Other What Would You Warn Others Or Yourself To Do Regarding Living With Ptsd, Knowing What You Now Know?

[Kailani]

Just curious, what would be some important advice you would give to someone with PTSD or yourself right now. Knowing what you know how PTSD affects your life. I would say get every possible insurance; high car accident insurance; at least 100,000 if in car accident, have a plan b for a low cost living location; off the grid cabin or boat or apt. If you are losing contact with reality; it's PTSD; stop wasting your time on other theories. Avoid psychiatrists; wanna be doctors, ask regular doctors. live large( be excessively happy) in the best times cuz....PTSD. Monitor your stress levels. Don't accept too much stress. Any ideas?

 

[The Albatross]

Hmmm. Other than monitor your stress levels/don't accept too much stress I don't identify much with the opening post.

Living with it knowing what I now know... hmmm.

• Being able to disassociate from pain isn't necessarily a bad thing.
• Getting a diagnosis is better than thinking or being told you're either crazy or a f'ck up.
• PTSD is inconvenient at best, a pain in the ass at worst... but so are most all other chronic or acute diseases or debilities... get over yourself you ain't special... your adversity is just a different style than some others.
• Deal with your depressive aspect and isolation tendencies FIRST.
• Get your ass back out there and try, try, try.
• Into each life shit will happen, you ain't gonna like it all the time, and there will be struggle/pain/fear/anger/frustration but if you want to you can learn how to cope and be the best self you can be.
• Simpler living styles better suit.
• Learn how to say no and mean it... boundaries are good things and necessary.
• Ditch toxic people unless you feel stable and stay/stick with em if you can, but cut em out when they are sucking you into their dramas and distracting you or if you feel their attitude is affecting you/making you worse.
• There ain't no magic pill to "fix" it... skills are necessary... get some tools and learn how to cope.
• Learn how to apply new experiences and get some of that "post traumatic growth".
• Make yourself your own hobby and endeavor to learn and challenge and grow... it's better than the alternative and why the heck not, most of us are self involved anyways. Might as well build some grit, moxie, and character while we're at it.
• "Feelings are NOT facts."
• Memories are not gospel... they are sometimes quite flawed, and sometimes too wrong or stuck at the level of the age we were at WHEN we experienced them (limited awareness of situations, other aspects cognition wise particularly for child traumas).
• Hindsight is 20 /20 but to continue to grieve the past is to rob yourself of the chance at a decent or good or great PRESENT.
• Needing to live a disciplined life isn't necessarily a bad thing.
• Perceptions vary... it is better to pause to question than accept knee jerk/reflexive/default ones.
• Fear/anxiety/depression are detriments that need to be dealt with and managed or else you're gonna get cycling.
• Experiment... try new things, stratigies, new techniques... you can't know what might be beneficial if you don't give it a try.
• It might not get healed... but it damn sure can get better.
• Every f'ing thing that happens isn't necessarily PTSD.
• If you want your life to change, then get off your ass and endeavor to change it.
• It can get better, it can, HONEST.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

If a person I knew was diagnosed with PTSD I would say do not trust any of your friends while being desperately needy or do not expect these same friends to understand or get it.

It takes a journey to process and learn and unlearn things.

Dump the self hatred and self abuse. It is highly toxic to a person to self abuse by the voices from the past.

Look into doing EMDR at some point in your recovery process only when you are ready.

 

[Truthful_Whispers]

Don't fight it as much, because you will almost always lose. You need to accept it and learn to live with it. It is like playing a game of chess with your own mind on a daily basis. PTSD is a living, breathing entity. You must respect it, and learn coping skills.

 

[Mallaky]

Dont abuse alcohol. I was not a physical alcoholic, but was very much on the way to becoming one. My mind needed months to get over the long term consequences. Yes, frequent drinking quickly makes long termish impacts on the mood and brain.

Try to work very, very hard on enjoying the things you deserve.

Work on healthy nutrition and excercise. Little efforts can come a long way.

Tell your partner that you love him, more often then seems necessary, After bad episodes talk about these at length, dont ignore them. Great things can happen that way.

And most important: Work on understanding your own reaction and experiences. One has to relearn interpreting oneself after devloping PTSD.

 

[jaccat]

Trust yourself, your instincts are good. If something feels wrong, it is wrong.
Admitting you're in trouble is not a failure. Seek help, you don't have to do it alone.
You don't have to be like everybody else. You get to live your life the way you want.
You are not crazy. You are not going to die.
You deserve to be loved.

