observation from my view point.

I understand you with the work problems, as I was stressed immensly when running my own marketing business, and having dead lines to meet client expectations, etc etc. Huge stress, and such the slightest things set me off or collapsed me. And here I am now, wound up the marketing company and retired, because the stress was far to great for me to handle with my PTSD, even today, I cannot deal with "clients", ie. someone where money is concerned, so I just don't. No longer is the toilet roll being around the wrong way an issue for me, as my emotional tank and stress cup now has significantly more room to handle normal everyday stressors.

 

[Deleted member 93]

Piglet, I know I have no advice to offer as I am trying to figure out this mess and sort it out, it is hard I do know that. But I do know when I read Anthony's posts they seem to make sense for me. I hope you feel better and bring yourself to do the trip. My heart goes out to you.

And IMO which may be worth squat, a relationship with your dog is a relationship and gives much comfort towards healing. I thought it was sweet when I read about the dog knowing what cuddles means... I will let you be now piglet.

 

[anthony]

And IMO which may be worth squat, a relationship with your dog is a relationship and gives much comfort towards healing. I thought it was sweet when I read about the dog knowing what cuddles means...

Veiled, your opinion is worth everything, and you really do provide great support to others whilst getting support yourself. Stop knocking yourself down, because your worth more than that. Your opinion is your opinion, and we are all entitled to express it. Your opinions, advice and experience that you have posted here already is invaluable to the community, and I thank you for that. You are a human being veiled, remember that. We are not perfect, but we are also worth something to ourselves, and that matters. Self esteem is a critical component to recovery, so please stop putting yourself down.

That was so well said veiled, and well done for giving Piglet that reassurance. You are truly a good person, because you are finding things to already help others from what they say, which means your giving great support just by being here yourself. Doesn't that alone say something about yourself? That you are worth more than "may be worth squat?" I think so...

 

[wildfirewildone]

my experience with camping

Maybe. Feeling very shit at the moment. Lots of nightmares, feeling very frustrated and off-the-scale angry. I feel like just walking away, but I know there is nothing to be gained in doing that. I'll just have to stick to walking generally until the feeling passes.

I'm supposed to be going on a camping trip with friends starting next week. It's for 3 weeks - dog is coming too. At the moment, I feel so crap that I keep thinking I'm going to have to pull out. We have been planning this trip for a year. I tried to cancel it when the ptsd reared its head, but my friends would not hear of it. I feel very confused about what to do.

Piglet,

I know that doing something new can be scary especially when the symptoms are in major flare-out....nature really works for me....being "out there" really tampers the flare for me!!!:biggrin: My son understands about the symptoms so when I take a camping trip with him I don't need to worry about his reaction....Take a deep breath and imagine that you will be at peace and with caring and understanding friends....Go and just BE!!!!!!:wink: wildfirewildone

 

[piglet]

Thanks everyone. By the way Veiled - your opinion is highly valued and I thank you very much for it, as I value all the feedback and support I get here. When you are going around in circles and not getting anywhere, it helps a lot to see other people thinking one way or the other. I can work out who I agree with and why - like a sounding board...or forum for that matter!

 

[Deleted member 93]

Did not even realize I was, Anthony... Thanks, for pointing it out.

 

[anthony]

Your welcome veiled. I have been down this path, and learnt by others identifying the same things to myself, so I guess these things jump out at me nowdays, and having them pointed out to me, were certainly positive aspects that I did need, even though I didn't realise it at the time. Even when we make mistakes, we shouldn't really put ourselves down for, but just accept that we made a mistake, learn from it, and hopefully not make that same mistake twice. We are all worth more than we know, and PTSD has its ways of telling us we are less than others, which is just not right. We are the same as everyone else, we just have a disorder that we carry with us, that can be controlled, and does make us equal to every other human being upon this planet.

Keep up the great work with yourself veiled, because it is definately helping you and others, as I think you can see from the support within replies to you. Congratulations... recovery is within everyone's grasp, we just have to reach out for it, and that you are certainly accomplishing.

 

[Anonymous1]

Great post, Wildfire! Nature is my healer also. I'm going to muster the courage to do the full tree hug, probably with my pear tree, a tree I truly do love. It is now completely hollow, and very old. And this year FULL of pears! Now there's determination. I should give it a round of applause too!
I sometimes put the palms of my hands on a tree to feel the energy, and YOU know what I'm talkin' about! There is a spirit in all living things.

 

[Anonymous1]

I did it again! Sorry group, I jseem to manage to post a message after reading page 1 or 2 and don't realize I've been out of the entire page 3 conversation until I see my message posted!