what it's like to have PTSD

[JFSurvivor]

So I made an illustration as to what it looks like to have PTSD. Here it is:

So you’re in a room. This room is your sense of safety and well being. This room is cozy with a lot of pillows and soft things. Everything you love and cherish is in this room from the smell of your mom’s homemade cooking to your favorite stuffed animal.

You’re living life within this room when suddenly invaders violate this room. They grab you and drag you out of the room and out on to a street called time.

Here on this street called time you have to keep moving or you will get stuck in the past and re-live the most painful parts of your life. Of course you could always go back and reminisce but you are not allowed to stay for long.

They take you and proceed to abuse you. Then they tie you to a lamp post at the moment in time where they abused you so you can’t move on and you keep seeing and feeling and experiencing the abuse over and over and over.

Well meaning people come along and say things like, “it’s time to let go of the past.” and “why are you still dwelling on this?” and “here’s a Bible verse” and “Jesus will save you” So you wait for Jesus but he never shows and you begin to question everything about your faith...you ask people question after question but they just keep giving the same answers that make no sense to you. It makes you feel stupid for not being able to break free of the ropes but more you fight them the tighter they become. You feel like you're doing something wrong as a Christian because you can't break free. You feel like God has left because he hasn't come with the magic sword and cut the ropes. No, you are completely stuck with only a therapist to come and attempt to untie you maybe once a week.

Sometimes the ropes will loosen and you think you have made progress but then they tighten again and you're still stuck with nothing to do but wait and wait and wait for the current wave of anguish to pass and the next one to come.

Thoughts?

 

[TwilightSparkle]

STOP MAKING ME CRY.. :'( YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE FEELS I'M HAVING FOR YOU RIGHT NOW. but seriously my heart is aching physically for you and I feel like some things gonna change

 

[JFSurvivor]

STOP MAKING ME CRY.. :'( YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE FEELS I'M HAVING FOR YOU RIGHT NOW. but seriously my heart is aching physically for you and I feel like some things gonna change

I'm sorry! I did not mean for this to make you cry!! :'(

 

[Ugly]

Not sure if I've mentioned this to you before or not, but look into EMDR. It is a special therapy for PTSD and has a very high success rate. You can google it to get details and to look for licensed therapists. It sounds weird initially but I looked into it and found nothing wrong spiritually speaking.

 

[JFSurvivor]

Not sure if I've mentioned this to you before or not, but look into EMDR. It is a special therapy for PTSD and has a very high success rate. You can google it to get details and to look for licensed therapists. It sounds weird initially but I looked into it and found nothing wrong spiritually speaking.

I will look in to that! Thanks!

 

[Siberian_Khatru]

So I made an illustration as to what it looks like to have PTSD. Here it is:
(...)
Thoughts?

I'm not sure what to say. Is it safe to assume this is a depiction from personal experience, and not quite how everyone would describe it? I have-ish a friend with PTSD and wish there was something I could do for that person, but I don't really have an inkling of an idea of what PTSD feels like nor how to help, especially given that the person is on the other side of the country.

Anyway, if you have suggestions on how to be there for someone with this, I'm all open, and my heart goes out to you!

 

[jsr1221]

So I made an illustration as to what it looks like to have PTSD. Here it is:

So you’re in a room. This room is your sense of safety and well being. This room is cozy with a lot of pillows and soft things. Everything you love and cherish is in this room from the smell of your mom’s homemade cooking to your favorite stuffed animal.

You’re living life within this room when suddenly invaders violate this room. They grab you and drag you out of the room and out on to a street called time.

Here on this street called time you have to keep moving or you will get stuck in the past and re-live the most painful parts of your life. Of course you could always go back and reminisce but you are not allowed to stay for long.

They take you and proceed to abuse you. Then they tie you to a lamp post at the moment in time where they abused you so you can’t move on and you keep seeing and feeling and experiencing the abuse over and over and over.

Well meaning people come along and say things like, “it’s time to let go of the past.” and “why are you still dwelling on this?” and “here’s a Bible verse” and “Jesus will save you” So you wait for Jesus but he never shows and you begin to question everything about your faith...you ask people question after question but they just keep giving the same answers that make no sense to you. It makes you feel stupid for not being able to break free of the ropes but more you fight them the tighter they become. You feel like you're doing something wrong as a Christian because you can't break free. You feel like God has left because he hasn't come with the magic sword and cut the ropes. No, you are completely stuck with only a therapist to come and attempt to untie you maybe once a week.

