[Pmarie]

This is my first post. I suffer from PTSD, as a result of physical & sexual abuse at the hands of my father. I also have a spinal chord injury, as the result of a work injury, and am in constant pain. The good news is that I do not want to live in the shadows anymore; I have been in therapy many years but now I want to participate in life. I have a part time job, and joined Toastmasters, and am introducing myself as an artist, when people ask me what I do. My question is how do I get beyond the panic and triggers? Just typing this paragraph and sending it out is causing me anxiety. I realize I may not have the lifetime of happy memories one can usually expect, but I do have today. <font color="blue"> </font>

[Evangelista]

Hi Scared to be Me...

Welcome..it sounds like you have a wonderful attitude, that was not easy to get to. Posting can be very anxiety producing, you open yourself up to virtual strangers, hoping for support and understanding. So, its wonderful that you have taken this first step, and I hope it helps.

Triggers are a tricky issue, for me I am trying something my T introduced called the "Safe Senses"..I try to ground myself by checking what's really happening externally in the physical world..like smells, sites, sound, touch, and taste, etc..and created a tool kit to help me when I start to be triggered, along with some affirmation statements to read. Also, there are some wonderful resources "Grounding Techniques" listed on the site. Take care..and again its ok to be anxious after selecting that "continue" button..smile...I tend to be the same way...

[Lexicon78]

Therapy and lots of nurturing help me in dealing with things. Also you can try many relaxing and grounding techniques.

Hang in there.

I use many ways to get me through panic attacks -

listen to realation type music
Listen to a tape recording of my therapist from when we recorded our doing a relaxation visualization during sessions
journal writing
paint
draw
manipulate play dough and other type clays,
Make a diarama of what I am experiencing
make a collage of what I am experiencing
take a walk
go biking
email friends
call friends
take a bath
watch an uplifting movie
play games on my computer and game boy
call my therapist
write to my therapist
do workbook activities about what I am experiencing

the list goes on.

Explore things that you like and things around you and when you find something that comforts you write it down. and that way when in panic and so on all you need to do is take out your "emergency list" and follow down the list by doing the first thing and continuing down the list until you are feeling better.

[(JD)]

Welcome to PC! I think asking your T about that would be beneficial..as the T probably knows your triggers and certainly can help you. When panic attacks it's first helpful to breathe, as we tend to hold our breath, making it feel even worse. TC!

[Pmarie]

Thank you, everyone, for your answers. Sometimes it can take me a week or so to get back to the log. My back has been hurting me so, and I spend so much damn(allowed to say that?)time getting caught up working out technical bugs-- the computer vortex of time. Guess what? I am reading a great summer novel; complete escapist stuff. It is very relaxing- "The Little Country." The tips about anxiety help; tonight, I will try manipulating my daughter's modeling clay.