support

[Melange 69]

hi everyone. new here and looking for support in regards to P.T.S.D. Any thoughts, suggestions will be taken on board...

 

[Jabberwocky]

what help are you getting? is there anything you've tried that hasn't worked? are you able to get specialist therapy? i've had wonderful experiences with EMDR and ART and i think EMDR is now well established for PTSD, it seems too good to be true but, for a therapy, its well supported by research.

 

[Mafioso]

Hey I've been diagnosed with PTSD myself here as well. I made a similar post in the Sober Living subforums and got a pretty decent reply, might get better responses there.

Personally, I haven't really found anything that really manages it completely. I've come to understand it as part of my personality and a struggle that I will likely deal with for the rest of my life although it doesn't have to control and dictate my life.

Some things that help are benzodiazipines, music, support groups, intense adrenaline inducing activities, and cannabis. Benzos and cannabis are both risky in that they both carry the problem of dependence and addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy has also really helped me a lot- the symptoms are still there but they don't feel as scary or life controlling anymore. Just more like part of my personality that I need to be aware of and vigiliant in managing. Exercise really helps as well to help regulate my mood.

 

[Melange 69]

ive had help through various sources... as far as VA goes, they can fuck themselves. i have a good counselor right now, but even they say that my illness is far beyond their scope. having no family doesnt help either. so i could safely say, that if not for my beloved dog, i wouldnt be talking to you right now...

 

[Melange 69]

Hey I've been diagnosed with PTSD myself here as well. I made a similar post in the Sober Living subforums and got a pretty decent reply, might get better responses there.

Personally, I haven't really found anything that really manages it completely. I've come to understand it as part of my personality and a struggle that I will likely deal with for the rest of my life although it doesn't have to control and dictate my life.

Some things that help are benzodiazipines, music, support groups, intense adrenaline inducing activities, and cannabis. Benzos and cannabis are both risky in that they both carry the problem of dependence and addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy has also really helped me a lot- the symptoms are still there but they don't feel as scary or life controlling anymore. Just more like part of my personality that I need to be aware of and vigiliant in managing. Exercise really helps as well to help regulate my mood.

yeah... the weed has helped a lot. good music (especially when jumping out of a plane) covers the adrenaline side of things. just doesnt seem to cover the 'big empty'.

 

[Mafioso]

Weed definitely helps with the the immediate symptoms for me, but lately I'm not really liking being left all stoned and intoxicated.

Thinking about trying CBD. Benzos help, but are really addicting for me. There is a certain amount of pain that needs to be felt and worked through, and with benzos it's just too easy for me to take the easy way out all the time, then physical addiction and i'm fucked.

The biggest thing for me is sort of a mediation or mind-based practice. just focus on breathing and the thought "emotions will pass, so will this too". A lot of the times just allowing myself to work through my thoughts and emotions has really helped- although this is difficult when in stressful situations like work or around a lot of people.

I think cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy have a lot of merit as well. I hope to do more of these myself when I get better insurance.