[insideout]

I have a history of "bipolar" symptoms as well as "delusions" but lately the "delusions" especially paranoid ones, are worse....
i recently left an abusive relationship and moved to a new apartment and have been basically hiding from all friends and family... i isolated myself because i never want to be in that situation again...
i feel like everyone has alterior motives and are out to get me or ruin my life...
i have problems with sleep and sometimes i hear intruders coming into my house so i search my house in the middle of the night, knife in hand...
am i suffering from ptsd? or did the stress of the recent events in my life trigger a worsening of my pre-existing conditions?
(i am too paranoid to even see a pdoc or therapist about this)

[Rhapsody]

((((((( HUGS ))))))) ~ ~ ((((((( HUGS )))))))


If you cannot bring yourself to go to a doctor right now then maybe look into taking a natural herb called VALERIAN - it works great for anxiety and helps you sleep at night.... I take Celexa for my mood swings & anxiety disorder and then I use the Valerian in between, PRN - as needed.

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

insideout,

Only a professional can diagnose you but here are some symptoms of PTSD. You can also read more about it here...

psychcentral / PTSD

Specific Symptoms of PTSD:

The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which the person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others and the person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror.

The traumatic event is persistently reexperienced in one or more of the following ways:

Recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts, or perceptions.

Recurrent distressing dreams of the event.

Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring (includes a sense of reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations, and dissociative flashback episodes, including those that occur on awakening or when intoxicated).

Intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.

Physiological reactivity on exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.

Of course there is so much more involved, but that's a start. A T or P-doc will be of great help to you.

Keep posting,

Petunia

[insideout]

thank you for that info...
and i will try the valerian.
right now i am trying to just distract myself from the intrusive thoughts about the abuse i suffered, and i still sleep with my knife, but ive buried myself in my studies and instead of listening to music (reminds and triggers flashbacks) i now listen only to books on CD.
its really helping... a little.
it will be some time til i can trust a doctor , by then maybe the "PTSD" symptoms will be gone....

[Rhapsody]

YOU can also try taking a natural herb called 5-HTP along with the Valerian.... the 5-HTP is taken once a day as where as the Valerian can be taken up to 3 times a day (and at bed time for sleep).

Good Luck....

LoVe,
Rhapsody -