Whoa, I can't even halfway get caught up on all the posts here today! I think I've read them all but sorry not to have much in the way of response.

@JaneOnceMore I have to say PTSD never does go away. You hopefully learn to handle it better over time. I've heard EMDR is good for it, but I'm sick of the therapy route, and I've got a boatload of PTSD, some more traumatic than others, but I still have flashbacks from all of them from time to time. Probably it's why I have dissociation 2-3 times a week most weeks as well, but that's been going on my entire life along with the beginnings of the PTSD. But you know, I am almost always still in a "fight or flight" sort of mode; the only times it goes away is when I'm exercising, doing artwork, or reading. I have a very hard time relaxing, and I think that comes from the underlyings of trauma. I've been through the gamut of relaxation techniques, some things worked better than others, for awhile benzos helped until they didn't then they were SHYT getting off of, but after years (and I'm talking upwards of 20+ years) finally deep breathing helps me some. Either I got better at it, or something finally clicked, or maybe my meds are right for it to help ATM.

Anyway, as for me...I took a walk/jog, mostly jog this morning of 3.5 mi. It wasn't a a jog by choice but because pouring rain and a scary thunder & lightning storm chased me in. I was soaked by the time I made it inside. I showered, had breakfast, read with the SAD lamp. I drew and painted some then went to the library and stopped by Starbucks to get a mocha latte and a spinach, feta, and egg white wrap for lunch. I finished my painting after lunch, but ugh, I didn't like it, so I painted a 2nd picture.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Irish cream tart:

cinnamon roll: