[Yack]

Hi everyone! I joined this website 4 years ago...I haven't logged on in quite a while.

I am writing to let you all know that it is possible to have a normal life after having suffered from PTSD.

After being a crime victim in 2004, I left grad school and moved home. Three years ago, I was having panic attacks, couldn't drive, and I thought I would never work or finish school.

I now have my master's and I am a practicing therapist. I just got hired as a staff clinician at a major hospital. I've been working with people with mental illnesses and addictions for almost two years now.

I just sat for my state license, and I'm getting married in ten months.

I guess what I am saying is, don't give up! I'm ok and I never thought I would be.

[phoenix7]

Thankyou I really needed to hear that

and

Congratulations!!!

If I may ask... how did you do it? I am 2 years down the track and am beginning to lose hope that this will ever end

[Yack]

Hi....I like your dancing chili peppers!

The racing, intrusive thoughts - nothing worked at first. I tried hypnosis. That stopped it for a while. I think if I kept going for hypnosis it would have worked better.

Also, I got out of the house. I was pretty much agorophobic and barely left my house for one year. I made up my mind I was going to drive somewhere. I started out driving down the block, then into town, etc.

Once I got distracted the racing thoughts eventually stopped.

For the nightmares, I just kept telling myself I was safe when I woke up. I sleep with stuffed animals...if you can touch something soothing, that helps.

For the startle response - I just had to tell people not to come up behind me. My fiance woke me up one time by leaning over me and I almost whacked him! When we moved in together I had to tell him not to squeeze me when we were sleeping because it scared me...

Also, figure out your triggers. I used to get very paranoid and didn't know why. Then I started noticing that I was being triggered...Insight does a lot.

I'll keep thinking and let you know more ideas, ok?

Originally Posted by phoenix7

Thankyou I really needed to hear that

and

Congratulations!!!

If I may ask... how did you do it? I am 2 years down the track and am beginning to lose hope that this will ever end

[phoenix7]

I love the chilli's too - they make me smile

That would be great! thankyou

[skeksi]

I'm glad things are going so well for you! How inspiring, thanks for sharing.

It sounds like what has made the biggest difference is accepting the parts of the PTSD that you can't change, and finding ways to cope with them (like finding ways to feel safe after a nightmare).

I agree with you that insight into how we feel, and why, makes a HUGE difference.

[Yack]

Originally Posted by skeksi

I'm glad things are going so well for you! How inspiring, thanks for sharing.

It sounds like what has made the biggest difference is accepting the parts of the PTSD that you can't change, and finding ways to cope with them (like finding ways to feel safe after a nightmare).

I agree with you that insight into how we feel, and why, makes a HUGE difference.

I also noticed that being able to identify feelings is a good way to see how you're doing. For the longest time I didn't realize how "flat" I was. Emotional numbing happens with PTSD...

The other day I actually caught myself saying "I feel sad". I think that's a good sign.