Sometimes the ropes will loosen and you think you have made progress but then they tighten again and you're still stuck with nothing to do but wait and wait and wait for the current wave of anguish to pass and the next one to come.

Thoughts?

To be fair... How can we know what other people say?

 

[JFSurvivor]

I'm not sure what to say. Is it safe to assume this is a depiction from personal experience, and not quite how everyone would describe it? I have-ish a friend with PTSD and wish there was something I could do for that person, but I don't really have an inkling of an idea of what PTSD feels like nor how to help, especially given that the person is on the other side of the country.

Anyway, if you have suggestions on how to be there for someone with this, I'm all open, and my heart goes out to you!

Actually this was my experience:

I'm in my cozy room all snuggled up and then I fell asleep and woke up tied to a pole with extremely painful memories but no clue where they came from. I knew where they were from but not how or why they were there.

and then insert the people telling me to move on and the Christians telling me that I'm doing something wrong and yeah. I mean as far as I know I got my PTSD from High School and that's pretty confusing...part of me thinks I'm repressing some memories.

Anyway here is what you can do to help your friend:

1) DO NOT GIVE THEM BIBLE VERSES IN A TIME OF CRISIS! If you want to give them a verse give it to them when they are ready to receive it, not when they are down in the dumps and they are poring their heart out to God and he's not answering.

2) Don't ask them about the trauma. Instead say, "If you ever want to talk about what happened I'm all ears."

3) SHUT UP AND LISTEN! DO NOT GIVE ADVICE UNLESS ASKED FOR! Many times people with PTSD really are in the most literal sense of the word "stuck" in the past and they can't do much about it so your advice probably won't make much of a difference. So unless they ask, don't give it to them.

4) Validate them. having feelings is not bad. it is not sinful. Tell them that it's ok to be feeling how they feel.

5) make them feel normal. 99.9% of the time people with PTSD feel crazy for having it. When they have a melt down or a flashback don't freak out...stay calm and treat it like it's normal. Talk in a normal voice. Don't attempt to fix it, instead suggest they use a resource like the warm line (855-845-7415) the warm line is a phone line where you can call and just talk. The awesome thing is they won't turn you away for not being suicidal hence "warm line" not "hotline" Also Katimortion.com is a great resource too. Kati Morton has some great videos on PTSD as well.

6) If they are suicidal get them to call a hotline IMMEDIATELY.

7) Don't be afraid of your own feelings. If you feel bad or some of their experiences bring up bad memories for you, feel WITH them. cry WITH them. You'll understand them much better and be able to help them so much more than if you just run away from your feelings.

8) also don't give any cliche Christian advice unless asked for. They are doing the best they can with what they have especially in their religious life. It's not due to a lack of faith that they don't look as "spiritual" or might have "offensive" questions. Take time and really think and pray before answering any questions relating to God.

So that's all I got for now. If I think of any more I will let you know.

 

[JFSurvivor]

To be fair... How can we know what other people say?

because I have heard them say it. They have said to me on MULTIPLE OCCASIONS! I have talked with other people with PTSD and they have had the same experience.

 

[JFSurvivor]

To be fair... How can we know what other people say?

I'm in blue

What is PTSD? - PTSD: National Center for PTSD

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something terrible and scary that you see, hear about, or that happens to you, like:

• Combat exposure
• Child sexual or physical abuse
• Terrorist attack
• Sexual or physical assault
• Serious accidents, like a car wreck
• Natural disasters, like a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake

During a traumatic event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening around you. Most people have some stress-related reactions after a traumatic event; but, not everyone gets PTSD. If your reactions don't go away over time and they disrupt your life, you may have PTSD (so you still feel the effects of the traumatic situaltion thus being tied to the past)
How does PTSD develop?

Most people who go through a trauma have some symptoms at the beginning. Only some will develop PTSD over time. It isn't clear why some people develop PTSD and others don't.
Whether or not you get PTSD depends on many things:

• How intense the trauma was or how long it lasted
• If you were injured or lost someone important to you
• How close you were to the event
• How strong your reaction was
• How much you felt in control of events
• How much help and support you got after the event

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not appear until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If the symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, you might have PTSD.
There are four types of symptoms of PTSD (en Español):

1. Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms)You may have bad memories or nightmares. You even may feel like you're going through the event again. This is called a flashback.
2. Avoiding situations that remind you of the eventYou may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event.
3. Negative changes in beliefs and feelingsThe way you think about yourself and others may change because of the trauma. You may feel fear, guilt, or shame. Or, you may not be interested in activities you used to enjoy. This is another way to avoid memories.
4. Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal)You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. Or, you may have trouble concentrating or sleeping. This is known as hyperarousal.

