Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group

Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.

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happynaz 06/27/2015

I am at a loss right now because I dont know what to do. I have a job right now but it's an on call position, it's where I work nights, day's and swing shift. For the most part I am okay on days but for the last week I have not been myself , i noticed that my thoughts of becoming a criminal or a bad person or that I'm going to act on my urges got worse when I started working nights. I talked to my friend about this and she thinks i'm being irresponsible and making excuses not to work nights, etc. She thinks that I should have told my employer that I have ptsd and ocd but here is the thing if i have no job I will end up homeless, have no car, have nothing to my name i need to keep this job but I dont understand why I'm feeling this way. Scared to go to sleep, afraid to work nights, I cant afford to lose this job what should I do about my job and employer? any ideas? My friends idea didnt sound like the best. please help.

donnawanda 06/27/2015

How about "book-ending" your shifts by checking in with us here? Talk about your fears before you go, and report back to us on how it went when you get home. It will be a way of holding on to some sense of connection and an outside perspective on what you're going through.

spacepony 06/27/2015

Idk about disclosure. IMO I am very cautious because that can work against oneself. Not every employer truly understands. Is the OCD recieving adequate treatment?

I do like donnawanda's suggestion.

happynaz 06/27/2015

I'm back on meds and i see my counselor this week. I see them on friday.

spacepony 06/27/2015

That sounds good. Are they kicking in? Meds are what helped me with the anxiety cycle. Now I'm working on living skills. Good that you've got your counselor.

happynaz 06/27/2015

I dont understand the thoughts of being a criminal or coming from or these urges, can anyone help>

silverlining4hope 06/27/2015

HappynAZ, I used to have OCD like you describe shortly after my trauma and while I was really suffering from PTSD. Don't worry, the OCD thoughts are just a response to how you are responding to unresolved trauma.

I'm not sure how your thoughts are, but mine were directly related to my trauma but more in an "How could anyone do this to another person?" way. Mine really stemmed from shock and fear of what was done to me.

Once I went to therapy for my PTSD and worked through it, it disappeared.

*Hugs to you* I know that the OCD can actually be worse than the PTSD itself.

happynaz 06/27/2015

just scared, because I've always had the thoughts but not this bad and it's like i'm having urges as well. how can i resolve this?

DavidNRockies 06/27/2015

Can you take a few minutes and read this ? It looks like it might help you right now .....

http://www.drmartinseif.com/resources/intrusive-thoughts.html

I wish you peace, health, and strength.

silverlining4hope 06/27/2015

I used to remind myself "It's just OCD" whenever the thought re-occurred and then I would try and carry on with whatever I was doing at the time. It was like practicing acceptance, I knew that I would get the thoughts and I knew they meant nothing (that's the hard part, but they really mean nothing). It's all about how you react to the thoughts. The less you respond to them with fear, the less frequently they occur. Eventually they decrease over time. When you go to therapy for your PTSD and you deal with your trauma more, then they will likely go away altogether.

happynaz 06/27/2015

thank you for the article I read it.

happynaz 06/27/2015

how can i go from being afraid to do something to actually wanting to do it?

freedom14G 06/27/2015

thanks for sharing

spacepony 06/27/2015

OCD seems to be self reinforcing feedback loop. You don't want to hurt someone even if you were angry, and while someone with OCD instantly dismisses or suppresses the thought, OCD recoils in fear or disgust and tries to not think the thoughts. This in turn strengthens these thoughts. OCD is an anxiety disorder and not a psychopathology. OCD doesn't act on the thoughts. Do you post at the OCD board? I don't think it's very active which is too bad; however, I did get some help there. Hugs x

52yrs2long 06/27/2015

You have to be patient. Nothing will happen overnight. There is no magic wand. We have all looked for it, and it isn't there. Work with your therapist, take any medications if necessary, and be willing and ready to work your tail off. One day at a time. We are all here for you.

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