We Don't Get Better Do We?

[curiouser]

Been over a year since I last posted on this thread, and I'm grateful to be able to say that I'm still symptom free so far.:) I'm also better than where I was last year, I feel so much more in control over my feelings, and no longer allow myself to be so affected emotionally by others or my own negative/destructive thoughts.

It took some time to get used to being "ok" with feeling good, not feeling fearful, frustrated, overwhelmed, sad, angry etc. anymore and wanting to hold onto those feelings as I felt they served a purpose for me.

 

[intothelight]

Curiouser,

It is wonderful to hear from you and that things are going well. You are an example that we do get better!

Take care!
Deb

 

[kitty_B]

I am just now realising that this is something I will live with forever. I was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago but my symptoms started 18 years ago. For me there is no former self that I have lost and need to mourn. This is who I am and I need to accept that. I have to accept that I may never get better but hopefully I will get to the stage where I have more good days then bad and who knows I may one day have a whole day where I don't think about the past at all.

 

[Linda Lee Bogard - King]

Warning: The road to recovery is in constant need of maintenance...

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Well it depends on how you define "better" ;)

The little kid me that would say "I'm all better now" as in I'm fine, no longer sick. Nope, never going to get there. Today I realized I'm pretty much f*cked.

But if you mean comparatively, then yes, we can get better as in not as bad as before but still dealing.

 

[just me here]

Thread resurrection Alert!

Two years later and the only reason I might feel better is because I have taken a psychiatrists advice and learned to recognise my emotions as they are and react appropriately. Once you accept your anger as a real and legitimate emotion, you can channel the energy to problem solving and not waste it on banging your head against the wall. Sadness leads to finding a replacement for the loss or lack that caused sadness, scared will help you eliminate the things that cause you fear once you recognise them.

Thats too simple to be a 100% all the time cure all, right? RIGHT.

This is learning as we go, and I don't have alot of hope to get much farther than this. I will be glad if I do, but I doubt I will get the opportunity to celebrate an end to this.

Simplification, eliminating contact with stress inducing people and concentrating on the health and happiness of my family above all else has made this bearable for longer and longer periods of time, but my lows are still as low as ever and my highs are no higher. I am not getting better, just older.

 

[heidi]

just me here.. I just realized you started this thread.

 

[MomOfTwo]

Junebug,

For me it meant using EFT to recognize, accept, and make changes to the different aspects of the trauma, so when I try to think about them and try to get myself worked up about them again, I can't and continue to have a SUDS level of 0 with them. In my experience doing EFT has been a way to accept and address the individual parts of the trauma at the same time.

My new doctor and therapist is doing EFT with me. I have been in therapy since 2009 and have not really had that great of results with just 'talk therapy'. It is so weird to be prescribed this treatment by my doctor. It sounds hokey but so many people say it works. This week my doctor told me to do it every time I leave the house and several times a day. She drew me a diagram and had me redraw it in my journal. She basically showed me that EFT helps to 'discharge' these emotions. It is cool that the points are points that have routes in traditional chinese medicine or so the doctor told me.

I am so happy to hear positives about this therapy. I am glad it is working for you and helping. :)

 

[kicking_ant]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and to this thread. I've been asking myself this very question for over 20 years--can I really get better? Right now I have to say the answer is no. I think some people can but in my research and in what I've seen over the years, people with PTSD need two things: caring supports (people who can be loving and nurturing while knowing about the PTSD) and a sense of purpose, which often means a meaningful role in life--as a parent, at work, or in the community. Without these things, there is no point to being alive. I seem to be unable to make those kinds of connections and cultivate that level of stability, so for me I don't see being any different in ten years (except maybe worse).

 

[heidi]

I have a renewed interest in the concept of remission and symptom free days. When people talk about good days what some people are talking about is complete symptom free days.

 

[Linda Lee Bogard - King]

kicking ant, it is tough I've had 50 years only got worse, but not always, no more lone wolf for me.. Purpose can mean many things. Don't look for purpose but decide what you want to be meaningful... I pick up trash off the street.. I do this for not just me, but all..

 

[JustBe]

We don't get "cured" but it does get better. Hang in there.