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.
I lost my best friend from her being stabbed to death by her husband right in front of me .... it is replayed in my mind over and over again every day, I have really bad night terrors, I feel really lost and alone. any advice on what could help
Are you in therapy or have you also tried in person support groups? It helps so much to talk about what has happened to us. There are a lot of coping skills out there a good therapist could suggest for your specific trauma.
Coping skills vary from one person to another. I know for myself time is always a huge factor as well as the grief process. I am wondering what coping skills you have tried before I throw a ton of things you might not understand.
This is a very great group of people and I am certain you will find what you need here and also the ability to leave what you don't. :) Welcome and I hope you can find some answers and friends here as I have. This link might help?
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/emotional-and-psychological-trauma.htm
If you are not in therapy I suggest you find a therapist. It took me years to find the right one so don't give up. For the nightmare I personally have had to take medicine for them or they happen ever night. It really helps to make your sleeping space as safe as possible with everything that is your favorite. Like your favorite soft blanket or stuffed bunny or whatever makes you feel safe. When I was a kid I used to sleep under the desk in the kitchen cause it was like a cave for me. I also do relaxation exercises. Sometimes I play music without words. Sometimes I watch tv and other times I read a book that is light reading. I use distracting methods until I'm sleepy enough to go to sleep. Since I was five when this all happen I have never really slept well. There are times when I sleep better than others but I have never been able to make it one hundred percent better but I try not to let it get me down. The more things I do to make it okay the better it gets. You may need to seek professional help to help you sleep for awhile because if you can't sleep things can get a whole lot worse to the point you can't function.
During the day if things don't really pop into my head much anymore but when they do and when they did I used every distract technique I could think of. My favorite distract method is doing crafts of all kind. I also practiced being in the moment by observing things around me. Also when I did any task such as dishes I just did dishes and I would talk to myself saying I'm washing dishes now and I can feel the soap in and on my hands ect. I took a class call DBT a few times to help me cope. The list goes on. I function very well now and the past rarely ever haunts me and when it does I talk toy therapist either in person or over the phone.
If you ever need to talk or need more coping tools please feel free to talk to me. You can pm me anytime. Gentle hugs while you figure out what works for you.,
Basic coping? *Breathe*. Breathe the square, as they call it, tho' I call it my four-count breathing. Breathe in one two three four; hold lightly one two three four; breathe out one two three four; and hold lightly one two three four. (You can visualize each step as a side of a square on a piece of paper that you're drawing, if you want.)....
That one's pretty universal. No oxygen, no good.
Gentle healing to you, and I hope you can find a therapist. A trauma specialist or grief specialist would be best if you can. And a different psychiatrist, because ten minutes and meds? Uh, no. My p-doc works in the same practice as my therapist and they can share notes on my progress so it's not just "here's your drugs and go away"....
PUrrs of welcome to our site,
Leo