[lightcatcher]

Hi all, I have been given a diagnosis of PTSD for trauma throughout my life. It doesn't come as a surprise, I work in the field so I knew that it was probably gonna be assigned.
Any who, I am wondering if PTSD ever goes away/cured? Or is it more like I am a recovering ptsd person? I haven't done deep reading on this topic- trying to keep my head in the sand maybe?
thanks

[Hellion]

I don't really see it as something that goes away, or can be cured. But its possible to treat the symptoms and make it less severe or keep it under control...but not sure if ones brain ever goes back to the way it was before. I guess I just see it as something I have to live with and cope with it as best I can...for instance I have to try and limit my stress so the symptoms don't get worse and things like that.

Certainly not trying to say there is no hope, its possible to function better with it with proper treatment and all that...but I think it causes too many changes to be undone.

[Open Eyes]

Hi lightcatcher welcome to the PTSD forum.

Hmm, you say you have worked in the field, is that the field of psychology/therapy work?

First of all, PTSD is confusing and scary, if you decided to finally get diagnosed, it must mean you are struggling and getting overwhelmed and PTSD symptoms are becoming unmanageable.

Well, you can read about PTSD, but what that will tell you is that PTSD does result from trauma or even several traumas, and a person can go for a while after a trauma or several traumas and be fine, but can develop PTSD, even years after a trauma or growing up in an environment that was dysfunctional and hard on them.

What you will read about is all the "symptoms" a person struggling with PTSD has, that many of their fears are not paranoia, but more that they are actually hyper vigilant, which is not the same thing as paranoia.

Many people who struggle with PTSD practice "avoidance" and some struggle so much that they "isolate". The main reason "why" people react this way is because "reminders" of traumatic events or certain people and places can trigger them to be filled with cortisol or adrenaline, to where they go into "fight or flight" and when that happens it is exhausting, like they ran a marathon and slowly they try to avoid anything that will create this uncomfortable reaction, which we call "being triggered". The other challenge with PTSD that is hard to control is "emotional responses" to different triggers too. For some reason with PTSD, a person can become overcome with emotion, be it sadness, anger, or disappointment even.

Because of these challenges, the person tends to "self blame" and even worry about others suddenly deciding they are completely worthless somehow. So the "normal" drive and desire to "thrive" is jeopardized. Because the desire to "thrive" is jeopardized it is also very hard for the person struggling to be "motivated and engage". Depression comes and goes with PTSD. A person with PTSD is "very sensitive" and other people who have not experienced it first had tend to say all the wrong things to them, which only makes them frustrated and lonely.

It is very important to find a therapist where you feel "safe" and the therapist really knows how to "listen and validate" you. IMHO, the longer someone goes without that the harder it is for them, and PTSD can be helped so much better when the person struggling has the right support. Each patient is different depending on the trauma or if they have a history of several traumas, and went a long time without being comforted, validated and "heard".

I know you want to read about it so you can understand it, my concern is that you read about it and make the mistake of feeding into it. It is "ok" to be aware of the symptoms of PTSD so when they happen you are aware you are experiencing a symptom. However, that doesn't mean you need to get all upset making that symptom worse and then end up self blaming and thinking badly of yourself.

I can tell you that PTSD magnifies normal human responses. Everyone gets angry, sad, tired depressed, has off days, gets frustrated and avoids people they do not like or going to places they don't like. But when someone has PTSD, these normal human challenges and reactions get magnified, and can even happen before the person makes the conscious decision to react. That being said, you can learn to gain more control of that challenge, in fact, you can learn to control many of the PSTD challenges so do not let yourself get
too frightened when you experience a flashback, body memory or any of the PTSD symptoms.

With a therapist who understands this and knows how to work with PTSD patients, a person can spend time discussing whatever they experienced that challenged them where they never really had a chance to properly process these events. Setting up a good support system for yourself is very important. That means having a good therapist, talking to others who also struggle and can validate you and share ways they manage it and also listen when you need it and staying away from people who are unsupportive which can mean "family members". If you have to have family around you, like a husband, at some point your therapist should meet with whomever it is and explain to them what PTSD is, how it is not your fault, and how to best support you.

I can't tell you if there is a cure for PTSD. I think that the most important thing for you is to not worry about that and just focus on getting into good therapy and learning how to manage it and "heal" one day at a time.

You are always welcome to come here and vent, ask, talk, or just get support while you are on your journey to healing. There are lots of people that work, and thrive that have PTSD. The important mindset to have is
willingness to learn and grow and practice good self care and patience.

(((Hugs)))
OE

[Mysterious Flyer]

Simple PTSD may completely go away and never come back. This may happen with therapy, or on its own. Combat soldiers with simple PTSD tend to expect this of everyone, so please don't go to combat soldiers for advice unless you are a combat soldier with simple PTSD yourself.

Complex PTSD will never completely go away. Complex PTSD develops in victims of chronic abuse, such as child abuse, very long/extreme tours of war, or imprisonment. Usually, if you are separated entirely from the traumatic situation, then certain symptoms will go away immediately. Such symptoms include recurring nightmares and hyperactivity. After a while, you will notice a verrrrrrrrrryyyyy slow reduction in your levels of anger, anxiety, and feelings of being inhuman.

