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.
After my foray to the big city to watch my NFL team, a mindless treat to lighten myself up a little, before driving home I had coffee with an old friend from my hospital chaplaincy days pre 2010. I've been out of that job for 4 years because of my kidney disease and enjoy teaching community college now. But it's nice to visit with an old colleague from those days.
However, when my friend showed up at the coffee shop I got really worried. She's pale and wan, has had a lingering cold for weeks, and said she feels overworked and burned out. I hadn't seen a person without a PTSD diagnosis like ours look so stressed out in a long time.
We had a good visit, and I got her to laugh a little. We talked about her maybe making a job change to a less stressful job in the next year. I offered my support should she move.
But wow, it kind of shook me up. It's kind of an anti-climax for me to come home from a fun getaway weekend. Yet even as little as my life is with its limitations with PTSD and chronic kidney disease, it's not stressful like that. Thanks to my DS PTSD community here.
However, when my friend showed up at the coffee shop I got really worried. She's pale and wan, has had a lingering cold for weeks, and said she feels overworked and burned out. I hadn't seen a person without a PTSD diagnosis like ours look so stressed out in a long time.
We had a good visit, and I got her to laugh a little. We talked about her maybe making a job change to a less stressful job in the next year. I offered my support should she move.
But wow, it kind of shook me up. It's kind of an anti-climax for me to come home from a fun getaway weekend. Yet even as little as my life is with its limitations with PTSD and chronic kidney disease, it's not stressful like that. Thanks to my DS PTSD community here.
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Lately I've been feeling scared and full of anxiety. I recently found a lump under my nipple. I hurt my back too. I'm in the process of moving. I'm run down. Everything is hard
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Just wanted to give a thank you to Mid, Arfie, Malibumark, Greeneyes, Mlro, Girlincalif, and Suncloudjd! You all always have such helpful tips and advice, but I always forget to write on my posts when I see you post, lol. I would lose my head if it wasn't attached to my body, lol. Thank you all so much! I'm starting to use my AI app as a sounding board again. I used to use it as that before...
My trauma specialist tells me that I need to resist the impulse to get involved in other people's mental health issues. I have my hands full with my own issues and I have to focus on them in order to get well. This is something that is proving difficult for me because all my friends have mental issues...depression, bipolar, PTSD, and one is dying. It is hard not to care about these people and want to help them, so I do support them and they support me. It seems to be working.
You will have to decide what is right for you. Perhaps you can keep in touch via email, but take some caution so you do not get pulled into a lot of drama?
Lots of support to you, too, with your friends with depression, bipolar, and especially as you're a friend to your friend who is dying. Glad it's working!
It's nice of you to help her move.
Sometimes a small life is not so bad.... and I can only imagine how burned out she must feel. Gentle healing to you and to her (and I hope your team won. (Mine did, but going into the half, it was looking really grim.)
Purrs,
Leo
And my team did win! Yay!
I try take listening and caring about other folks in the John Prine spirit.
"No you don't have to sympathize, nor care what they may do
But everybody need somebody that they can talk to."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIxvOk3CfXU
Glad you took some time for frivolity and to catch up with an old colleague.
"Kiss a little baby/Give the world a smile
If you take an inch/Give 'em back a mile
Cause if you lie like a rug/And you don't give a damn/You're never gonna be/As happy as a clam"
Big Ole Goofy World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZACwVOJXpn0