PTSD..

[sadgit]

I only thought it was for people in the armed services. The more I watch and read about it, I am starting to think I have it more than depression. I think work and my personal family life has taken such a toll on me that I barely sleep and have massive panic attacks. Has anyone here been diagnosed with it and how do you manage it? Anti depressants have never worked for me

 

[Boro in Devon]

I have also thought about it, in my own situation. I find mine affects my anxiety and stress levels, rather than depression.
However, I am reluctant to call it ptsd when I compare it to what the armed forces have gone through and other people who have been on the front line.
I hope that you manage to get some help and support with it.

 

[Sexpom]

I only thought it was for people in the armed services. The more I watch and read about it, I am starting to think I have it more than depression. I think work and my personal family life has taken such a toll on me that I barely sleep and have massive panic attacks. Has anyone here been diagnosed with it and how do you manage it? Anti depressants have never worked for me

I’m really sorry to hear this.

Have you ever had any CBT? I suffer from it and had to make a lot of changes in my life just to cope with it, I cut alcohol down by a lot, I minimised my caffeine intake, just these two things helped me a lot. I’m currently taking citalopram and it works but I’ve had to make a few changes, I exercise daily and make sure I get a minimum of 8 hours sleep per night.

Obviously everyone is different and what works for me may not work for you.

 

[Borotommo]

I only thought it was for people in the armed services. The more I watch and read about it, I am starting to think I have it more than depression. I think work and my personal family life has taken such a toll on me that I barely sleep and have massive panic attacks. Has anyone here been diagnosed with it and how do you manage it? Anti depressants have never worked for me

I was told I was suffering from a form of PTSD by my doctor and a therapist I’d sought out. Years of stress, mainly from running a business, culminated in me suffering a fake heart attack (turned out to be oesophegitis), being airlifted to a German hospital and begging the doctor to keep me alive. For the next 3 years, after a couple of huge panic attacks, and leaving my company, I’ve slowly begun to recover some sense of calm in my life. Initially, I was on anti-depressants and propranolol for anxiety (which I think I benefitted from).
I can’t handle any stress, or conflict any more, and any patience I had has been eroded. My temper is short and my ability to juggle plates (not literally) has gone.
I do feel I’m getting better, though. Don’t take meds anymore, and have just accepted it’s time to chill. I get depressive periods, from time to time, but manage those with exercise, friends and travel/alcohol.

All the best to you. It’s not rare, and I’m afraid will likely become more common as this world continues to eat itself

 

[sweet_left_foot]

Definitely exists outside of combat environment. Abuse; physical and emotional, physical & emotional traumatic events all don't need combat to create a stree disorder from experiencing them.

shell-shocked is still used in every day parlance to describe that feeling of not knowing what to do in a seemingly simple situation to anyone not experiencing the stress of not knowing what to do.

Stress, depression, anxiety are all sides of the same sixpence of not being able to 'unthink' something that your 'rational' self wouldn't need to consider.

+1 for CBT.
Personally, CBD and headspace app helps with maintenance.

Time and giving myself the grace (ie a break, it's ok to be this way, it's no fun but it's ok) to wait were my saviours. I don't feel fixed but I do appreciate how great the current respite is.

All the power and love to you though. Rubbish place that doesn't deserve you

 

[Aet290204]

Isn't PTSD different to depression in that it’s triggered by a traumatic event?

Don’t know what your situation is mate. If you have suffered a trauma I’m sorry.

 

[sweet_left_foot]

"I can’t handle any stress, or conflict any more, and any patience I had has been eroded. My temper is short and my ability to juggle plates (not literally) has gone."

This, absolutely. It too will pass.

 

[r00fie1]

PTSD is "a normal response to an abnormal situation".

Causes - Post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a single very stressful, frightening or distressing event, or after a prolonged traumatic experience.

www.nhs.uk

 

[sadgit]

"I can’t handle any stress, or conflict any more, and any patience I had has been eroded. My temper is short and my ability to juggle plates (not literally) has gone."

This, absolutely. It too will pass.

This totally me right now. A tiny thing sends me over the edge. I used to be let's call it strong minded. But even a tiny things make me want to end it all. My job as an IT manager was basically making people redundant, then it got to a point where it totally broke me and the company spat me out. Or I would hire 20 people for a contract, then decided they didn't need them. Then it was down to me to get rid of them. I'm on long term sick as they have literally broken me. I have zero confidence in me anymore.

 

[Angus]

I suffered for about 20 years with what I would consider non traditional PTSD.

Someone suggested about 6 years ago when I had a breakdown that I try EMDR I looked into it sounded ridiculous and went for what I considered were more traditional therapies basically counselling.

Three years ago I was at a real low and decided I would try it. A month later I had my life back after 3 sessions of EMDR.

I did it online and it worked for me and I spent about £200 it’s the best value thing I have ever purchased apart from my season ticket .

