[meccorad]

I haven't been online in quite a while and everything's new here. I know this forum is supposed to be for vets suffering from PTSD, but my therapist today wanted to talk about it, because she think that's what's causing a lot of my anxiety/depression.

At first I always thought it was for people who had been extreme situations like war/sexual assault/near death. But apparently more than half of the description hit the nail on the head. Now, I don't know what to think anymore. She want's me to learn what triggers the memories and then when I have one to name it, analyze it, and file it away in the mess that is my brain...

I don't know how I feel about this...the more I think about them, the longer they linger. The longer they linger the more stressed out I get and so the vicious cycle continues, by letting more and more memories into the mix.

How do I stop the movies from playing in my head? I'm already on all sorts of meds....

any suggestions?

[MINIME]

Try and go slower. Rusging into things isnt good for you. You could do something called flooding. Look it up Im not sure how to explain it. Its hard to figure out triggers it not black and white all the time. You nay not even know. Maybe just write it down when you feel the memories and what you were doing before. Dont try and fix it yourself now. What helps me is I got a small wooden box that latches and I draw the flashback on it and write if I have to and put it in the box until I see my therapist. That way its a visual reminder of not trying to fix it. Good luck. Im sorry I didnt respond to this post earlier, I was in a fog and I didnt. Im sorry.

[SpottedOwl]

Doing something physical or creative helps me a lot.
I started whittling wood -- something I had never done before. I'd sit for hours working the wood, sanding it, just putting my full attention into it. It was very soothing.

Somehow working with my hands seems to quiet my mind. It can be anything -- whatever works for you. Clay, wood, gardening, painting, cleaning, exercising, ... just to throw out a few ideas.

Be gentle with yourself. Remind yourself it is the present.

[pachyderm]

This forum is for PTSD that is not combat-related (or at least not organized-war-related). There is something called "complex PTSD" that is due to prolonged stress in childhood, usually because of caretakers who did not take care, but were the problem.

[(JD)]

It could be that at some point you DID fear for your life. It might even be something that now, as adult, you wouldn't fear. However, it depends upon the situation then as to whether it's PTSD or not. I would go with your T and work through these things as though it could be, otherwise healing might not occur.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder, one of many, but a toughie! TC.

Originally Posted by meccorad

I haven't been online in quite a while and everything's new here. I know this forum is supposed to be for vets suffering from PTSD, but my therapist today wanted to talk about it, because she think that's what's causing a lot of my anxiety/depression.

At first I always thought it was for people who had been extreme situations like war/sexual assault/near death. But apparently more than half of the description hit the nail on the head. Now, I don't know what to think anymore. She want's me to learn what triggers the memories and then when I have one to name it, analyze it, and file it away in the mess that is my brain...

I don't know how I feel about this...the more I think about them, the longer they linger. The longer they linger the more stressed out I get and so the vicious cycle continues, by letting more and more memories into the mix.

How do I stop the movies from playing in my head? I'm already on all sorts of meds....

any suggestions?

[meccorad]

Sorry, I definitely noticed I posted in the wrong forum after the fact...

Anyways, my T kept going over it's definition and such and I kept telling her, there's no way I could have PTSD...I always figured it was for people who were in battle, sexually assaulted, or in other life threatening situations. However, she thinks I'm minimizing my past traumas...Which I sorta understand. I guess it may have been life threatening for me at the time, but when I look back now, I guess I would have handled things differently. I don't know....she won't stop telling me I'm minimizing...

And Triggers....I don't even know what triggers them. Usually the level 1-2 ones just sorta play in my head like movies over and over, but the more intense ones are usually sudden or a result of a current stress. The seroquel and prozac seem to keep me more calm during the day, but I still get anxiety attacks during the week and I have NO idea how to prevent them....