Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
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yadlim
So the day started out ok. I spent a couple hours trying to get physical pain under control as I had aggravated my spinal injury a few days ago. It was to no avail and physically I wanted nothing more than to spend the day lying flat in bed, combating pain.
BUT we had family plans. Slowly I got the rest of the family moving. Eventually out the door and off we went to find the residence of my daughter's and hubby's friend.
Three things happened on the way there... First, when we drove to the main road from our house, our favorite espresso stand was open! None of us figured on any espresso stands being open, especially at noon on Thanksgiving! Then we stopped and filled the tank on the SUV, the pump finished at exactly $65. All of us agreed that we had never seen that happen before. Not just an even dollar amount, but landing on a $5 increment! Finally, a few miles down the highway, an adult Bald Eagle was dancing in the wind storm and swooping back and forth just off the highway. He was beautiful!!
Eventually we found the apt complex and the building... but knowing that our destination was on the 3rd floor did not help my thoughts. While hubby found a parking spot, I started my slow trudge up two flights of steps. I did really well and it only took me about 20 minutes. Coming in and greeting everyone when fine and I got seated... in a chair that did nothing to support my crushed spine. I spent the next hour lying flat on the floor in a corner of the living room.
There was lots of laughter. People were having fun, especially hubby. It was so great to hear him having so much fun. There was lots of food that tasted GREAT. But to combat the physical pain, I was taking a lot of my opiate meds. As soon as I got the pain under control, I curled up on their couch and was sound asleep in minutes. I woke up to lots of laughter and excited happy voices.
The other couples who were there left and some other ones came to say hi. Our host's new girlfriend had been a bit nervous the whole time, but as 'normal' for us and our friends is loud and quite eccentric. I asked about something, and I got snapped at for it... ??? I was not quite sure what that was about.
Everything went down hill from there. TW
The 20 something girl tried to impress us with gypsy jewelry... and I don't think anyone other than me noticed. I tried to be happy about it, but was still feeling a bit attacked. She had brought up an odd comment that sounded like there was a back story several times, thinking she wanted to join in the very rowdy talk, multiple people encouraged her to tell the story... which started with how it was about how an EXTREMELY abusive 7 year relationship ended with graphic details of people getting stabbed and an attempted murder... She told it like it was supposed to be funny.
That was not what I needed to hear.
END TW
Yeah.. to say that triggered me and that I am now shaking is very mild. It was all I could do to not flip out there, though my daughter immediately saw that I was no longer OK and with a hint to hubby we left.
Now I just have to deal with the extra pain going up and down 2 flights of stairs has done to my back. I have to somehow stop the shakes before I have a full panic attack. It is only the pain meds in my system, coupled with the pain that has kept me from curling up in the corner and screaming.
Yeah... not going back there again!
BUT we had family plans. Slowly I got the rest of the family moving. Eventually out the door and off we went to find the residence of my daughter's and hubby's friend.
Three things happened on the way there... First, when we drove to the main road from our house, our favorite espresso stand was open! None of us figured on any espresso stands being open, especially at noon on Thanksgiving! Then we stopped and filled the tank on the SUV, the pump finished at exactly $65. All of us agreed that we had never seen that happen before. Not just an even dollar amount, but landing on a $5 increment! Finally, a few miles down the highway, an adult Bald Eagle was dancing in the wind storm and swooping back and forth just off the highway. He was beautiful!!
Eventually we found the apt complex and the building... but knowing that our destination was on the 3rd floor did not help my thoughts. While hubby found a parking spot, I started my slow trudge up two flights of steps. I did really well and it only took me about 20 minutes. Coming in and greeting everyone when fine and I got seated... in a chair that did nothing to support my crushed spine. I spent the next hour lying flat on the floor in a corner of the living room.
There was lots of laughter. People were having fun, especially hubby. It was so great to hear him having so much fun. There was lots of food that tasted GREAT. But to combat the physical pain, I was taking a lot of my opiate meds. As soon as I got the pain under control, I curled up on their couch and was sound asleep in minutes. I woke up to lots of laughter and excited happy voices.
The other couples who were there left and some other ones came to say hi. Our host's new girlfriend had been a bit nervous the whole time, but as 'normal' for us and our friends is loud and quite eccentric. I asked about something, and I got snapped at for it... ??? I was not quite sure what that was about.
Everything went down hill from there. TW
The 20 something girl tried to impress us with gypsy jewelry... and I don't think anyone other than me noticed. I tried to be happy about it, but was still feeling a bit attacked. She had brought up an odd comment that sounded like there was a back story several times, thinking she wanted to join in the very rowdy talk, multiple people encouraged her to tell the story... which started with how it was about how an EXTREMELY abusive 7 year relationship ended with graphic details of people getting stabbed and an attempted murder... She told it like it was supposed to be funny.
That was not what I needed to hear.
END TW
Yeah.. to say that triggered me and that I am now shaking is very mild. It was all I could do to not flip out there, though my daughter immediately saw that I was no longer OK and with a hint to hubby we left.
Now I just have to deal with the extra pain going up and down 2 flights of stairs has done to my back. I have to somehow stop the shakes before I have a full panic attack. It is only the pain meds in my system, coupled with the pain that has kept me from curling up in the corner and screaming.
Yeah... not going back there again!
((hugs))