 

[Sexpom]

I suffered for about 20 years with what I would consider non traditional PTSD.

Someone suggested about 6 years ago when I had a breakdown that I try EMDR I looked into it sounded ridiculous and went for what I considered were more traditional therapies basically counselling.

Three years ago I was at a real low and decided I would try it. A month later I had my life back after 3 sessions of EMDR.

I did it online and it worked for me and I spent about £200 it’s the best value thing I have ever purchased apart from my season ticket .

I have tried EMDR but it can be extremely risky, it can end up with re traumatising someone.

 

[sadgit]

I’m really sorry to hear this.

Have you ever had any CBT? I suffer from it and had to make a lot of changes in my life just to cope with it, I cut alcohol down by a lot, I minimised my caffeine intake, just these two things helped me a lot. I’m currently taking citalopram and it works but I’ve had to make a few changes, I exercise daily and make sure I get a minimum of 8 hours sleep per night.

Obviously everyone is different and what works for me may not work for you.

I no longer drink alcohol and my sleep is erm none existent. I'm on sleeping tablets that don't help. This is why I do the drives to Ukraine as I can drive for 15 to 20 hours no problem. When I hit this wall I don't eat, cracking for weight loss but when you mind doesn't turn off it is horrendous

 

[Aet290204]

A tiny thing sends me over the edge. I used to be let's call it strong minded. But even a tiny things make me want to end it all.

In my experience it is always something tiny or insignificant that tips the balance.

 

[sadgit]

I did hypnotherapy for my anxiety and that has helped me a lot. EMDR. Thanks, will look into that.

 

[sweet_left_foot]

My job as an IT manager was basically making people redundant, then it got to a point where it totally broke me and the company spat me out.

Me too. I got rid of so many people I cared for I quit in the end because I couldn't operate the business without them anyway. I didn't work again for 5 years. At my worst I couldn't decide what utensil was the best to use in the kitchen to do something and I thought I was done for.

Still here, not done yet and have the best job in the world now.

Grace, my fiend. Your wife, from what you've said previously is a trojan and I know you hate yourself because you feel like you've let her down. I'm back with my spouse now after 10 years of rocky road since work implosion. Mostly because I couldn't explain, or was too ashamed of how I'd let them down in not being able to face up to 'it'.

Recalling makes me cry but I am so relieved that I/we are not there now. Grace to sit in a cave like a hurt animal and your wife is sat outside protecting you.

There isn't anything anyone can say to convince you it won't last forever but there are survivors on this thread. x

 

[Angus]

I have tried EMDR but it can be extremely risky, it can end up with re traumatising someone.

That’s awful hopefully you were given strategies before you started to deal with that risk before you started.

Hopefully your okay now?


I was given a plan to execute if things got bad during a session but I was obviously lucky and never needed them.

The mind is a really complicated and intricate mechanism and has to be treated very delicately at times.

 

[sweet_left_foot]

I baked bread to build my confidence back up. Prone to failure at the start, nice process to work through with a few variables to tweak for the IT geek, doesn't matter if you balls it up, get out what you put in (knead with love or frustration you will see a difference).

I got pretty good and I turn to it when I'm really feeling the pressure. It's like meeting an old f[r]iend

 

[Sexpom]

That’s awful hopefully you were given strategies before you started to deal with that risk before you started.

Hopefully your okay now?


I was given a plan to execute if things got bad during a session but I was obviously lucky and never needed them.

The mind is a really complicated and intricate mechanism and has to be treated very delicately at times.

I was fine but there are some who have been traumatised all over again. It’s a risky tool.

 

[sweet_left_foot]

I no longer drink alcohol and my sleep is erm none existent. I'm on sleeping tablets that don't help. This is why I do the drives to Ukraine as I can drive for 15 to 20 hours no problem. When I hit this wall I don't eat, cracking for weight loss but when you mind doesn't turn off it is horrendous

much more helpful to the world than baking bread. It is a most excellent thing to do

 

[sadgit]

Me too. I got rid of so many people I cared for I quit in the end because I couldn't operate the business without them anyway. I didn't work again for 5 years. At my worst I couldn't decide what utensil was the best to use in the kitchen to do something and I thought I was done for.

Still here, not done yet and have the best job in the world now.

Grace, my fiend. Your wife, from what you've said previously is a trojan and I know you hate yourself because you feel like you've let her down. I'm back with my spouse now after 10 years of rocky road since work implosion. Mostly because I couldn't explain, or was too ashamed of how I'd let them down in not being able to face up to 'it'.

Recalling makes me cry but I am so relieved that I/we are not there now. Grace to sit in a cave like a hurt animal and your wife is sat outside protecting you.

There isn't anything anyone can say to convince you it won't last forever but there are survivors on this thread. x

I never thought I would open up this much in a Boro forum and never imagined I would get some seriously deep replies. I am literally in floods of tears. I am so fking horrible to my wife as she is the one and only one who can see this demon I have become.