Quote:
Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow
Have you ever had treatment for PTSD? I did exposure therapy (it has some specific name the type I did but I forget it) 3 years ago and while it was really hard to do and took me a lot longer than someone who only had PTSD (also I have what on here would be called complex PTSD although I'd never heard the term before I came here) it was completely worth it. PTSD is always going to be part of my life but it is so much less of my life now than it was before. It took a lot of convincing for me to agree to do it and it isn't a period of my life I look back on and think "that was the best time I've ever had" but it did help so much. I rarely have nightmares or "flashbacks" (I hate that word for some reason) and I don't get stuck in my past nearly as much. I still have scars and things that are problems from those times but the memories themselves are no longer so painful.
I don't know how you find someone who can do this. My therapist took the training and I was the first person he did it on; I think he partly took it to help me since he doesn't do a lot of PTSD-esque stuff now. I know that it was also hard for him and that someone made it easier for me to see that he struggled too with what I was dealing with.
If you want to know more ask and I'll tell you more about what I did.
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Hi! No, I have only recently been diagnosed with PTSD- and BP2. Actually until I asked they didn't even tell me about the former, just the latter and even then just said 'bi-polar'. I had to dig/ask to find out. I will talk to my therapist about Exposure therapy! I am actually in the process of "gradual therapy", i wonder if it is the same? It was suggested by Pdoc, and T is helping me implement. I had to make a list recently and rate them - ranging from things I want to do, things Im nervous about, and things I would like to do one day (but no way in hell can imagine doing them on my own right now.) So far, I feel that is helping me! ie: I went golfing w/ BF and 2 strangers last weekend and I dealt rally well with it/pressure. I love to be active, so it is really nice to have the confidence coming back... and feeling more trusting of others which I greatly struggle/d with.
Once I get the BP and meds in check, I want to focus more on the trauma and honestly I am not really looking forward... but know i need to face it.
I also have flashbacks and nightmares. (they are way more intense since starting meds). I actually had a dream that my Ex-husband and present boyfriend were the same person... it was the freakiest thing b/c it looked like my BF but his personality was my Ex. ... I can go on and on about the dreams. My Ex and his family appear allot (i cut him/them off last year). As well as my own family and they are quite a trip!! I am hoping that subsides soon :O