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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 460
 
| I really trust you guys, and feel like we are a kind of family. I don't really have any friends to talk to, but I do talk with my parents and boyfriend. I've been having a really hard time the last few years. I thought that I was going crazy, and just haven't been myself, I've lost all my friends, battled with terrible anxiety and on/off depression. I finally got help in November, and started getting treated for Anxiety. Well, I had my first appt yesterday with a psychiatrist, and he dug down really deep and got way more out of me than my primary doctor did. So...I was diagnosed with PTSD. I don't really know much about it, and I actually thought it was only for war vets. He had me get this book, and I'm only a third of the way done, but I'm having so many "aha" moments, and I really feel like this was the correct diagnosis. That's exactly how I've been feeling, so I finally feel like I'm not going crazy, or turning in to a B word lady. I have no experience with this whatsoever. Maybe you or someone you know has gone through this? Is it treatable? Did you/or loved one get better? Are there things that make it easier? Thank you guys so much for letting me open up about something so important and personal. I really appreciate the friendship <3 | |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| Life is what you make of it. You can cling to a diagnosis, or you can get up every day and do what you know is right, even when it's hard/scary/whatever.
Every last one of us is broken in some way. Anyone who says differently is selling something. The degree and cause varies, as does the ways in which the brokenness manifests itself.
Mental health is greatly helped by routine. Sleep/wake cycles, meal time, activity. . . You don't have to schedule it to the minute, but going to bed between 10-10.30 and waking up between 6-6.30 every single day can't hurt.
The food you eat matters. You don't have to eat any particular "diet", but eat food made from veggies, meat, rice or quinoa, fruit etc. Leave the greasy bag out of your belly for a bit. Limit caffeine, and drink water. Lots of it.
There will be times in your life when you cry, sometimes a lot. Sometimes you'll feel like your heart is breaking over and over and over again, and sometimes there won't be anything but A Very Big Sad. But this too shall pass. Let yourself cry. There's nothing bad or wrong about it, and it's a healthier way to deal with sad than being angry.
There will be times when you look around and realize you are happy, although for me it took a lot of work to get there. . . You don't get to happy without being honest, though. You can't expect God or your momma to fix your life for you, so put on your big girl pants and do what needs to be done, whether it's putting a stick animal to sleep or divorcing a nasty spouse or leaving home even if you have to eat rice and beans for a bit.
* hugs* it gets better if you fight for it. Promise. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| I teach the mental health sciences. PTSD can happen to anyone, any time.. Good for you getting help!!! There are some awesome new innovative techniques used to treat PTSD. PM ME if you have any questions. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 915
Location: SE KS | Hugs to you!!!! | |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| PTSD can be caused by many things--small to large. First of all glad you got a diagnosis. It will help you and everyone you are around. I would listen to your new doctor---seems to know what he/she is doing. I am sure there is a treatment because there are a lot of people that have that. I think that one thing is a good support crew. So many people are so messed up by this that their families say enough and kick them out. But again there is light at the end of the tunnel. Listen to your doctor, take any meds you are supposed to take as they are prescribed, and rely on your support group. This is not the end of the world.
I have to deal with my little goofball students. Some of them are rather messed up bu you gotta love em.
Edited by streakysox 2017-04-06 1:49 PM
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| I want to add that I do not think you should be embarrassed. It is not like you were arrested for indecent exposure.
They had this back in the early 1900's after WWI an called it shell shock. It is NOT new. | |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I have ptsd from a previous physically and verbally abusive relationship, mine can be severe at times.....where I won't even go into a gas station if there are too many people because it will actually flare up my anxiety. PTSD is very manageable, different medications help different cases. I am currently on two meds that help tremendously, and i'm able to manage pretty well on them daily.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
| I have PTSD caused by an abusive parent. Things have gotten better over time but there are triggers from time to time. You get better at managing it after a while. Don't be embarrassed. Stick with your doctor. Sounds like he is a good one and those are tough to find.
Edited by SloRide 2017-04-06 3:06 PM
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | You don't have one thing to be embarrassed about---good for you for getting help. Hugs to you | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 112
| Nothing to be embarrassed about at all!! So glad you went and got help! That is the most important thing, recognizing you need help and taking action! That's the hardest step as well as I think the most effective.