Can children have PTSD?

Children can have PTSD too. They may have symptoms described above or other symptoms depending on how old they are. As children get older, their symptoms are more like those of adults. Here are some examples of PTSD symptoms in children:

• Children age birth to 6 may get upset if their parents are not close by, have trouble sleeping, or suddenly have trouble with toilet training or going to the bathroom.
• Children age 7 to 11 may act out the trauma through play, drawings, or stories. Some have nightmares or become more irritable or aggressive. They may also want to avoid school or have trouble with schoolwork or friends.
• Children age 12 to 18 have symptoms more similar to adults: depression, anxiety, withdrawal, or reckless behavior like substance abuse or running away.

What other problems do people with PTSD experience?

People with PTSD may also have other problems. These include:

• Feelings of hopelessness, shame, or despair
• Depression or anxiety
• Drinking or drug problems
• Physical symptoms or chronic pain
• Employment problems
• Relationship problems, including divorce

In many cases, treatments for PTSD will also help these other problems, because they are often related. The coping skills you learn in treatment can work for PTSD and these related problems.
Will I get better?

"Getting better" means different things for different people, and not everyone who gets treatment will be "cured." Even if you continue to have symptoms, however, treatment can help you cope. Your symptoms don't have to interfere with your everyday activities, work, and relationships.
What treatments are available?

When you have PTSD, dealing with the past can be hard. Instead of telling others how you feel, you may keep your feelings bottled up. But treatment can help you get better. There are two main types of treatment, psychotherapy (sometimes called counseling) and medication. Sometimes people combine psychotherapy and medication.
Psychotherapy for PTSD

Psychotherapy, or counseling, involves meeting with a therapist. There are different types of psychotherapy:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective treatment for PTSD. There are different types of CBT, such as cognitive therapy and exposure therapy.
  • One type is Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) where you learn skills to understand how trauma changed your thoughts and feelings.
  • Another type is Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy where you talk about your trauma repeatedly until memories are no longer upsetting. You also go to places that are safe, but that you have been staying away from because they are related to the trauma.
• A similar kind of therapy is called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which involves focusing on sounds or hand movements while you talk about the trauma.

Medications for PTSD

Medications can be effective too. A type of drug known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is also used for depression, is effective for PTSD. Another medication called Prazosin has been found to be helpful in decreasing nightmares related to the trauma.
IMPORTANT: Benzodiazepines and atypical antipsychotics should generally be avoided for PTSD treatment because they do not treat the core PTSD symptoms.

 

[Jeff_56]

rewind. matthew. mark. luke. john. play forward >>

Jesus healed EVERYONE (believers and unbelievers both) who came to Him.

forward more >>

not everyone in the NT necessarily gets healed.

forward more >>

not everyone in ( most places/ any place ) gets healed.

who does get healed and where do they get healed ? (who do they go to ; who do they see ? )



that is the 'secret' for today. not everyone can heal others at all. a few have healed many, but not everybody. one healed 9997 out of 10,000 ... or at least only those 3 not healed were the only ones who did not respond to the process. (prayer and nutrition and detoxify the body)

so, find someone who is closest to that one who healed 9997 out of 10,000.

that is 'statistically' the best bet.

'course, ALWAYS do what God says to do -- go where God says to go. that is truly BEST.

 

[JFSurvivor]

rewind. matthew. mark. luke. john. play forward >>

Jesus healed EVERYONE (believers and unbelievers both) who came to Him.

forward more >>

not everyone in the NT necessarily gets healed.

forward more >>

not everyone in ( most places/ any place ) gets healed.

who does get healed and where do they get healed ? (who do they go to ; who do they see ? )



that is the 'secret' for today. not everyone can heal others at all. a few have healed many, but not everybody. one healed 9997 out of 10,000 ... or at least only those 3 not healed were the only ones who did not respond to the process. (prayer and nutrition and detoxify the body)

so, find someone who is closest to that one who healed 9997 out of 10,000.

that is 'statistically' the best bet.

