It may, indeed, bring it all back up again. But as you talk about what happened, you will be able to process things, and that will make things much better for you. It is by keeping secrets, by not tallking about what happened, that your PTSD gets worse, or progresses on to personality disorders, addictions, or depression.

The support group of others who have been through the same thing as you have will be parpticularly helpful since they'll understand exactly what you're talking about. You won't have to explain anything to them. And they'll also understand your thoughts at the time, as well as your feelings and emotions. I can't see any way in which such a group could harm you. I only see positive results coming from such a group.

this is one of the most studied and most successfully treated disorders in all of the mental health field due to abuse victims and soldiers returning from combat. i strongly recommend counseling. think of it t his way...it won't get better with time--we know that for sure--what do you have to lose with counseling? Nothing! And you stand to gain your piece of mind. i know it's scary (i've been there--and am in treatment for some related issues now, but for the most part, the high impact symptoms are gone and i feel a lot less anxiety and at least understand why i was going through it, and i don't blame myself for it all anymore. i think you should go.

it well help i used to think why and how but it dose help .you can get stuff out that you keep inside .you get to talk with others who can see it the way you do ,not so alone ,hugs minnie

I was in counselling for a few years. I don't have the funds for private counselling. I went to a county-run place specifically for PTSD. After a couple years, the county decided I had been in counselling long enough and, against my therapists advice, closed my case. That was last December right before Christmas. Since then, my symptoms have returned full-force. I've had to go home from work early because of upset stomach several times. I can't concentrate. Have several panic attacks a day. Break out in hives. Have night terrors. The works, basically.

I don't know if I would consider counselling again for fear that someone, for whatever reason they could think of, would suddenly decide to close my case again. For me, I will do what I can on my own to try to keep myself afloat.

But, while I was in counselling, I did make some marked progress. I still practice some of the stress release exercises. I just have no one to talk with about things anymore.

To MarianF and anyone else that may benefit from this, try contacting your state's NAMI group, (National Alliance on Mental Illness). I'm pretty sure every state has it and they can do A LOT to assist you in finding help, even for free if you need it. They even have phone counselors 24/7 if you're having a really rough time.

www.nami.org

Just look under "Find your local NAMI" and click on your state. It will give you the contact info. They have been really helpful to me and even call once a month if I don't just to check in and see if I need anything.

To bluemoon, hang in there. I highly recommend EMDR therapy for PTSD. They use to use it only for combat veterans to help with flashbacks etc, but now a lot of therapists use it for people like us. I've seen a huge improvement when I thought I was going to be lost to this forever. Let me know if you'd like to talk or would like any more info on it.

Take care,
Kim

@Kim --
www.nami.org

Very helpful, actually. I'm sure some communities have more services than others. I live in a metro area, so there are more resources. However, even in a county of nearly 1 million people, the 5 sliding scale therapists/centers are bound to be over crowded.

If you can't afford a sliding scale therapist, the options become pretty slim- free peer groups, internet & jail.

If you qualify for assistance, that presents its own level of drama. I'm often amazed at how people think getting medical/welfare or any other government service is easy - perhaps even desirable- it's not.

"You will find that the State is the kind of organization which, though it does big things badly, does small things badly, too." ~John Kenneth Galbraith

"There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you." ~ Will Rogers

For acute situations, there is, at least, some kind of safety net. Most HMOs offer short term crisis counseling and long term medication monitoring. The county even has adequate services for folks in crisis... but...

I realized long term Mental health is up to me. Ongoing counseling is a luxury. Food & Shelter come first. We can spend $400 a month on a shrink, or pay down our debts, have vacations and go out to the movies once in a while.

I definitely think anyone should at least go for the short term therapy. But we need to think about long term care, as well. That is, mental illness isn't like a splinter; remove it, pop some antibiotic cream on it and it goes away. It takes daily effort for me to stay mentally & emotionally 'healthy'. And I don't always succeed. 8-O)

YMMV

Aloha

That is great info. Thanks. I will try NAMI.

I really do recommend therapy for PTSD when it is available. I spent too many years without it after I was hurt. 'Too many' is a gross understatement. It was over 20 years. That was a mistake I wouldn't wish on anyone.

Counseling is a help. If you think a group would be to much, go to a one on one session a couple times. The cost is worth it , just to get you started. They can give you tips to help you through this. I really don't believe the pain ever really will stop, I do think we have to learn ways to be able to live with the hurt.