I have thought the same thing many times myself ! The trauma of what I have experienced seems so overwhelming to me at times. I can truly relate to what this must feel like. My experiences of watching my husband die, here at our home was like a nightmare.

I totally agree. I explained to a friend that I am basically suffering from PTSD. We all are!!!! I also have suffered from anxiety and depression and Art was my rock. Now he is not here. We will figure out how to do it our own. Thank God for you all on DS!!! Hugs Sue

I think that the "experts" admit that our experience often leaves us with PTSD. We have gone through so much and for many of us it was without much if any support. There is much need for a support system for the newly widowed to help with financial, emotional and even everyday needs.

Ditto on the PTSD! We have been traumatized for sure!! I'm not sure if naming it helps, but it certainly helps explain the anxiety and panic! Just know you are not alone. Together, we will all get through this. Hugs, D

If you think you have PTSD please get yourself to a therapist asap. My father suffered from PTSD for most of his life and I know that is not what is happening to me, but I am not saying that some of our experiences couldn't result in it. However, if left untreated PTSD is a lifelong, often debilitating condition, however with advances in psychopharmacology and advances in neuroscience if caught early enough it can now be considered an acute rather than a chronic condition quite often. Please, if you suspected it may be happening to you, please see your pcp or other health professional. Just my two cents.

Anxiety is our way with dealing with things. I find that drugs and therapy are helping me with the panic attacks. Hugs, Patti

No doubt we all have anxiety with the loss of our loved one. The worst anxiety attach was when my dear friends sent me a CD of pictures of Larry over the last 20yrs of our friendship (I was so grateful) .........
But after watching it, I was so overwhelmed with tears, that I have
not been able to watch it since. I will in the future .... and yes the
future overwhelms me to. I don't & can't think about it .

oops... I meant anxiety attack --- not attach

PTSD is what the doctor told me too. its trama like no other. Anxiety and an understatement. It's horrible. All the up's and downs and I am exisiting not living because part of me died with him and it was the best part of me. My soul went with my soulmate.

Morey and I had a horrific car accident a few years ago. A woman was standing on a freeway near Palm Springs and my car hit her. She came flying through my windshield at Morey [I was driving.]

My car spun around, she flew off the car and landed on the freeway [dying immediately.]. A woman, who was 9 months pregnant, was driving behind us. She stopped her car, immediately went into labor and was air lifted off the freeway. What a mess!

I wasn't injured and Morey was left with the visual of this woman flying at him through the window. He had cuts all over his arms from his air bag deploying [much more than I had!.] For years after this occurrence he suffered with nightmares, rages, fears, etc. I immediately sought the counseling of a Psych. I knew that this would be very difficult to handle psychologically. My doctor put me on therapy and meds. Morey did nothing to help his emotional scars.

We are only human and if we can get help for mental trauma as well we should.

Roz

It sounds like you had a panic attack...I used to get them in my early 20s...I managed to get it under control, but I remember how it felt...not pleasant, to say the least...I know this is going to sound somewhat bizarre, but the way I managed to control them was basically mind over matter...I would either imagine that I was building a log cabin or something, and fully concentrate on how I would do it, what I would need, etc. After a few moments, the attack would subside. Another thing I would do is tell myself, 'well, if I'm going to die, so be it'..and for some reason, that worked, too...take care, Wendi

Gail like yours my husband often provided the bridge for me into the world. My PTSD is in the extreme nature. But I am getting a lot better at managing the outbreaks. Slowly here and on DSPTSD along with college classes and art I am more in control because of the sharing and knowledge.
What a few have described are common grounding techniques that do help. But nothing beats a good therapist to help guide you to see the ways you do have to control your own reasons and symptoms. Recognition of what the triggers are help to analyze and take away the strength of them.
I admit it ain't easy but it's a help to know what others are trying and that you are not alone.
I came here for WW a few years ago, but the loss of my John was the reason for so many more things to surface to complicate my grief.I found DSPTSD as I explored why I was stuck in all of them as well. It is where I mostly interact since as a widow I have no fail safe for this in me. The acceptance and caring on both pages has gotten me into the third year of survival.
Take a look and see if it fits?
Jewell
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder/forum