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.
Every morning before work I go to Dunks to get my coffee and there's one right next to the building that I work in. Today I went in and someone in there was wearing the same cologne that my attacker wore and it sent me into a state of shock. I couldn't move and I'm amazed that I even made it to work.
On top of that I realized that the guy who assaulted my best friend works at that Dunks and I almost socked him in the face when I saw him. His current fiance ALSO works there. I'm very protective of my friend so seeing them and smelling that cologne was just too much. As soon as I got my coffee I booked it to work and now I'm sitting in the bathroom at work trying to calm down.
Why do I have to be like this?? It's not fair how someone can just take away your freedom like this. I shouldn't be scared of a smell.
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I haven't written in my diary on my computer since May because I thought that my computer was dying. I got away from writing but my computer is hanging in there. I think that I will start writing in it again. It's so therapeutic.
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First, I hope everyone is doing well, and continuing to fight that good fight! Keep up the great work on yourselves; I'm rooting for all of you!So, I started doing therapy at the beginning of the year, when I was in my most depressed state, but with my therapist, I made big changes and steps in the right direction. But, over a month ago, she couldn't take my insurance anymore, and I had to stop...
However, we do get to influence our reaction to the reminders/triggers. We get to take back our freedom and power as we heal.
Oops. . . Am I speaking in the Royal We again? ? ? Anyhoo. . .
Be extra gentle with yourself while you recover, Trich. That's a rough start to a day.
hope you're doing well!
You are amazing for getting through to work and that's really inspirational to me.
As for punching him, I would probably want to punch him in the face too. But please don't!
He's not worth shit!
I hope you feel better and have a beautiful day.
Honestly, I probably would've punched him if I didn't already have a broken knuckle lol
Thank you for your kind words, hope you have a good day too
In my life as a person with PTSD, my body/mind signals the onset of a severe panic attack by preceding it with the temporary loss of all of my ability to smell. That means a big trauma memory wallop is on its way. It's a weird feeling.
So though I can't offer you the cure for how that smell triggered you, it's a well documented trigger you can ask others to respect your boundaries about it whenever possible.
thank you for the support