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.
Hi Folks,
I'm new here. Thank you all for posting to this board! It's the first time I've heard stories that sound like mine. I read a lot (and cried a lot) and finally got up the courage to post.
It's been 23 years since my trauma, and although I pride myself on always being in control of my life, the flashbacks throw a monkey wrench into my perfect world. It was just this week that I happened to watch a tv show where someone mentioned PTSD right after I'd had a flashback, and it finally clicked!
I always thought PTSD was just for soldiers and people who work in emergency services. The first article I read on PTSD taught me otherwise and left me crying.
I'm still angry at myself for not being able to get over what was so long ago, but I finally realize I'm not the only one who is dealing with these symptoms. I have been reading everything I can find about PTSD in the last couple days, and hope that now I understand it, I can prepare better and deal with it more easily.
Therapy is not an option for me, since my trauma was at the hands of a doctor and many of my flashbacks are triggered from simply entering a waiting room... The one that got me started on this path this week was just accompanying my husband to his appointment in an office where they do procedures like what was done to me as a kid. Luckily, my husband is very supportive. He doesn't understand why I react the way I do, and I haven't told him that I've discovered a name for it yet, but he's always willing to hold me for hours if that's what it takes. Yes, I know I am blessed.
Anyway, this is much longer than I intended. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has the guts to post here -- You help more than you know.
Hugs,
Wistala
I'm new here. Thank you all for posting to this board! It's the first time I've heard stories that sound like mine. I read a lot (and cried a lot) and finally got up the courage to post.
It's been 23 years since my trauma, and although I pride myself on always being in control of my life, the flashbacks throw a monkey wrench into my perfect world. It was just this week that I happened to watch a tv show where someone mentioned PTSD right after I'd had a flashback, and it finally clicked!
I always thought PTSD was just for soldiers and people who work in emergency services. The first article I read on PTSD taught me otherwise and left me crying.
I'm still angry at myself for not being able to get over what was so long ago, but I finally realize I'm not the only one who is dealing with these symptoms. I have been reading everything I can find about PTSD in the last couple days, and hope that now I understand it, I can prepare better and deal with it more easily.
Therapy is not an option for me, since my trauma was at the hands of a doctor and many of my flashbacks are triggered from simply entering a waiting room... The one that got me started on this path this week was just accompanying my husband to his appointment in an office where they do procedures like what was done to me as a kid. Luckily, my husband is very supportive. He doesn't understand why I react the way I do, and I haven't told him that I've discovered a name for it yet, but he's always willing to hold me for hours if that's what it takes. Yes, I know I am blessed.
Anyway, this is much longer than I intended. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has the guts to post here -- You help more than you know.
Hugs,
Wistala
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
I hope you can one day muster the courage to tackle your fear of Doc offices...so you can get the help you need!
Meds really help to manage the symptoms one has...it's hard to bear the burden of PTSD all alone w/o meds.
Therapy can really help as well...
You are healing from this terrible Trauma...and the therapist and Psychiatrist are there to help you.
It's exhausting suffering through all of this alone...esp for the last 23 yrs as you said.
I hope we can help give you the strength and encouragement to seek help for this.
Check out www.sidran.org
There is tons of info there on PTSD and you can email or call for referrals to local trauma therapists.
Maybe if you live close to someone here on DS, you can network with them and go to the same Doc/therapist so you will know they are safe.
Healing is a Journey...Welcome Along...it's due time you started healing from this!
There is Hope in Healing!
I too thought it only hapened to soldiers.
I was in my therapy group, one of the womyn who was very teary asked the facilitator about an event that happened to her the night before, as she was describing it in graffic detail, it triggered me to have one of my episodes right infront of everyone. It was then i was told what it is and have since learned ways to 'control' some of mine.
I have had these episodes for as long as i can remember but never thought they actually had a name or anyone else had them.
I finally felt so vindicated that what I suffered from had a name and was not depression or being a neurotic. I found it a really freeing experience to find a community where the whole problem is shared and we can help and support each other. By the way my female therapist has a room at the local childrens centre which is nothing like a doctors surgery and she is really informal too. Maybe there are therapists that would suit you? Glad that you have found us all. Please do not be angry with yourself, if we could all get over stuff by an act of will we would be superhuman not human. Welcome!
Nadine, that's my biggest fear - having it triggered in public, especially at work. I'm the Human Resources person at my work, so people come to me with all sorts of things. So far, being the caregiver has been great, but this is the first time since I took the job that I've had a bad spell. It's been almost a week, and it's starting to "wear off" (don't know how else to describe it) but I know a trigger now could start it again easily. If it were to happen at work, I'd lose the confidence of those I try to help, so it's a big worry.
Unfortunately, my office is next to the break room where someone always turns the tv onto CNN... I'll be keeping my door closed a lot for the next couple days!
What else do you folks do to distract yourselves or lessen the effects of a trigger if you feel it coming?
Bright Blessings,
Wistala