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 was told during my first meeting with my psychiatrist. I have to feel any bit of the pain and sadness because it belongs to the trauma I've been through. He refuses to medicate the depression to find some relief of the pain. Depression is no more than a symptom of the complex PTSD.
I have my doubts about this. I tend to become self destructive and often do long to impulsively relief the pain. I do not communicate this well with them but they do know I, at one point, was suicidal. I am living in hell.
I am Dutch so it easily is possible in my country they have another view on these issues. The only medication he was willing to give were some sleeping pills for only two weeks. Almost four months of insomnia has worn me out.
So, if any of you suffered from depression co-morbid complex PTSD... I would like to hear your opinion on this. Do we need to suffer this much in order to heal? Is the depression functional or destructive?
I know I have to communicate this better with my therapists. I am on my way to learn that. It is hard to trust but I am aware of the fact it is a necessity.
I have my doubts about this. I tend to become self destructive and often do long to impulsively relief the pain. I do not communicate this well with them but they do know I, at one point, was suicidal. I am living in hell.
I am Dutch so it easily is possible in my country they have another view on these issues. The only medication he was willing to give were some sleeping pills for only two weeks. Almost four months of insomnia has worn me out.
So, if any of you suffered from depression co-morbid complex PTSD... I would like to hear your opinion on this. Do we need to suffer this much in order to heal? Is the depression functional or destructive?
I know I have to communicate this better with my therapists. I am on my way to learn that. It is hard to trust but I am aware of the fact it is a necessity.
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I did the dumbest thing today. I charged my earbuds, unplugged the block and put the block in my little bag instead of the earbuds. I wasn't happy about that when I got to the gym. What a dummy!
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Ever since I stopped doing therapy because of insurance, I've been feeling that old tense and irritable sense of anxiety and stress. I hate that. I was making so many strides and changes during therapy, my therapist would acknowledge all of my progress and accomplishments, and I miss that reassurance. Today I thought about it, and I made those changes! She would always tell me that I chose to...
I do wonder about this with my daughter. It's a "chicken and egg" question (which came first?). She has long had a history of depression, and although her attack last year is the likeliest cause that most would cite for her ptsd symptoms, I believe due to a history of lesser traumas, her ptsd did not start there (it was only the icing on the cake, so to speak). So which is driving which?
All I can say for your circumstance is that it communicating with your therapist is essential. And people don't get to that over night, trust needs to be built. You can have a basic trust due to their professional credentials (for instance, they are prohibited from running around talking about your story with other people). Beyond that, it is possible that if this therapist is someone you have a hard time working with, is it possible someone different would work better for you? I know, not everyone has the luxury to switch therapists (or even to get therapy, for that matter).
When you can trust them, it will be a bridge to healing. It is so important that we have stable others we can confide in.
Like you, I am questioning the term "functional depression". I don't say it's not possible, I'd just be interested to know what use it has. I know anger can have a use (causes you to create a needed change), but I don't see how depression would be useful, other than if someone needed to (for physical or emotional reasons) slow down. Maybe it's not the depression itself which is functional, but more that they want you to have a chance to feel what you feel (sounds like you are feeling it and then some).
I hope the two weeks of sleep meds will restore some health for you. That might help the rest of this mover forward. It sounds like they are trying to avoid overmedicating people.
I'm sorry I don't have the exact advice you are seeking, but I'm sure someone will. Wishing you relief with this.
Before my PTSD was full blown, I have some depression- not clinical but it was there. Once my PTSD was fully triggered, I started to have more depression. The symptoms of PTSD are enough to make anyone depressed. So now I am being treated for both the PTSD and depression.
You are in the Netherlands right? Is their view of medication that limited that they cannot see when it is really needed or is it just this doctor? You surprised me. In a country where in Amsterdam you can purchase pot legally, doctors hesitate to prescribe medications that are truly needed? Just very strange to me (I'm in the US).
Hope you find some relief. Hang in there.
The depression does slow me down.. I had weeks and months I lost all grip on my time and days. They were gone just like that, without being able to do anything. In the periods of depression I do have my time back and are able to plan some activity. Initially, when the sadness kicks in... It feels good. It is so remarkable to at least have a normal feeling again. We all know what it is to be sad. It is human. I didn't have any normal feeling for many, many years.
But... it tends to get to unbearable. Feeling that hopeless and desperate to the point giving up is so nearby. I can not imagine it has to be like this.
I do agree it seems he is trying to protect me from becoming addictive to these kind of drugs. The question is... what is worse?
I know I've to communicate this all a bit better. It is, at least not at the moment, so much I am afraid they're going to tell it to others. It is hospitalization I fear. That feeling of entrapment in which I've no control of myself anymore. I need to stay in my own environment.
Yes. The chicken and egg question... I recognize that one too. I have to see and find out how it works for me.
I wish you and your daughter better times.
And yes, all the drugs here... It is changing, though. More and more restricted again.
Realize in the Netherlands female still, if possible, give birth at home too. Anesthesia is out of the question. We are a barbaric folk :)
As for sleeping medication, is trazodone legal and available in NLD? It is non-addictive and can be just used as needed. This med can even has the dose adjusted on a daily basis once you become familiar with its affect on you. Ask a doctor about it. I have been using it for two years. I only take it if I feel I am going to have trouble sleeping or I had insomnia the night before. You don't become dependent on trazodone for sleep like many other medications.
For dealing with your current psychiatrist, can you do some internet research and print it out? I can help you find articles if you like.
I made a memorandum of the trazodone. I can always ask for it. It is available here. Thanks!
Insomnia indeed is horrible...
At any rate, I learned to use drugs as a crutch to get me through the broken times with the goal of getting back to independence as quickly as possible. "Functional Whatever" does make sense to me. The problems are still there, but I have the strength and courage to do what needs to be done. Sometimes I even find the trust to smile.
Do we need to suffer this much in order to heal?
WE each need to answer that question for ourself.
Peace, Netien. It is hard, whichever way we take it.
arfie: Yes.... I need and will find my way through it. Thank you.
Healing is very painful...I was saying in another forum that healing pains are like passing (the procesing of trauma emotions) a kidney stone......
But if is too, too painful that you can not withstand it then is really sadistic on their part not to give you something for the pain...
Like not giving pain killers to someone under very acute physical injury.
I'm not aking meds at the moment and i'm handling it without meds....Its very painful and there's nothing wrong to taking meds while u heal and still heal.
The only med i have to take is the insomnia med.
Because i've gone 2 weeks with no sleep and my hair started to fall out....It would be saidistic for a doc to not give meds to sleep.
My ex-doctor a very good both psychiatrist and therapist...used to tell me that it was much, much worse for me to not sleep that whatever side effects the med to sleep had.
I would find someone else.That doc is wrong.
Sorry for the multiple replies bad docs are one of my real pet peeves.
No clear response to your questions but I do agree it is hell and that every country differs on different issues. I am taking meds and as much as I am new to them, it is helping me with now.