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.
Hi -- am wondering if there are others here whose PTSD has evolved into a lot of rumination, or if a tendency towards obsessive thought preceded the trauma.
A tender topic to bring up, at the risk of excessive attention to ruminating itself. So I see the irony but it feels needed on this end to help break a cycle of staying over-focused on some interpersonal things I can't change, I've done my best to resolve the situation and keep my boundaries but fear can paralyze me, fear of my own reactivity, the cumulative effect, fear of the fear....
I think the mental energy could power a small town.
How have you dealt with it?
Any alternative therapy like hypnosis?
A tender topic to bring up, at the risk of excessive attention to ruminating itself. So I see the irony but it feels needed on this end to help break a cycle of staying over-focused on some interpersonal things I can't change, I've done my best to resolve the situation and keep my boundaries but fear can paralyze me, fear of my own reactivity, the cumulative effect, fear of the fear....
I think the mental energy could power a small town.
How have you dealt with it?
Any alternative therapy like hypnosis?
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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...
I can't remember not being in fear, so it wasn't until I stopped living afraied that I could rrealize, "Oh, I was always afraid." And I was primed for anxiety reactions as a result from that early wiring.
For me, self-guided meditation and therapy exercises (breathing, art, writing, you name it) can help. Or I put a time limit on ruminating. Or I play the What If Game---come up worst case scenarios, let the emotional fear of that hit, and often as I work back from Worst What If, I come to more realistic ones, with plans to deal with the possible outcomes, and they're not so scary. Sounds tedious, but if I'm gonna be overthinking anyway, might as well put limits on it.
And meds do help me as well.
I didn't have it before the trauma, but mind you, my trauma began at age 2-ish(?)....
It's a focus on failure for me, or potential failure. I'm trying to learn on focusing on the good parts, the success potential.
Trying is my operative word.
I started dealing with it at the purely physical level. Girl howdy, I was the most physically fit WAC in my boot camp battalion!!! When the physical channeling quieted my mind enough to allow it, I started carving room for more constructive thoughts with mental exercises. Therapy journaling was an effective tool for me. Math, music and language were my personal faves. I have used quite allot of other tools, as well. More than I have the desire to list. . .
There are loads of programs and tools out there, OFS. Gentle support while you find what works for you.
Should we be welcoming you to the forum?