What Improvements Have You Made?

[Nicolette]

Well done everyone on your improvements. Great stuff :clap:

 

[Gingercat]

I have been doing a little better over the past few weeks and it has been encouraging. It certainly hasn't been perfect, but here are a few things that I am beginning to gain control over.

1.) Removing myself from triggering situations (esp. on the internet)

2.) Stopping myself when I start to "project" onto my husband (he is my best friend not my abusers or my parents)

3.) Moving from the horrible cycle of "what if?" to "whatever happens...I will get through it and move on"

Above all, I have become committed to living in the now rather than living in the past. As Willie Nelson wrote "Yesterday's gone and tomorrow is blind...so I just live one day at a time."

 

[Manic11]

One giant improvement I have made is taking the step to join this forum and admit that yes...I do have PTSD. Then I'm slowly but surely (some days are better than others with this) being able to say "So what? So I do have PTSD and that's okay. I am still normal and I still do deserve the same as everyone else".

Another improvement would definitely be that I am officially done high school as of this week! It was a hard struggle but I'm proud of myself for getting back into school after dropping out and getting through it!

Great thread :) Phew...

Manic

 

[pandora]

My nightmares are less as well as the flashbacks..i am making better decisions and asking for help, i try not to isolate, key word being try . I do not shake unless the situation is very stressful THEN i look like i have parkinsons. I am tyring to care about myself more and be a good friend to others.

 

[IndigoCharm]

I moved away from my parent(s), which not only removed me from someone who abused me, but also apparently made my mind feel safe enough to start opening up. Unfortunately, it means I am triggered a lot more easily, but at least now I am not dissociating all the time and I'm getting closer to what caused it (I would like to think).

 

[Ursa]

I am selecting better the people that I call friends. Before it was almost as if I did not have a choice, I was happy if anyone just wanted to stay together. Now I realize that I have a choice and so I don't stick with people that hurt me in any way anymore.

Suggestion: I think this thread should be in the success stories section.

 

[Mina]

I got a dog :smile:

 

[popeye]

I have found that sitting on the front porch with my dog has been helping me not get so angry with my son. And I have been avoiding more of my triggers and finally conceded to the fact that I can't go to work anymore at least for now.

 

[Let It Be]

I am in the process of letting another so called friend go. Several months ago, I received an e-mail that she was coming this way and wanted to see me. She asked me to drive over an hour just to do this. Since I haven't seen her in I can't tell you how many years and we do not talk over the phone nor do personal e-mails, I realized that it was time for me to stand up for myself.

As I do this, I know I am getting stronger...it still takes a lot of energy to do it though...:smile:

 

[Jagged Angel]

I can go to the supermarket alone, granted it is while the supermarket is quiet, but it's an advancement.
I don't mourn so hard over lost so-called friends.
I can go out at night. In a group, but again it's an advancement.
I can meet new people and hold a conversation with them.
I can sleep through an entire night... sometimes. It used to be every night I would wake up screaming, but I really love those nights when I don't.
I can sleep over at someone's house. I didn't do this in case I woke up screaming and I'd have to explain or something, but now I don't worry about it. Which leads me to the next point...
I can tell people I have PTSD. This one is a very large step for me, as I am the kind of person who does not tell people about those things I see as a vulnerability. Now I don't see my PTSD as a vulnerability, I see it as being a part of myself that I am working with (and most often struggle against!), not something to be embarrassed about or ashamed of.

This is a really good thread that has reminded me how far I have come in my healing process. Thank you

 

[Lionheart]

My biggest improvement has been to not let other people define who I am anymore. I make my own decisions for my own reasons and I live with the responsibility, without complaint. I do not change who I am, what I say, or what I do simply to please other people or as some desperate 'last-ditch' effort to gain love or approval. I am me, for better or worse, take me or leave me. I'm not perfect, but I'm close enuff for Rock N Roll!!!!

PS: Thank you Nicolette, for posting this wonderful thread!!!

 

[Let It Be]

Well, I decided to send the e-mail to my so-called friend today.

I must admit that when I hit that send button, I was triggered, but I did it anyway.

I told myself that I was safe...there was a computer screen and distance on my side.

I was pretty proud of myself for acknowledging what I was feeling. Yes, she did reply which is going to mean another step for me in another e-mail back to her.

No, I will not drive over an hour to see you when you can't come to see me here!!