'course, ALWAYS do what God says to do -- go where God says to go. that is truly BEST.

Yeeeeah um....what??

 

[Jeff_56]

as long as there's faith (and/or breath) there's hope.

keep seeking, don't give up, don't count on nor trust dogs (mankind) ....

trust GOD.

HE IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE.

HIS ANSWER IS SIMPLE AND TRUE AND RIGHT.

Yeeeeah um....what??

 

[Siberian_Khatru]

Actually this was my experience:

I'm in my cozy room all snuggled up and then I fell asleep and woke up tied to a pole with extremely painful memories but no clue where they came from. I knew where they were from but not how or why they were there.

and then insert the people telling me to move on and the Christians telling me that I'm doing something wrong and yeah. I mean as far as I know I got my PTSD from High School and that's pretty confusing...part of me thinks I'm repressing some memories.

Anyway here is what you can do to help your friend:
===
1) √

2) √

3) Lol. √

4) √ (I think, and I hope.)

5) I will definitely save that phone number. Thanks! P.S. - Is it okay if both of us joke about the other being crazy?

6) They're not as far as I know, thankfully.

7) We don't relate like this, but I will bear that in mind.

8) √ (And I'm glad you said this. There's a lot of trite advice reiterated.)
===
So that's all I got for now. If I think of any more I will let you know.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[JFSurvivor]

as long as there's faith (and/or breath) there's hope.

keep seeking, don't give up, don't count on nor trust dogs (mankind) ....

trust GOD.

HE IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE.

HIS ANSWER IS SIMPLE AND TRUE AND RIGHT.

um...ok? been seeking...and still tied to the pole. It's been 7 years since the trauma started 2 years since I've been out of the situation so 9 years "tied to the pole". Jesus hasn't come and untied me yet so...you say that I've been here for 9 years so it's just sounds hurtful now because He's clearly not coming even though he could so He's ALLOWING this and I don't know why especially when people say stuff like what you just said and stuff like, "beat it with Jesus" and "here's a Bible verse" It's like "well what's this gonna do?" I still can't leave my past. I'm still stuck. I've prayed and read my Bible and begged God and wrote letters and prayed with others and done my best to obey him and I've even believed that he would save me from this but he hasn't....so when you say stuff like that I hear (even if you don't mean it):

"God is an evil dictator who likes to watch you suffer."

"You're just a bad Christian"

"You're not doing enough."

...and a whole bunch more!

I know I know I KNOW it's satan telling me these things. Please don't be like "don't listen to that voice" but it's been 9 YEARS! It gets really hard so I just ask that you please don't make it harder for me. satan has really just been wanting to steal my faith and sometimes the battle shifts to his favor and sometimes to God's. So please you are not helping me when you are saying stuff like "go to God" because in a weird way that gives the enemy a foothold in my life.

I am doing the best I can with what I have and no I am not a perfect Christian, I doubt, I get mad at God and I ask questions but that's just because after 5 years of misery IT'S STILL NOT OVER!!!!

I don't say this to be mean but please understand that this is not simple. Jeff please don't take this personally. This was gonna happen eventually to anyone who was gonna be well intentioned and tell me what they believe to be true, you just happened to be the first to post it. I admire your faith but I just am not where you are.

 

[JFSurvivor]

Thanks a bunch!

If humor helps to ease the tension then go for it and joke all you want about being crazy. Humor is healthy and so is being able to laugh at yourself.

I'm glad I could help.

 

[Jeff_56]

no worries at all. literally, well, except that you might not want to 'endure' to the end... yet i think , hope and pray that you do.

we went through over 7 years of severe illness, before even getting a diagnoses for a family member who was told she would die in the first 4 months of those 7 years.

we went through over 120 doctors, several hospitals, many clinics, a dozen or more specialists and referrals .....

all along the way , we kept our faith in God, were prayed for by who knows how many people... and were
most shocked by family, friends, church people, and unknown people,

who just didn't care --- whether because they couldn't cope with near death / so much pain/ so close, or some other reason....

all along the way also, at several times and places, the help God provided was unpredictable and freely provided by godly (faithful) doctors.....

