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.
Anybody else figure out their semi-shut in v semi function in the world social limits with PTSD?
I ask because I'm mostly solo. I do well in front of classes teaching and even in front of church congregations working as a supply preacher. But in both cases, the class or service is usually an hour long, then a break where I retreat to solitude, regenerate, and go again.
Today because I've been feeling good a former student of mine invited me to watch NFL football, and I accepted. It ended up being 6 hours in a crowded bar non stop. Way too much for me! When I got out a panic attack I'd been suppressing overtook me as soon as I was alone in the car and I puked. It's noteworthy that I didn't consume any alcohol in the bar at all, and I haven't in 3 years since being diagnosed as a diabetic. It was the kind of panic attack I've had in the past not from booze binging, but from what is for me, social binging with PTSD.
I've puked like that before when overdoing with crowds and my PTSD, so I know what follows is that it will be fine if I keep to myself for a day alone to restore. It's by no means the end of the world, but it is a symptom situation to pay attention to. An old Clint Eastwood movie has his character say, "A good man knows his limitations."
What are yours? Anybody else live in between being shut in on the one hand, and being PTSD free on the other, and find that balance? Any tips on how YOU do it? Tips literally appreciated.
I ask because I'm mostly solo. I do well in front of classes teaching and even in front of church congregations working as a supply preacher. But in both cases, the class or service is usually an hour long, then a break where I retreat to solitude, regenerate, and go again.
Today because I've been feeling good a former student of mine invited me to watch NFL football, and I accepted. It ended up being 6 hours in a crowded bar non stop. Way too much for me! When I got out a panic attack I'd been suppressing overtook me as soon as I was alone in the car and I puked. It's noteworthy that I didn't consume any alcohol in the bar at all, and I haven't in 3 years since being diagnosed as a diabetic. It was the kind of panic attack I've had in the past not from booze binging, but from what is for me, social binging with PTSD.
I've puked like that before when overdoing with crowds and my PTSD, so I know what follows is that it will be fine if I keep to myself for a day alone to restore. It's by no means the end of the world, but it is a symptom situation to pay attention to. An old Clint Eastwood movie has his character say, "A good man knows his limitations."
What are yours? Anybody else live in between being shut in on the one hand, and being PTSD free on the other, and find that balance? Any tips on how YOU do it? Tips literally appreciated.
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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...
Nothing wrong with listening to our needs and following through like you have learned to do other than a few occasions. We all need to learn how much we can tolerate. Some people thrive on social situations, but for many of us it can be taxing. I am naturally an introvert myself. Not a good thing or a bad thing, just me.
Personally I do exactly what you do and give myself time inbetween activities and keep them short and sweet if possible.
Just like you said, A good man knows his limitations.
Me, I don't do crowds. It used to be that two people talking was too much, these days it's just big groups of people.
Progress over perfection. Working on it...
I don't know what else to say, im really willing to do or try some social part more often, and sometimes by the time I need to go I simply cant
still in recovery so im very careful not to over do myself, before I didn't have this limits, I have it now
I like to escape the small town I live in on Christmas if I'm not called to be a supply preacher in a parish. Usually I'm not, since most pastors will serve their own parishes at Christmas and not need a sub then.
So I escape to DC and pick a church in which I can be anonymous in the audience instead of at the altar. When I'm done chilling out in my hotel room, and soon I'll walk down the street to the church to enjoy a Christmas Eve service with carols as part of a congregation.
Since my parents were my main abusers as missionaries abroad, I have a string of Christmas stories that are sad, violent, and tragic with them as a child and a youth under them. Faith was destroyed in our home by fraud, violence, poverty pimping, corruption, you name it.
However, though those parents left me with PTSD and no faith to start with, as an adult I found faith on my own and I get help here to cope with my PTSD. So it's really nice to go alone and anonymously to a church on Christmas and enjoy what was such a violent and twisted holy day in my home of origin.
Such joy. To redeem my own childhood by making new memories thinking about a story about a babe in a manger who had a really great mom.
:-)
But this ice storm took it's toll. Yesterday as I got home it took hours of the solitude to quell the echo's. My wonderful dinner I made for them...Enchilada's and the works, ...had sat in my stomach for hours not doing anything. So like you I am so many calories lighter since it escaped. A hot shower and back to my calming I finally slept at 1 ish or so. I have been traveling between tears and smiles today...reeling. Still working it out. But I am here with you all...safer, surviving it. Hugs muji, I missed your words and thoughts in my ice vacuum from this part of my living.
J.
Whether the outcome was good or bad, I jot it all down in my journal, documenting the situation and my reaction(s). Analyzing has helped me tremendously this past year.
I don't do crowds well either but if I limit my time there and plan ahead carefully, I've found myself in better control. I have DS to thank for that. (Thanks, Muji).
I perceived faith from a dysfunction example, also... but certainly not to the extreme it was portrayed in your childhood, Muji, but askew none the less. I guess that's a personal matter we each must walk through, to develop a healthy ideal.
you know Muji,
I am so happy for you. that you have time for yourself. that you are creating new and wonderful memories. you deserve it.
Wow, this site really helps me.