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 had a sign of personal growth in coping better with PTSD symptoms lately? I had one. I was teaching at the college today, and I had a student smart off about something I said in a lecture. It wasnt outright insulting, but it was an interruption for attention diverting from my lecture.
I hate to admit to being thin-skinned, but with PTSD I can be, especially when interacting in front of a group fo people. In the past Ive had to bite my tongue or grind my teeth when something like that happens so my irritability doesnt show. Then on with the show, but a little bit of me would be spooked not so much by the interruption, but by the way the interruption triggered what could be my overreaction I had to repress and swallow.
Today that didnt happen. The students smart off comment was a mild form of teasing me, and I took it that way, laughing, and teased back a little, then went on instead of being irritated the old way. Man, it was nice. Much more going with the flow.
With my PTSD, though Im a nice guy, Im pretty intense. For me to be more happy go lucky like this and to have a good sense of humor for real, not just as a tactic to cope with, was progress. Ive got a long way to go in my PTSD recovery, but it was progress.
Whats your latest sign of progress?
I hate to admit to being thin-skinned, but with PTSD I can be, especially when interacting in front of a group fo people. In the past Ive had to bite my tongue or grind my teeth when something like that happens so my irritability doesnt show. Then on with the show, but a little bit of me would be spooked not so much by the interruption, but by the way the interruption triggered what could be my overreaction I had to repress and swallow.
Today that didnt happen. The students smart off comment was a mild form of teasing me, and I took it that way, laughing, and teased back a little, then went on instead of being irritated the old way. Man, it was nice. Much more going with the flow.
With my PTSD, though Im a nice guy, Im pretty intense. For me to be more happy go lucky like this and to have a good sense of humor for real, not just as a tactic to cope with, was progress. Ive got a long way to go in my PTSD recovery, but it was progress.
Whats your latest sign of progress?
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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...
Myself I've made great strides forward in the past but lately kinda backsliding due to some stuff I'm attempting to work through.
I had to take my grandson to his hockey game alone and I spent the first period in panic mode. I thinks it's time for me to get out more since these last few years of isolation are having a negative effect.
Even helping my friends on here has been piss poor in my opinion. Even though I know where I'm going, it's like I losing my way...
My latest sign of progress was actually having a "REAL" feeling! It was only in a dream but non the less this is a huge breakthrough for me!!
Thank you for your sharing as this was inspirational for me personally that you have shared your progress!
One of my main problems is worrying - what's going to happen next? I know this is due to multiple traumas throughout my life, and I also know it's not healthy at all.
I've had a couple of occasions recently that caused me to start worrying, which usually escalates into triggers. But, I did some journaling, meditation and reminding myself that most of the things I worry about never happen, AND I kept myself under much better control....meaning not going into major panic attacks, and feeling messed up for days.
So I get it muji. It can be the tiniest thing, but when you get thru it relatively without problems, it's very major for us!
Mine would be resisting the temptation to beat myself up over an unproductive week. I don't have a boss, so I HAVE to do all my own bullying in the name of self-motivation. Well, okay, so I am beating myself up, some, but I am using a velvet whip. Honest. I am only calling myself a wuss instead of a...
Okay, okay. Mine would be that I am still working on it. Haven't given up yet.
One of my most recent signs was about a week ago. A photo was messaged to me... a photo, that would, at a time in the past, would have severely triggered me into flashback mode, rendering me useless for at least a day. But instead, it actually pointed out to me the progress Ive been making, especially during this past year.
The photo was messaged to me while I was helping with a remodeling project. I realized, at that moment, that I was okay. Happy to feel useful, to have a purpose. It was a spiritual revelation, so to speak. I didn't go into panic mode, nor did I fall into the flashback trap. I did take a short break, however, and thanked God for this acknowledging awakening. A perception that 'It's okay I'm going to be alright', and I'm exactly where I need to be, and even liking where I am, and WHO I am.
I celebrated the moment, with a great cup of fresh coffee. Tears of happiness running down my face. I've come a long way. I still have a long way to go, but little by little, I feel healing occurring!
:-)
Off to class soon.
Share those fragments that come to you as you see fit. It's those little things that grow out of recovery like this that give me hope for the long run. Hugs back atcha.
Muji
Better now, because life always happens and I can not control what the future holds... I do hope, and feel as though I have learned a lot on my journey and I have more tools and more knoledge and more support... And above all...
Way more self love than I have had before...!!! I think it helps me a lot to keep reminding myself that I am all I need to be loved...!!!
Thank you for this post muji...
It is nice to hear all the different levels of success we have all found along the way..!!!
Sometimes I believe people are afraid of me because I am real and honest...
I would much rather be so than on the opposite side of the spectrum..