What have you achieved in 2017?

[Bristol]

Did a whole year of T

Left a job (today) that was killing me, health and wellbeing over cash

 

[Emotional girl]

I got engaged and booked my wedding.
I got myself a semi colon tattoo which is something that I have wanted for about a year and I suppose I just needed a bit of encouragement to get one.
I have learnt to trust another human being (my T)and feel safe with that person and I have also shown him my vulnerabilities.
I have managed to get public transport for the first time in years.
I started to do some mindfulness and meditation and find it really helpful in my own environment.
I have learnt to be more feminine.

 

[Cannottakethis]

2017 has been a really crazy year. I had 3 inpatient hospitalizations and a suicide attempt.
AND
I divorced from my abusive husband
I went back to work; my career, making the same $ I was making pre SSD.
I initiated contact with my family so I could spend time with my dad who is dying.
I finished the MAC Daddy of DBT programs, 4 years of DBT and am strong enough at using skills that I Don’t need to go to DBT programs or groups and can “just” go to a therapist and pdoc from now on.
I feel better than I have in years going into 2018.

 

[Deleted member 34561]

Well done everyone you're all making great strides in winning the battle against PTSD. And we really ARE in the fight for our very lives against this horrible sickness. I read an interesting line in my Phillipa Gregory book The Last Tudor the other day. 'Wise women live long and hope for change'. But I believe after this year we have to be the ones to make those changes happen, as nobody else can do it for us. We have to be our own saviours, our own heroes. We have to avail ourselves of all the help and support and resources we can get our hands on, and be proactive in our own recovery. Nobody else but ourselves can do the work necessary for growth and healing. It IS bloody hard work as well but the rewards are immense. Exponentially so. If we're not sure about what help there actually is, we have to research it thoroughly and ask the questions. It's a brilliant exercise in educating ourselves and building self sufficiency resilience self confidence and self esteem. @Cannottakethis your story is an inspiration, especially. You have demonstrated just what we can all achieve if we just put our minds to it and find courage and determination and perseverance. You are indeed a warrior my friend and a great example to us all. You are showing us all to never give up and to never give in to the hell that is PTSD. There really is a brighter future to be had for us all. But we've got to want it more than anything else in the world. Motivation is so hard to find when in the depths of despair. But anything has got to be better than drowning in our sorrows for ever more. At some point we have to make the choice to want happiness and peace of mind. I've realised that for me, strictly personally speaking, everything in my life comes down to choice. Whether or not I'm aware of having a choice. This year I've learned to sit with my pain and stay mindful of my choices rather than diving back into denial and disassociation as was always my habit before. I won't lie, it has been bloody overwhelming at times but finally I'm getting somewhere with it. And if I can do it, anyone can. You just have to believe you can do it. It's really that simple.

Thanks for all the replies. Come on let's see some more!!!

 

[Rani G2]

Better health, more energy, less depression

 

[Beans]

lost 55 lbs
made serious headways with trauma
got a full time job with bennies
got a new therapist
started going to a number of support groups (out of isolation)
started to develop friendships
became acquainted with my feelings and thus reality again (able to make goals and respond to life in the present) aka started to take control of my life
moved to a new state

 

[mumstheword]

I survived two miscarriages (at 4 and 3 months)
I went to trauma counselling consistently
I maintained my relationship through a very bad year of mental unwellness
I helped two sons through suicidal patches and encouraged them to break away from their Dad (he is a very sick addict manipulator/control freak) to be well and pursue their own lives. They are now doing much better. I had to brave going into their dad's place to do so and had another break down as a result but I did it for my kids! (btw they are both adults)
I joined this site
I arranged for my admission to an inpatients trauma and dissociation program that I found out about on this site
I started "early sexual abuse counselling"
I organised for another trauma specialist for the new year, as well (I had already organized that before I managed to score a free spot with the other T)
I got my son through his last year of primary school and my daughter through year 10 and starting year 11
Daughter through another year of braces
Started drawing
Helped friends through hard stuff
Wrote some music and poetry
Wrote a lot
Reingaged with children that their dad had done his best to cut me off from (after his gaslighting shattered me and I was too ill to do anything but focus on recovery)
Stayed away from the weed even though I had a terrible symptomatic year
Finally got on top of my binge/stress/overeating problem

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I chose life and scraped my way through this last year. A huge achievement for me in that I have survived it all.

 

[Deleted member 34561]

Way to go people!!! There are some really inspiring people on this site not least @mumstheword blimey girl you had some bad shit to deal with last year didn't you? I bloody take my hat off to ya mate not sure I could have handled all that myself but crikey if you can do it then so can I, so can all of us. It never ceases to amaze me what we can accomplish if we are pushed to it, when our backs are up against the wall. This damn illness lies to us, tells us we're useless and worthless when really we are all heroes in our own quiet unassuming way. We are stronger braver and wiser than we believe. Thanks to everyone who has replied to this thread. Now let's make 2018 a year to remember!!!! God bless you all xx

 

[anonymous]

I have accomplished ending my toxic job, lots and lots of therapy, boundaries, dealing with health issues, financial debt as a result...

 

[8888]

I graduated college.