[BeautifulDiaster23]

I was diagnosed 2 years ago with PTSD. I have a hard time letting go of the past and I let it affect me in my everyday life. It has affected me to the point where I struggle with my relationships due to trust issues. It feels like everything is a trigger. I stopped leaving the house and stopped talking to people, & still being home everyday I have either acquired new triggers or I have just let them into my safe place. I just want to let go of the past and move forward and know that it was once existant but it isn't the same anymore. New people, new life, new everything so all the old needs to stay out.

[Skeezyks]

Here are links to some articles, from PsychCentral's archives, on the subject of how to let go of painful memories:

https://psychcentral.com/blog/learni...ys-to-move-on/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/lettin...ful-over-time/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-to...nful-emotions/

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/mento...king-memories/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/6-steps-to-serenity/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/what-r...your-life-now/

https://psychcentral.com/blog/start-...-inner-demons/

I wish you well...

[PumpkinPieHead]

I get bouts of house hermit. Take it slow...go for a walk, the gym, the library. Make getting out a habit even if for a short time.

[Nike007]

Hi there,

I’m sorry you are going through so much. Taking it one step at a time is the best.

From my own experience, I have learned that ignoring trauma can lead to it coming back with a vengeance and causing more impact. I assume that this is why exposure therapy is used for PTSD, so that you can learn to cope with triggers.

Talking to a therapist does help too.

But in terms of triggers, start off small, but not too small that it isn’t a challenge, and face that. Even if only for 10 seconds. This will work better if you make a list of your triggers and rate them on a scale from 1-10. My T suggested starting at 3.

It’s hard at first, even writing the list was hard for me to do, but once you get that, then you can make a goal.

This may not be right for you right now. You could look into it and see if it is possible for you to do. Things what I mentioned may vary also.

Just try your best to accomplish one thing per day, no matter how small.

[(JD)]

Did I read you right? Did you say "just" ???? There is no "just" with anything PTSD.

I've been battling PTSd for 31 years and wish I never tried to in the first place.


I did ok in therapy... but now T is gone 4 years and me no therapy and the PTSd is retaking my life.

Guess it happens.

I hope you find a good T.

[BeautifulDiaster23]

I am sorry to hear that. I understand that it is hard to cope with some better than others. I've done therapy on and off for 10 years. When things are good they are amazing but when things are bad they are horrible. I want nothing more than to live a normal life but at the same time I take what's wrong with me as I am different from everyone else. It isn't always a bad things unless it causes conflict. My main issue is with relationships, weather it maybe with family, friends or significant other. I've had a lot of bad things happen to me caused by the people I love. So I automatically put up a walla to protect myself and unless someone understands what its like to suffer from PTSD than its almost impossible helping someone understand why yu are the way yu are. I believe in time things will get better for me and anyone else going through it as well. It just takes a lot of Time, energy and being focused. I lose sight of my goals bcuz I get severely depressed and nothing makes sense. Don't give up hope.

[Unrigged64072835]

It wasn’t until the last seven years that I worked really hard to overcome the memories and flashbacks. I’m now doing EMDR to lower the intensity of those things. It’s been helpful. However, I also have to know how to ground myself and keep myself in my the present afterwards.

[Open Eyes]

I just want to let go of the past and move forward and know that it was once existant but it isn't the same anymore.

Well, first of all we are simply not designed to actually "let go" of our past like it never happened. We cannot "unsee things we have seen or unexperience things we have experienced, the brain simply doesn't work that way. Also, when it comes to trust most of us learn eventually that others have to earn our trust and that it's not wise to just "give trust" like we did when we were young inexperienced children.