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.
Hello all, First off I haven't been here for a while, its nice to be able to come back and let loose, right? lol, anyways my first concern:
Family, we all got 1, well most of us. Mine does not understand PTSD at all and are constantly pushing me to do things that trigger my stress.
I do it anyways for fear of disappointment. Any time I mention I'm getting stressed I get the response from my mom, "What do you have to be stressed about, come work for me you will know stress."
I do have to admit her job is very stressful and demanding, she is a Medical Lab Technician, still it's an iffy conversation and I just can't talk to her. I live 2 hours away from the nearest psychiatrist which takes me to my next concern.
Concern#2
I am seeing a counselor but she is more of a clinical social worker and the only person around that has to come in from another town.
I am already feeling she is not qualified in dealing with PTSD cases, my doc works with Vets that have PTSD and has told me I need to see a psychiatrist instead. This lady that I see constantly pushes the idea of getting a job and "don't you want to work, don't u want to get better?" or when relating I have a problem taking pills because of a past overdose, she scoffs at it and doesn't believe that's the reason I have problems taking pills, and says, "you need to get over that, it happened years ago," bla bla. I can't stress enough the importance of finding the right person to talk to because this 1 is about out the door, my defenses are already in place with her, this will be the 2nd person to go thru.
Family, we all got 1, well most of us. Mine does not understand PTSD at all and are constantly pushing me to do things that trigger my stress.
I do it anyways for fear of disappointment. Any time I mention I'm getting stressed I get the response from my mom, "What do you have to be stressed about, come work for me you will know stress."
I do have to admit her job is very stressful and demanding, she is a Medical Lab Technician, still it's an iffy conversation and I just can't talk to her. I live 2 hours away from the nearest psychiatrist which takes me to my next concern.
Concern#2
I am seeing a counselor but she is more of a clinical social worker and the only person around that has to come in from another town.
I am already feeling she is not qualified in dealing with PTSD cases, my doc works with Vets that have PTSD and has told me I need to see a psychiatrist instead. This lady that I see constantly pushes the idea of getting a job and "don't you want to work, don't u want to get better?" or when relating I have a problem taking pills because of a past overdose, she scoffs at it and doesn't believe that's the reason I have problems taking pills, and says, "you need to get over that, it happened years ago," bla bla. I can't stress enough the importance of finding the right person to talk to because this 1 is about out the door, my defenses are already in place with her, this will be the 2nd person to go thru.
I feel like that as a secondary survivor to a trauma my daughter experienced. She too is recieving a lot of messages that sound like "get over it".
You may be right that the social worker isn't qualified to help in the way you need. I don't know what other options you might have (but sounds like not any obvious good ones at the moment).
Sometimes I feel like inadequate help can still be better than no support, but only you can decide whether that is true for you. When "help" causes setbacks, that's no good. I don't know if it's possible, but if these people can provide partial support, it may be better than none (atleast until you can move onto better therapists, doctors, whatever).
In my own life, my husband is the biggest example. He does not understand how this affects me and my daughter in a way that feels supportive to me. He is, however, supportive to the degree that he can be. So I turn here, and to counseling, and a few select friends to gather up the support that makes up the difference between how I wished he would handle this and how he actually does.
Hope this helps.
I also think the self-love and self-acceptance are very important to as you try to heal from ptsd. I found a good mirror exercise I like to do once or twice a day that supports self-love. The link is: http://www.blog4change.org/articles/1835/1/SELF-LOVE-MEDITATIONTHE-FOUR-DECLARATIONS/Page1.html
Last but not least, positive thinking is the most helpful attitude to take. I have probably had PTSD almost 30 years, and over that time I'm sure that negative thinking has grown and festered in my state of mind. Input=Output. Remember to think positive and take little actions everyday that will lead you on your path to healing. Good luck.
*peace* & *hugs*
Sleep does play an important role in our lives, i find it hard sometimes to do when stress levels are high, lately i have been taking Melatonin to help, its natural, and more mild than prescriptions.
@ seeking:
Positive thinking is an excellent tool, i have also found self talk to be helpful, which may or may not be the same thing, not sure.
@redhotchillipeppers:
My mom also agreed that what she said was not only unprofessional but rude. of course people do have a right to their opinions, just as much as we have a right to disagree with said opinions. as of today i am no longer seeing her and my mom said she would take me to see some1 in Fargo but would have to be once a month cuz of the distance. that's better than nothing.
*smiles* *hugz*