It takes like 10 years to notice a big difference. During those 10 years, you will have cycled to a completely new set of friends. If your new friends discover your problem, they will not realize the progress you've made over 10 years, but they will just judge you because you have a problem and they don't. So don't tell people about it unless they have it too. Even therapists and doctors can be very judgemental, and most don't understand it.

The internet is a great place to start because you are anonymous here, so there can be no consequences. It's also good because you have people like me who have been living with this problem for thirty years. I won't blow smoke up your asci, trying to make you think that you only need to take vitamins or meditate or whatever. I can give you practical advice about what works and what doesn't. Where else would you find that?

[JaneC]

Hi lightcatcher, I think its a great idea to get some info, and openeyes advice about finding a good therapist I agree with 100%. Mine is really helping me and I do see big improvements....there is hope!

I also really wanted to give my 2cents about telling peope, and here I disagree somewhat with the above poster.....eventhough sometimes I feel very worried about telling people, so far it has always been ok. Not everyone judges and I am sorry mysteriousflyer that you appear to have had some negative experiences with that, it must be hard. But it is not always a fact, and I believe it is important to build a support system including friends and professionals around you.

All the very best lightcatcher, take care.

[lightcatcher]

Thank you to all of you! I have a great therapist that I've been seeing for awhile now. T is very supportive and reads me well.
Although T is going well I feel like memories and feelings are coming up that I didn't know I even had - so it seems to be getting worse before it gets better???
Thanks to both jane and mysterious flyer about telling people - there are some people I have told and some that I won't, some I think will get it, others probably not.

My ptsd is from csa, and probably trauma from deaths. I'm yet to read a full report, I'm looking forward it that read ;-).

[JaneC]

Lightcatcher Hi from across the ditch

I too found that once I finally began to look at some historical stuff that I began to have more and more constant feelings and memories surface. It can sometimes feel quite overwhelming, and I too seemed to be getting worse before better.

Now even though I get these memories and feelings(and soooo strong) now I find that I can accept them a bit easier, and have begun to see some progress. I still think it's going to take time, needle and haystack kinda stuff!, but I know I'll get to a much better place.

I think you are really courageous to want to see your 'full report'.....I'm not sure I really want to! Hope it works out as you hope?

[lightcatcher]

Thanks Jane! I've read many of your posts and you are very courageous too! I hope to get the file soon, get it over and done with. I think it will provide some insight to myself that I would usually ignore. Thanks again!

[(JD)]

There is no cure for PTSD at this time. Experts don't even know where "it" happens in the brain... any PTSD might ease but it's always there waiting, lurking..

Therapy needs to retrain the brain on how to process memories. I liken it to when trauma causes PTSD, all the memory files of the mind are dumped on the floor and scattered.... one memory leads to another and another trigger etc. The brain needs help in filing the memories. The good part is that once you correctly file a memory, the brain will find all the similar memories on that floor and file them as well.... so you don't have to go through every memory in your life.

The most important part of therapy, imo, is to go slowly. When you're stressed out that isn't the time to do memory work... and if you go too fast in therapy that's when you are really triggered and overwhelmed and wanting to quit and all that. Like the tortoise and the hare---going slower gets you "there" faster.

Learning good habits over time is what gets you through times of flashbacks and triggering... practice/repeat over and over the methods of coping the T teaches you...so they kick in automatically when you're triggered and can't think.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by (JD)

There is no cure for PTSD at this time. Experts don't even know where "it" happens in the brain... any PTSD might ease but it's always there waiting, lurking..

That's one of the most annoying aspects of it, I mean there are times my symptoms are pretty much non-existent and I start thinking maybe it has actually gone away...then I might forget to limit my exposure to stress which doesn't usually end too well. But yeah it causes some anxiety never knowing when something's going to trigger all the unpleasant symptoms.

[lightcatcher]

I figured it could be a forever thing. Trauma affects the brain and how it builds I guess - esp if it is childhood trauma.
It seems frustrating to me, if somethings wrong fix it, thats how I see most things. But this is one thing that you cant just "fix" that might/will affect the rest of your life. Its also random - sitting there talking to people and then bang! A slap across your face of feelings and memories.
It also seems like there is no medication as such to actually do anything for PTSD except medicate the issues that spring from it such as depression and anxiety.
Ah I think Im just mad and frustrated that it cant just be 'fixed' and that its a long long term progress of working through it.

Thank you for all your wonderful and supportive comments!!

[Open Eyes]

((lightcatcher)),

Try not to wonder if PTSD goes away or is curable. I think it depends on the person and their environment. Some people have talked about how it can go into remission for long periods. I think it all depends on the person too.

I think that having a good therapist really helps in gaining, a therapist needs to be calm and a good listener, but an attentive listener.

I think JD is right about the subconscious, however I think what happens is that either a trauma can happen that puts us in danger or leads to experiencing a big loss of some kind, and that opens up the subconscious mind to anything in our past where we felt threatened in some way. It can take time to work through childhood traumas, however, as you do work through them you can finally mourn whatever took place and finally process it so those memories don't bring forward such uncomfortable reactions.

You are welcome to talk about anything here if you just need to talk something out and have extra validation aside from your therapist. The one thing that really helps with PTSD is being heard and validated. Often that was missing during childhood traumas.