How much can you control your symtoms?

I have been recently triggered and I find myself shaking and very angry. I tell myself that I am safe, but physically my body seems to take over. anyone know what I can do to stop it?

Hi, sorry I dont experience physical effects of ptsd as much as the flashback part, where I can "see" it and get lost in time and no one can tell me its not happening to me at that moment, that I'm not back "there" and I've tried all the grounding tech's that I read about and alas find pretty useless, its only time and working through issues with a therapist that is releasing the effects of PTSD.

I get the feeling of losing control. Suffering ptsd causes me to have anxiety attacks. These cause me to lose my breath, increase my heart rate, I sweat and feel dizzy. Is this what you feel? As if the event is happening again? Dont feel alone! Are you trying any techniques to calm down? I use a stress ball (which I squeesh into oblivion) or if I feel the stress ball isnt enough I take my pillow and beat it up...lol

In therapy are you working through the incident to "unload" it (work through your feelings about it)?

The more I try to control my symptoms, the more they control me. I've found relief in learning to accept that sometimes my symptoms are worse, and sometimes they are better. Mindfulness and meditation have been especially helpful.

This is all predicated on the fact that, as Sannah suggested, I am working diligently in T to process the trauma and understand its effects on my life today.

Take slow and deep breaths until the anxiety from being triggered passes.

I also agree with the others, talking with your T about the trauma does wonders for helping you get past it.

Hi, thanks everyone. I am working on my PTSD in therapy with EMDR and talk therapy. I have tons of trauma to work through so it will probably be a long process.

I do have flashbacks, in fact that is why I am afraid of going to sleep right now. But right after my trigger, getting a xmas card from my abuser, I was just shaking. I couldn't stop it either. But It has stopped for now. Now I have the thoughts of what the flashbacks are bringing up for me. awful stuff. It has made me feel unsafe again, hypersensitive to everything.
I am glad I see my T this Wed. 2 more days.
She did send me some emails today, and it helps, she thinks I am acting out out of a need to be protected. I thought it was anger, but she thinks I am reacting in self defense, because I feel threatened.
Thanks everyone for all your support. I will try to calm myself.

Hi exotic flower.

Look straight at what you wrote here...... is it not one in the same?

Anger is what we use to protect ourselves. It is our self defence. Your right on track.

And since you have more to work through I woud be shaking as well.

Try to write the flash backs down if you can . I have even drawn

images. They didn't make sence till later. they are like puzzel pieces.

lots o warm soothing hugs to you . keep safe.

Patricia

ice in the hand somtimes works

Deep breathing from the stomach

touching a rough surface

putting your hands under running water (cold)

the twelve thing -
see something take a breath and say the thing and its colour

do this twelve times - different things - with a breath each time -

this is supposed to get the thinking part of the brain back in control - I use it when im triggered if i can get a hold of myself - somtimes you just have to ride it out and try to desensitise yourself to the trigger for next time.

its scary to feel out of control - so remind yourself that you can get through this - that its not the actual event and that if you got through that you can get through this. - take care
P7

Thanks everyone for your imput, I am feeling much better today. I see my T tomorrow and that make me feel good. She emailed me yesterday and today, and it has helped so much. I am glad she does this...

You all rock, thanks for you support!

I'm afraid I'm no good at giving advice except to say that those who have posted to your thread are often right on. Kudos to them&kudos to you for hanging in there despite your difficulties. Something you mentioned-that you'd received a card from your abuser-that seemed to have set this reaction off...have you tried/is it possible to have no contact from this person? Not even from the mail? If I'd gotten a card from my abusers, I would have written "no longer at this address" or "please return to sender"&not have even opened it. The abuse is hopefully in the past&you shouldn't have to have contact with someone who hurt you. Keep your chin up-your appt. is soon&anxiety attacks are common reactions to triggers. Unfortunately, with both PTSD&anxiety disorder you just have to ride them out til they're not so much of a problem. YOU CAN DO IT!

I do the same thing. I shake inside and out. I just try to breath through it.

Live chat with others here in PC

Thanks Skymonk,

My abuser is my mom and she sent a card this Xmas. I have cut off contact with her 9 years or so ago, but she keeps trying to weed herself into my life. Like sending birthday cards unmarked from her, forging my signature to sign them up for free stuff at a place she was employed. Plus her mom (my grandma) who never was a part of my life, is all a sudden the "sweet loving grandma" who sends cards to all of us. It is all a power ploy, she wants to get us together. I have had death threats from my mom for my kids and husband. She wouldn't want to kill me because she wants me to live with that kind of pain instead. My brother who was 36 died a year ago due to results of injuries he got from the child abuse she caused. She is armed and dangerous, so I am not sure what to do with the card, because I don't want to set her off. My old T told me to steam open the letters, make copies for legal reasons. But I want to ask my T now, on what to do with the card. I talked to a lawyer a few years ago about getting a restraining order against her, but he said if it has been more than 7 yrs since she caused physical harm, there is very little I can do. Besides a protection order won't stop somebody who really want to harm someone or how is severely mentally ill. When she passes away, I will finally feel some peace. It is sad but true.

Hi Can't remember,

Breathing is good, I find myself almost hyperventilating too when I am shaking. Good tip to remember, thanks!

You are so smart Auroralso! It is almost the same thing my T emailed me today. :-)

Can you burn the card? That would make it physically impossible to exist, and the flames would and might be soothing to watch them slowly devour such an anhilistic card. My abuser passed away August 26th and sad to say yes all I feel is peace, peace of mind, peace of spirit, peace of place_ my home feels like home once more. I can live my life as I choose. I cannot and will not wish anyone harm of any sort yet when nature takes the life of your abuser one thanks nature.

I could burn the card, but I need to keep it in case I need it for evidence. But I can have my husband hide the card, so I don't see it. I love nature, that is for sure, and I hope to feel that peace like you someday. I don't have the age thing going for me though because she had me when she was 18, so she is still young. But I heard a few years ago she had thyroid cancer, but she survived it though. auuuuhhh , peace, what a wonderful gift nature gave you. :-)

(((to gifts))) (((peace))) (((nature))))

I saw my T today and she thought with violent abusers it is best not to rock the boat, so sending her card back with a "not at this address" might just make things worse. So I have a copy made of it, and my Dh is going to hide it away from me, and I am going to let it go.

sounds like a plan