Comments on: Treating PTSD: Fess up to your symptoms!

By: stephanie

stephanie — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:26:12 +0000

@ Wendy. I experience this sometimes as well. I think that some of my roommates are sensitive to my anxiety and might become a little stand-offish. While i would like them to be more understanding and supportive, i’m coming to terms with the situation. i get that there is something within them that is uncomfortable with me and incapable of providing me with the support in that way that i would like to have it.

Wendy, i hope that you find someone that you feel supported by to talk about what’s going on. If you are working, i wonder if your employer has a EAP, a free therapy program to talk with a counselor?

One thing i found helpful is to create a private blog that nobody can see. whenever i am feeling anxiety or bad, i write in it. sometimes processing through the feelings gives me clarity and peace. because nobody else can read it, i don’t worry about what i write. it’s just for me.

I also have another one that’s public that i use to share what’s going on with others. i don’t know if connecting with people online would help?

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 06:30:27 +0000

I don’t know if it is Denial if you genuinely are not aware that there is such a thing as PTSD and neither is anyone who is close to you. I feel that there is a lot of pressure put on victims to pretend that they are okay for everyone elses sake because others want to be in denial. If one is not aware of the symptoms of PTSD or depression how would they even know that they have something to deny?

I however do have PTSD and I know it. I am having difficulty finding individuals who understand truama and abuse and when I reach out again and there is nobody there except those who wish to judge, I feel again revictimized and like there is no way out. I pretend to be ok because it is there is nowhere to turn and no one safe to admit my feelings too.

By: LeSan

LeSan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:18:07 +0000

I think there are stages of denial that we work through along the way. Denial isn’t a single unit issue. It is often a thick and layered shell that we have to chip away at. Sometimes you get through great big chunks and other times it’s just a little at a time. The key is to keep at it.

By: Michele

Michele — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:10:38 +0000

@Svasti -Ah, yes, I remember the hermit days well! Because if we don’t see anyone no one can tell us there’s something wrong with us, right? And because it’s just so much easier to deal with what’s going on in my head when no one else is in it.

And then we begin to heal and suddenly, a whole new world opens up. Gotta love that about the net especially.

By: Michele

Michele — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:06:07 +0000

@Kris — Thanks for leaving such a proactive comment! It’s always good to share what works. There are effective treatments for eliminating sleeping disturbances altogether. Happy to fill you in. If you’d like more info email me through the Contact page.

By: kris

kris — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:02:23 +0000

My husband is having some problems dealing with PTSD, he seems fine during the day but sleeping is his biggest problem, i decided to get him some sound therapeutic remedies from Prescription Audio this seems to help him fall asleep. but waking up in the middle of the night is another story

By: Svasti

Svasti — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:50:59 +0000

I think my worst one was just becoming a total hermit. And my memory loss, which meant that once I actually forgot to go to drinks with a friend. Problem was, it was his farewell party before he went overseas for a year! Luckily he understood. I cried at the drop of a hat. I was incredibly needy but also entirely unable to reach out and do anything about it. I was silent. I didn’t tell anyone how bad it really was. I waited, passively, hoping it would all go away.

I know one of my biggest issues still is forcing myself to get “out there” and just meet new people. I probably still have trust issues with men, but I haven’t let anyone close enough to me to really find out!

Right now I’m seemingly I’m 100% clear of flashbacks. But the anxiety/panick attacks still rear up and cause me a lot of physical pain from time to time, but now I have friends (from the blogoshphere as well as real life) I can talk to about that. And that helps.

Definitely, finding other people who understand because they’ve been there… that’s helped enormously with the acceptance of my symtoms and the ability to speak freely about them.

And as Mike says, acceptance is a heck of a lot easier than denial.

By: Michele

Michele — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:02:49 +0000

@Mike – You’re so right — denial takes a lot of energy, but it seemed easier to me. Acceptance took an entirely different kind of energy. Acceptance required the energy of bravery, courage and the ability to live with a different kind of fear: the fear of facing my past so I could get on with my future. So much easier to deny a little while longer considering the other choice!

By: Mike Hinsley

Mike Hinsley — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:59:40 +0000

In the end you keep coming back to the fact that denial sokes up lots of energy. Acceptance proves to be easier in the long run.

Still working on the kinks though!