[SlatkaMala]

Do you ever feel like you are doing fairly well with your PTSD and then you run into something that gives you the bad memories and you feel you are back on square one?

I had been doing fairly well with PTSD stuff but then I thought I saw my exbf who strangled me and I was thrown back into the pit. Thankfully it wasn't my ex. I am terrified of him. I haven't seen him since we broke up, thankfully, but I still fear he may kill me if he saw me. I am not even sure where he is.

[Open Eyes]

(((SlatkaMala))),

Yes, I have experienced that many times so I know it's discouraging and frustrating.

You experienced a situation where you were overpowered and threatened so it is normal that you would be sensitive when you "think" you see that "threatening" person again.

What you need to do is once you recognize that it isn't that bad person, practice your self soothing and self comforting, don't be angry with yourself either. You can't help it if you "react" but you "can" slowly learn how to calm yourself down and recover faster when you are "triggered".

Don't get "angry" with yourself for this either and determine that you are going to react this way and lose control like this. When someone is traumatized by something, it is normal for the brain to become extra sensitive like this. What helps is when you help yourself realize that you are more aware and with time you can learn to "recover quicker" when you have this happen.

Even animals struggle this way. For example, my neighbor's dog was purposely scaring my horses/ponies at night while I was sleeping. He was running laps around them purposely getting them to panic and as a result many of them suffered all kinds of injuries. After I recognized what was going on and fought to get that dog contained, my horses/ponies remained very concerned and frightened about "anything" that came from that direction. I could not let them stay out at night for a very long time because they grew to relate the night with "danger". I had to put up a screen too because one of the horses got extremely frightened even when he could see the neighbors dog next door. He was so frightened that he tried to jump out of his paddock and didn't make it and bent the gate in half because he landed on the gate. Then he got up and just stood there shaking in total fear staring at that dog. And dogs never were any source of worry or fear before that.

I now have horses and ponies that are "very afraid" of dogs, where before, it was never a problem. It took me a few years to help them so that they didn't just completely "panic and react" at the sight of these dogs or any dog for that matter.

So it 'isn't just you that is challenged this way. It is going to take some time for you to "slowly" learn how to not go into "panic" mode when you face reminders like this. And yes, many people are very "ignorant" when it comes to this kind of challenge too. So it is important that you also learn to ignore some of the ignorant comments people make and make sure you have people around you that can be "supportive" that are not so "ignorant" and "dismissive". It really takes "time" and "patience" to slowly get to a point where you don't "just react in panic" like this so be patient with yourself, it's not your fault when this happens.

(((Hugs)))
OE

[ThisWayOut]

I can relate. I was doing fine until I moved back to where all the teams happened. Now I'm free-falling into a mine field. (Hugs) Hope you can find some balance again.

[grace428]

I looked for this forum to talk about my current ptsd trigger. I have a close friend who told me about an issue with her family. Her story triggered me so that I had to text her and tell her I was triggered and that I could not listen to her problems with her family anymore-she said the story triggers her also, but she is also very co-dependent and feels her co-dependency is too ingrained to change. So, I am free-falling down a deep well of pain, just waiting it out until I hit the peaceful bottom.
Some of the peripheral pain/anguish I am dealing with is saying 'no' to my friend. I don't make friends easily because I have enormous trust issues, so this is hard. I know I can't 'save' her along with myself, but even sitting in a meeting with her yesterday was hard, and I could barely speak to her afterward. My t is on vacation so have really no one to talk with until next week about this. Any voice or ear would be appreciated, thanks.

[Muppy]

Originally Posted by SlatkaMala

Do you ever feel like you are doing fairly well with your PTSD and then you run into something that gives you the bad memories and you feel you are back on square one?

I had been doing fairly well with PTSD stuff but then I thought I saw my exbf who strangled me and I was thrown back into the pit. Thankfully it wasn't my ex. I am terrified of him. I haven't seen him since we broke up, thankfully, but I still fear he may kill me if he saw me. I am not even sure where he is.

Been there, done that. I hate the nightmares because there is no controlling them. I had a terrible triggering incident 5 months ago and I still have regain the ground I lost. I can only do one thing.....keep trying. I refuse to be a prisoner of my past.