 

[The Albatross]

All good ones... dredged up another bunch to add this morning: "The following are negative coping actions: Negative coping actions help to perpetuate problems. They may reduce distress immediately but short-circuit more permanent change. Some actions that may be immediately effective may also cause later problems, like smoking or drug use. These habits can become difficult to change. Negative coping methods can include isolation, use of drugs or alcohol, workaholism, violent behavior, angry intimidation of others, unhealthy eating, and different types of self-destructive behavior (e.g., attempting suicide). Before learning more effective and healthy coping methods, most people with PTSD try to cope with their distress and other reactions in ways that lead to more problems."

Use of alcohol or drugs - This may help wash away memories, increase social confidence, or induce sleep, but it causes more problems than it cures. Using alcohol or drugs can create a dependence on alcohol, harm one's judgment, harm one's mental abilities, cause problems in relationships with family and friends, and sometimes place a person at risk for suicide, violence, or accidents.

Social isolation - By reducing contact with the outside world, a trauma survivor may avoid many situations that cause him or her to feel afraid, irritable, or angry. However, isolation will also cause major problems. It will result in the loss of social support, friendships, and intimacy. It may breed further depression and fear. Less participation in positive activities leads to fewer opportunities for positive emotions and achievements.

Anger-Like isolation - anger can get rid of many upsetting situations by keeping people away. However, it also keeps away positive connections and help, and it can gradually drive away the important people in a person's life. It may lead to job problems, marital or relationship problems, and the loss of friendships.

Continuous avoidance - If you avoid thinking about the trauma or if you avoid seeking help, you may keep distress at bay, but this behavior also prevents you from making progress in how you cope with trauma and its consequences.

Recommended Lifestyle Changes – Taking Control
Those with PTSD need to take active steps to deal with their PTSD symptoms. Often, these steps involve making a series of thoughtful changes in one's lifestyle to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Positive lifestyle changes include:

Calling about treatment and joining a PTSD support group - It may be difficult to take the first step and join a PTSD treatment group. Survivors say to themselves, "What will happen there? Nobody can help me anyway." In addition, people with PTSD find it hard to meet new people and trust them enough to open up. However, it can also be a great relief to feel that you have taken positive action. You may also be able to eventually develop a friendship with another survivor.

Increasing contact with other survivors of trauma - Other survivors of trauma are probably the best source of understanding and support. By joining a survivors organization (e.g., veterans may want to join a veteran's organization) or by otherwise increasing contact with other survivors, it is possible to reverse the process of isolation and distrust of others.

Reinvesting in personal relationships with family and friends - Most survivors of trauma have some kind of a relationship with a son or daughter, a wife or partner, or an old friend or work acquaintance. If you make the effort to reestablish or increase contact with that person, it can help you reconnect with others.

Changing neighborhoods - Survivors with PTSD usually feel that the world is a very dangerous place and that it is likely that they will be harmed again. It is not a good idea for people with PTSD to live in a high-crime area because it only makes those feelings worse and confirms their beliefs. If it is possible to move to a safer neighborhood, it is likely that fewer things will set off traumatic memories. This will allow the person to reconsider his or her personal beliefs about danger.

Refraining from alcohol and drug abuse - Many trauma survivors turn to alcohol and drugs to help them cope with PTSD. Although these substances may distract a person from his or her painful feelings and, therefore, may appear to help deal with symptoms, relying on alcohol and drugs always makes things worse in the end. These substances often hinder PTSD treatment and recovery. Rather than trying to beat an addiction by yourself, it is often easier to deal with addictions by joining a treatment program where you can be around others who are working on similar issues.

Starting an exercise program - It is important to see a doctor before starting to exercise. However, if the physician gives the OK, exercise in moderation can benefit those with PTSD. Walking, jogging, swimming, weight lifting, and other forms of exercise may reduce physical tension. They may distract the person from painful memories or worries and give him or her a break from difficult emotions. Perhaps most important, exercise can improve self-esteem and create feelings of personal control.

Starting to volunteer in the community - It is important to feel as though you are contributing to your community. When you are not working, you may not feel you have anything to offer others. One way survivors can reconnect with their communities is to volunteer. You can help with youth programs, medical services, literacy programs, community sporting activities, etc."

Source: Active Coping skills for PTSD
A National Center for PTSD Fact Sheet, By Joe Ruzek, Ph.D.

 

[Deleted member 30850]

Exercise, even walking, snowshoeing, hiking etc.
Avoid alcohol and drugs, legal or not
Zen meditation (to derail those dark, dangerous thoughts that won't stop.)
Find a way to forgive yourself
Empower yourself with good self defense lessons and pepper spray, if legal
If you like animals, adopt a dog or cat or both. Having an animal that purrs when you cuddle him/her or shows happiness and love at your presence is very, very good
Practice slow, deep breathing
Find the beauty in nature and bumblebees, hawks soaring, a beautiful sunset, affirm that life is GOOD sometimes
Make a good friend or friends, this is the hardest part for me, I do not trust most people and it sucks.