I started suffering from some major anxiety last fall. To the point I started dreading doing anything! Things as simple as going to class, going to friends houses, etc... I had an irrational fear of getting sick anywhere but at my house. It started to consume all of my thoughts! I ended up seeing a psychiatrist and he started me on an anti-anxiety med and literally the second day on it I was worse then I had ever been! I never took another one of those pills and I met with a counselor at school. She helped me a lot and I also am firm believer in God and I did a lot of praying. I am back to normal now, but still think back on how miserable I was for those 4 months. I lost about 10lbs (I only weigh 120 so it was a lot for me). Again, obtaining help and not trying to deal with it yourself is the best thing you can do!  | |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | One can get PTSD from ANYTHING that was traumatizing.. there are no limits to what that is defined as. I'm glad that you've sought out help, but I'm begging you to not let your diagnosis define you. Don't let it put a mental block on you that's going to limit your ability to heal.. Please PM me. | |
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 Sorry I don't have any advice
Posts: 1975
Location: Sunnyland Florida | hannahbug - 2017-04-06 2:27 PM Life is what you make of it. You can cling to a diagnosis, or you can get up every day and do what you know is right, even when it's hard/scary/whatever. Every last one of us is broken in some way. Anyone who says differently is selling something. The degree and cause varies, as does the ways in which the brokenness manifests itself. Mental health is greatly helped by routine. Sleep/wake cycles, meal time, activity. . . You don't have to schedule it to the minute, but going to bed between 10-10.30 and waking up between 6-6.30 every single day can't hurt. The food you eat matters. You don't have to eat any particular "diet", but eat food made from veggies, meat, rice or quinoa, fruit etc. Leave the greasy bag out of your belly for a bit. Limit caffeine, and drink water. Lots of it. There will be times in your life when you cry, sometimes a lot. Sometimes you'll feel like your heart is breaking over and over and over again, and sometimes there won't be anything but A Very Big Sad. But this too shall pass. Let yourself cry. There's nothing bad or wrong about it, and it's a healthier way to deal with sad than being angry. There will be times when you look around and realize you are happy, although for me it took a lot of work to get there. . . You don't get to happy without being honest, though. You can't expect God or your momma to fix your life for you, so put on your big girl pants and do what needs to be done, whether it's putting a stick animal to sleep or divorcing a nasty spouse or leaving home even if you have to eat rice and beans for a bit. * hugs* it gets better if you fight for it. Promise.
She nailed it!!
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | ..and in the words of Forrest Gump "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." You have to learn to deal with it and it ain't easy but you're certainly headed in the right direction.
We all have our battles. You're not alone.
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | It's not embaressing at all!
I to have PTSD from a past relationship. It can happen to anyone. Anytime.
My current SO knows the signs to watch for when I start getting Sad or Dark and knows how to help. He will text me and instead of asking what's wrong he will say: "I know you're getting sad again so if you need a night alone let me know." He lets me lay in bed all day for at least one day and then he makes me get up and get outside and be active. It helps me a lot. He also knows my triggers pretty well and knows how to either redirect my attention or calm me down after I start to have a panic or anxiety attack..
I would suggest you take your boyfriend to a therapy session and have him ask questions to your doctor to see how he can help you. You would be amazed how wonderful it is to have someone who understands your triggers, your reactions, and how to help you through them. You don't have to manage your PTSD alone.
When I was younger and living alone I purchased a dog from our local shelter. She slept at my bedroom door and would wake me up if I started having night terrors. She literally layed on me one night and licked my face until I woke up. She layed with me while I cried into her fur. She cried with me. She was the best companion. I felt safe with her.
Find what works for you and run with it. My dog went everywehre with me. Work, church, barrel races, everywhere. If she couldn't go somewhere with me, I didn't go. It was a big change after she died, but I learned a lot from her. I couldn't have gotten through those early days of my diagnosis without her. I met my SO a few months before she died. He fills her shoes pretty well. I still miss those days of having her tho. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | PTSD is very treatable, but it takes time and effort to manage. I also have PTSD from sexual abuse from someone I knew and trusted as an adult(he is now in jail) that lead me to go into a verbal/mental/physically abusive relationship. Once I got out of that relationship, I had a lot of therapy to help with my emotional struggle.