[Hellion]

Yes and I hate it, its also very hard to try and explain what is going on with me. Like I just get very anxious can't stop thinking of whatever the trigger I run into reminds me of...and I can barely get words out let alone anything that makes sense until I am able to calm myself, if I am able.

It sucks but I have to try not to feel bad about myself when it happens.

[chelsi]

Yes, I have the same problems. It is very discouraging, especially when you are hoping that you are getting better, finally...and then boom!

Also, Like quietgrace I have been overwhelmed by some of the horrible things that happened to other people that they told me about, and then those horrible things got into my head too. I had to tell those people (2 of them) that I couldn't be around them anymore because I was triggered by the awful things that happened to them. They needed to talk about them, which I understand, but I couldn't handle having their horrible experiences in my head.

[Muppy]

Originally Posted by quietgrace

I looked for this forum to talk about my current ptsd trigger. I have a close friend who told me about an issue with her family. Her story triggered me so that I had to text her and tell her I was triggered and that I could not listen to her problems with her family anymore-she said the story triggers her also, but she is also very co-dependent and feels her co-dependency is too ingrained to change. So, I am free-falling down a deep well of pain, just waiting it out until I hit the peaceful bottom.
Some of the peripheral pain/anguish I am dealing with is saying 'no' to my friend. I don't make friends easily because I have enormous trust issues, so this is hard. I know I can't 'save' her along with myself, but even sitting in a meeting with her yesterday was hard, and I could barely speak to her afterward. My t is on vacation so have really no one to talk with until next week about this. Any voice or ear would be appreciated, thanks.

I agree with you....PTSD IS a snaky bastard sneaks up on me too. I'll be glad to listen anytime.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by chelsi

Yes, I have the same problems. It is very discouraging, especially when you are hoping that you are getting better, finally...and then boom!

That is why I gave up on hoping I am getting 'better' I focus more on managing it since I feel like I am pretty much stuck with it so what else is there to do. I kinda got sick of the dissapointment that comes when you realize you really weren't getting better. I realize this isn't helpful but I know the feeling.

Hugs to all of us who are afflicted with this horrible thing.

Most times it seems no sooner than I get my equilibrium restored then WHAM! I'm all askew again.

It's a full time job just trying to remain balanced.

People who don't have PTSD & C-PTSD simply cannot comprehend how difficult it is, nor how hard we have to work, to keep everything on an even keel.

And that includes the professionals who are supposedly there to help us!

[Fuzzybear]

[grace428]

Has anyone heard of splankna therapy? Or has anyone used it? Was it helpful? I have a friend that is using it and says it is helpful for dealing with childhood pain.

I'll pass on the splankna, thank you very much!

With it's heavy religious undertones, it only serves to trigger me.

Religion (specifically Christianity) was used to justify all the horrid abuse I was subjected to for 33.5 years.

I can say with utmost certainty that it contributed immensely to the development of my C-PTSD.

I'm glad it might work for some people, but for others, it only serves to cause further damage.

In fact, I feel totally slimed after visiting the official Splankna website!

Disgusting!

[grace428]

Pfrog, so sorry about your abuse in the name of Christianity. I too am a recovering fundamental xian and am actually in the process of trying to let-go of the programming that has been done-damage-in the name of Christ! I still dearly love Jesus but just not most of the 'organized' church and a lot of his "followers". I am trying to figure out how to use my experiences in a positive way to promote change. It's taken me a LOOOOONG time to get to this place. I feel empowered and stronger than ever before. My friend who is using Splankna is still part of the corruption but she is my friend and I love her. So so sorry again that you were triggered by this.

[Bloem]

Yes, sometimes the sneaky bastard...comes without warning. And then I think everything is going well. I try not to let it discourage me, but C-PTSD is hard work.

I can definitely relate to this.

I think that's how PTSD works. It seemingly tricks you into thinking it's gone, then you find one little trigger and BAM! It's back at full force!

I think the best thing to do for this is to learn to identify what triggers you and learn to work through the distress of the triggers. That's probably key to not having a breakdown every time you see something that reminds you of the trauma. I know it's cliche, but it's much better to face it than to ignore it.