When Does PTSD Go Away?

[sfguy]

Hello everyone, first post...
Anyway I've had PTSD for almost 10 years now and it's still affecting me. How much longer do I have to wait?
I've been on antidepressants and seeing a therapist for years but it's no use. When does the nightmare end?

 

[Artista]

hmmmm... I guess I have looked at it as anything that you learn to live with. I have not been dealing with it outwardly as long as you, yet I see progression and see my ways of handling it has gotten manageable and better. Always worries me too... to hear of the decades of time some people feel oppressed by this. Makes me wonder at times if I am overly optimistic. I have been attacking it for about 10 months solidly. Ups and downs but lots of learning to master my reactions so far. I still have memories to uncover that scare the hell outta me. Always hope as i do and cope it will lessen.... yet I know it varies for all of us.

How can this question be answered? I know it'll always be there but I believe we can be victorious when we work for it. Sounds like you are... what does therapy do for you?

 

[amethist]

Hi sfguy

Welcome to the forum.

I know this is not the answer you or anyone else wants to hear, but unfortunately this is one illness that does not go away, as of yet there is no cure for it either.

You can only do your utmost to learn how to manage your symptoms, with any help and support you can find. Maybe now you have found this forum, it will help you with a lot more information and advice.

Take a look at the "Home Page", where you will find a lot of "Articles", including the different therapies that could help you live a more peaceful and calmer life with this.

Take care and good luck.

Amethist

 

[anni]

Hi,

You sort of asked two different questions, really. You asked about it being cured, and no, it's not what one could call curable. You also aksed when the nightmare goes away, and I think that's different. If it's been 10 years for you I'm sure you're more than tired of dealing with this thing, but truly, with the right therpy, perhaps getting the chemistry back to where it should be and just plain time the nightmare part can go away. Validation helps a ton, which is one of the reasons this forum 'works'. I think an awful lot of us ignored the whole thing for so long, didn't speak of either the trauma or the PTSD for various reasons that it did get worse.

The healing can happen, as well having what anyone could happily call a nice sort of life. There's back-slides, manifestations which remain intrusive as hell, some asects which are just a pain in the *ss, in everyday living, but the nightmare really does go away.

I hope it gives you some optimism and hope to tool around some of the articles and threads here, and see that it's going to be ok at some point.

Take care, and peace,

Anni

 

[Iam]

Hi SFGuy. I am sorry that you have had to deal with this monster that is called PTSD for so long. I think that Anni is right, at least I hope she is, that the nightmare part of this can be dealt with. That we can learn to manage the symptoms and live if not a normal life at least a productive and happy one.

This site is very helpful in learning to do just that. It allows us to desensatize our reactions to our traumas. It has helped me tremendously just to know that I am not alone in this. Others mentioned the articles here and they are right. There is much information. I have gone back and reread many of them simply because as I progress in my therapy I am able to understand and apply more of the information there.

Take your time and share as you are able. You will find lots of support here! Welcome to the forum!

BTW are you from San Francisco? I grew up in the east bay though I no longer live in Calif.

 

[cdnleaf]

That's a really good question, followed by equally great responses. My view is that PTSD doesn't, however as noted above the nightmare part can go away. Instead of waiting, perhaps review your recovery plan and therapy goals. For me it has been a complete grind at times. With much hard work and support things are getting better. All the best and hope you post again; which could be great for kick-starting your recovery.

 

[kers]

I agree, PTSD doesn't go away, but you can learn to manage it so well that its impact is minimal in your life. You mention therapy and medication; how are those working for you? Is the medication effective at reducing some symptoms? Is the therapy really addressing critical issues for you? Doing either of those things can only be effective if you keep pushing yourself to face the trauma, as hard as it is.

 

[Iam]

HI again SFguy

I agree with what kers said quoted below

Is the medication effective at reducing some symptoms? Is the therapy really addressing critical issues for you? Doing either of those things can only be effective if you keep pushing yourself to face the trauma, as hard as it is.

As cdnleaf said, I do hope you post again too. The only way to learn to deal with PTSD and manage the symptoms is to face them. If you do that you will learn to cope. This forum is a great place to do that. It is safe here, there are other's who understand and will support you in your journey. It is hard to do, not going to kid you there, but it is worth it in the long run ;o)

I hope to see you around the forum (((HUGS)))

 

[Ronnie Tino]

I was told that all they can do is teach a different way to live and takes 20 years for some symptoms to diminish.

 

[Iam]

20 f*ing years???? No freakin way! I am not saying you are wrong Ronnie....it's just that well, 20 years? I don't think I can live like this for that long.....

My T and I were talking yesterday about mechanisms learned to protect ourselves when we are young are deeply ingrained. I keep suggesting to my husband that my therapy isn't going to be ending any time soon and I've already been going for over a year. Not to mention the 6 months of therapy I had 9 yrs ago.... Even he acknowledged recently that when I am done with therapy that I may need to go in occassionally just to touch base or for help with something that comes up. GAH 20 years????

 

[eyebiter]

I hope I am gone in less than 20 years. I went from a person with not a care in the world to a person that could care less about anything!

 

[Iam]

Hi Eyebiter,

I think that is partly why this forum exists. To find a new way to live, post trauma. It may be a different life in ways but I do believe we can learn to care about and enjoy life again. It takes work....Someone pointed out in another thread that as survivors who are working thru our traumas we actually have more of a handle on who we are and perhaps more compassion for others than somebody who has never had to take such a deep look at themselves. Is it possible that we can become better people than we would have been had the traumas not occurred? I hope so.