I am a lot better but there are times that it will creep back up on me. I'm not who used to be when I was younger, I used to be confident and proud, and I used to trust just about everyone. I went from being able to offer people my trust until they give me a reason not to trust them, to I don't trust anyone and they have to show me I can trust them. I am extremely cautious of men, for obvious reasons. I used to be extremely independent and would do a lot of things on my own, don't do that anymore because I feel it would put me in a dangerous situation if I'm by myself. I don't like meeting people in places that are isolated, it has to be in a public, crowded place.
I'm still going to therapy for it, but because I do work in mental health I have a lot of insight and mental awareness of my actions. Which helps a lot in regards to therapy and analyzing my own behavior, and what to do to change it.
Having a GOOD therapist is a big key to your success. Sounds like your doc knows what he is doing :)
Edited by DashNDustem 2017-04-07 9:37 AM
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 pressure dripper
Posts: 8699
Location: the end of the rainbow | Hannahbug makes some very good points. I know self care is a popular buzz word right now but so much of it is necessary. You decide what kind of self care you need. In my opinion counseling is always good. It's amazing how spilling your guts to someone who doesn't know you and isn't judging can help your thought process and coping skills. As someone with anxiety issues (which I know is not comparable to PTSD) I would suggest some yoga/meditation. Check out pinterest and youtube to try it out some. The more familiar you become with your own body the easier it is to keep it from betraying you in times of stress. Good luck & God bless. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165
Location: California | hannahbug - 2017-04-06 12:27 PM
Life is what you make of it. You can cling to a diagnosis, or you can get up every day and do what you know is right, even when it's hard/scary/whatever.
Every last one of us is broken in some way. Anyone who says differently is selling something. The degree and cause varies, as does the ways in which the brokenness manifests itself.
Mental health is greatly helped by routine. Sleep/wake cycles, meal time, activity. . . You don't have to schedule it to the minute, but going to bed between 10-10.30 and waking up between 6-6.30 every single day can't hurt.
The food you eat matters. You don't have to eat any particular "diet", but eat food made from veggies, meat, rice or quinoa, fruit etc. Leave the greasy bag out of your belly for a bit. Limit caffeine, and drink water. Lots of it.
There will be times in your life when you cry, sometimes a lot. Sometimes you'll feel like your heart is breaking over and over and over again, and sometimes there won't be anything but A Very Big Sad. But this too shall pass. Let yourself cry. There's nothing bad or wrong about it, and it's a healthier way to deal with sad than being angry.
There will be times when you look around and realize you are happy, although for me it took a lot of work to get there. . . You don't get to happy without being honest, though. You can't expect God or your momma to fix your life for you, so put on your big girl pants and do what needs to be done, whether it's putting a stick animal to sleep or divorcing a nasty spouse or leaving home even if you have to eat rice and beans for a bit.
* hugs* it gets better if you fight for it. Promise.
I needed to read this! Thank you! So very very true! | |
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 Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
Location: Dearing, GA | Katielovestbs - 2017-04-06 1:12 PM I really trust you guys, and feel like we are a kind of family. I don't really have any friends to talk to, but I do talk with my parents and boyfriend. I've been having a really hard time the last few years. I thought that I was going crazy, and just haven't been myself, I've lost all my friends, battled with terrible anxiety and on/off depression. I finally got help in November, and started getting treated for Anxiety. Well, I had my first appt yesterday with a psychiatrist, and he dug down really deep and got way more out of me than my primary doctor did. So...I was diagnosed with PTSD. I don't really know much about it, and I actually thought it was only for war vets. He had me get this book, and I'm only a third of the way done, but I'm having so many "aha" moments, and I really feel like this was the correct diagnosis. That's exactly how I've been feeling, so I finally feel like I'm not going crazy, or turning in to a B word lady. I have no experience with this whatsoever. Maybe you or someone you know has gone through this? Is it treatable? Did you/or loved one get better? Are there things that make it easier? Thank you guys so much for letting me open up about something so important and personal. I really appreciate the friendship <3
I have been through the exact same thing, and PTSD really hit the nail on the head for me too.
It does get better. You have to work hard at it though, its not going to just magically resolve itself overnight.
What is hardest for me is when I have a month's worth of really good days, and then get hit with a bad day. I always feel so discouraged when I run into one bad day, and that allows more bad days to follow.
Please PM me if you want to chat more personally. Big hugs for you. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 286
| What book???? | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 460
| Thank you guys so so much for all the helpful replies! Thanks for the great advice and the positive outlook and experiences. I never knew how common this was until I read the replies. Thank you so much for your love and support <3 | |
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