We are here for you to help you navigate through this journey. Feel free to ask anything or post any concerns.

It is hard to see the light in our futures when we are overwhelmed with the darkness that we are experiencing today.

Choosing to live had to be one of the scariest decisions that I have ever ever made in my entire life. I live little by little and allow myself more and more living every day ....and every day...living feels more normal and it feels more good than it ever has.

I remember when I didn't want to live the way I was and thought it was useless to live. Well...I decided that living was so horrible that I wanted to punish myself by choosing to live. Soon after, I got connected with a wonderful therapist who saved my life and helped me to connect with her and connect with life in a better way.

Anything that is different is always scarey....including new understandings of yourself and what is around you.

You CAN grow bigger....you CAN be in a completely different place in life in a year or 5 years from now. It CAN be a place that you want to be and that you enjoy and thrive in.

****biggest hugs to you****

You are brave to face what you are facing!

Wow LYNNDA's answer was just what i needed to hear too.

'A little at a time"....yeah, it is very scary living in a world that is so full of uncertainties and for us is even more scary, but be proud you have survived and continue to survive and don't see PTSD in a negative connotation, is a normal reaction to Trauma you've experience, doesn't mean you are crazy or anything, all the contrary.

Be compassionate to yourself, you can step outside yourself and be as compassionate to yourself as i'm sure you'd be for someone else who was going through what you've been through...

I know its hard, but PTSD is not a death sentence. I have been dealing with it for 18 years, although only the last 3 in therapy. I treat therapy like I am back in college, with homework and everything. Its hardly fun, and certainly not easy, but I began sleeping through the night for the first time in years. I still have issues, sure, but am doing okay, and am still able to work full time. Remember PTSD is not who you are, its an illness just like diabetes or asthma. Properly treated, most people live productive lives. Good luck.

Knowing what is causing your symptoms (PTSD) gives you power, for the first time, to work on getting rid of them. It is scary to hear about it at first, and it can be even scarier sometimes to hear all the different things people with PTSD *may* go through.

But starting to listen to yourself, and discovering which parts of PTSD apply to you and which don't, is a great way to empower yourself to begin healing.

I'm glad you're here at DS. There are wonderful people here, who really understand. We all teach and learn from each other. Please ask anything that comes to mind, and check out other posts, too... You may be surprised to find you have answers to help others with their questions.

Bright Blessings,
Wistala

thank you all for your kind words of support and welcome.
i dont know what part of me is PTSD what part is pain or depression or what is me at all really x

Hi,

I hear you about how scary it is finding out that you have PTSD, and not sleeping.

I have been listening these CD's Recovering from PTSD from www.healthjourneys.com, and they have really helped me sleep.

I mentioned it to one other person on here, and they told me thing I have tried that has helped them sleep. I just thought I would throw it out there....

I just looked at your profile. About the back and lack of sleep. Taking 1,000 mg. of Calcium and 400 or 500 mg. of Magnesium in the evening should help your sleep and also relax your muscles. To heal the discs you need to improve your Vitamin C intake. Try 500 mg. C Complex tablets at 6 hour intervals. Basically 4 times a day. More expensive, but also more effective is Pycnogenol, a substance which is also in the C Complex family of nutrients. They both help the strength of cell walls, and also the "cement" that holds cells together. They also have anti-inflamatory and anti-histaminic properties. If you smoke take and additional amount of Vitamin C as each cigarette burns about 25 mg. of C.

Let me know if any of this helps if you decide to try it. I know it helped my insomnia and back pain problems. There are also other things you can try, but I don't want to overload you.