What Should I Expect With Treatment??

[Survivor2468]

Recently over the past 2 years Ive started having problems with stress and anxiety and many other things...nightmares of the incidents, etc....As a child I was sexually abused and my counselor has told me that children who do not receive treatment after the traumatic event can develop PTSD as adults..I had no idea, I always thought PTSD was something that happened to those in the military who were at war (I know naive and stupid) ..But knowing that this is the cause of my problems im wondering what expectations I should have with this treatment...will it possibly help resolve my stress and anxiety or will I always have it?? I dont want to be on medication ( I was on it before and it made me feel like a zombie). I want to work through it with counseling..which is something I have been avoiding for a very long time but im glad I have taken the steps to start and im already starting to see a change

 

[SimplyComplex]

Are you going to see a PTSD therapist?

 

[Survivor2468]

No shes specializes in sexual abuse

 

[SimplyComplex]

It might be different. I see a PTSD specialist who is a phd with a cognitive-behavioral perspective and eclectic. She didn't tell me the process but we worked on self-care, coping skills and then digging out the old memories, feeling the emotions...I think it is pretty painful and difficult...but it seems to be working for me.

I had pretty significant anxiety. Been in therapy for a year and it has helped alot. I wish it was more but I am optimistic in my recovery. It isn't a matter of cure though. Management is the name of the game I think.

 

[Tinyflame]

Management and perspective, I think?
Good for you both, :tup:

 

[Innordinate]

I dont want to be on medication ( I was on it before and it made me feel like a zombie).

I avoid/ avoided medication like the plague.
If you do take something though and you feel like a zombie ask to change and try something else.
There's a ton of different meds that do the same things all with different effects etc etc.

 

[SimplyComplex]

My therapist isn't into meds. She said "oh, what medication makes you forget about all the trauma?" I said "well, I don't know. I am not the doctor". I think I might try some if she suggested though.

 

[Innordinate]

I have one therapist that isn't quick to medicate and one that... well.. maybe he is.
I need them though, now I realize, just even to get my moods stabalized enough to be able to start doing anything else toward treatment. I struggle still with a lot even taking meds... to not have any .. just completely useless.