 

[ChristianUk13]

um...ok? been seeking...and still tied to the pole. It's been 7 years since the trauma started 2 years since I've been out of the situation so 9 years "tied to the pole". Jesus hasn't come and untied me yet so...you say that I've been here for 9 years so it's just sounds hurtful now because He's clearly not coming even though he could so He's ALLOWING this and I don't know why especially when people say stuff like what you just said and stuff like, "beat it with Jesus" and "here's a Bible verse" It's like "well what's this gonna do?" I still can't leave my past. I'm still stuck. I've prayed and read my Bible and begged God and wrote letters and prayed with others and done my best to obey him and I've even believed that he would save me from this but he hasn't....so when you say stuff like that I hear (even if you don't mean it):

"God is an evil dictator who likes to watch you suffer."

"You're just a bad Christian"

"You're not doing enough."

...and a whole bunch more!

I know I know I KNOW it's satan telling me these things. Please don't be like "don't listen to that voice" but it's been 9 YEARS! It gets really hard so I just ask that you please don't make it harder for me. satan has really just been wanting to steal my faith and sometimes the battle shifts to his favor and sometimes to God's. So please you are not helping me when you are saying stuff like "go to God" because in a weird way that gives the enemy a foothold in my life.

I am doing the best I can with what I have and no I am not a perfect Christian, I doubt, I get mad at God and I ask questions but that's just because after 5 years of misery IT'S STILL NOT OVER!!!!

I don't say this to be mean but please understand that this is not simple. Jeff please don't take this personally. This was gonna happen eventually to anyone who was gonna be well intentioned and tell me what they believe to be true, you just happened to be the first to post it. I admire your faith but I just am not where you are.

Here's what I know. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a recognised psychiatric condition. The term has become synonymous with 'Gulf War Syndrome.'

In medical terms,The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders, in terms of PTSD has the following associations which affect the sufferer in these ways:
F43.1 Post-traumatic stress disorder

A. Exposure to a stressful event or situation (either short or long lasting) of exceptionally threatening or
catastrophic nature, which is likely to cause pervasive distress in almost anyone.
B. Persistent remembering or "reliving" the stressor by intrusive flash backs, vivid memories, recurring
dreams, or by experiencing distress when exposed to circumstances resembling or associated with the
stressor.
C. Actual or preferred avoidance of circumstances resembling or associated with the stressor (not present
before exposure to the stressor).
D. Either (1) or (2):
(1) Inability to recall, either partially or completely, some important aspects
of the period of exposure to the stressor
(2) Persistent symptoms of increased psychological sensitivity and arousal (not present before
exposure to the stressor) shown by any two of the following:
a) difficulty in falling or
staying asleep;
b) irritability or outbursts of
anger;
c) difficulty in concentrating;
d) hyper-vigilance;
e) exaggerated startle
response.
E. Criteria B, C and D all occurred within six months of the stressful event, or the end of a period of stress.
(For some purposes, onset delayed more than six months may be included but this should be clearly
specified separately.)

What is normality?

Each of us experience stimuli - that is a stimulation of our senses. Our brain processes stimuli in everything we do, whether it's learning, including reading or studying a book, writing an essay; or listening to music, going to the movies, you know normal everyday stuff. Our brain is like the most sophisticated computer with the facilities of the best dvd recorder in the world, but more than that; our brain records these stimuli into our long-term store memory whether through sounds, thoughts, visuals, feelings, actions, decisions, by a rapid process of fragmentation. These types of stimuli are likely to be positive because they make the person happy and safe, as JFSurvivor alludes. Now if these stimuli experiences continue this will create normal mental health.

Normality in context

A young man that we shall call Kevin is 18 and has experienced positive stimuli in his life, for example he has had a good childhood and benefits from a good education, a sporty person he also plays football for his local team, a musician, he plays bass guitar in his local band; has met his fiancé, and has a good number of close friends. Life is good, in accordance with normal comparisons with his peers (his friends, others his age etc).

The subliminal trauma

One day, war breaks out and Kevin has been sent to fight for his country, as he had enlisted as a volunteer in the US army. He is sent to Iraq. His stimuli that he is used to starts to change from day one, but he is not aware of it (subliminal). He confronts angry faces daily, he hears guns being fired and witnesses the carnage of war such as dead bloodied-up bodies, including children his nephews and nieces ages. This stimuli has become his 'new' normality. He, subliminally, starts building coping mechanisms, in that he becomes desensitised to these horrendous events during his average day. He even has to kill some foreign person as this is the nature of war, 'kill, or be killed.' He has been sent to Iraq for a 2 year tour in total.

Post traumatic Kevin

Kevin is sent home after his tour finishes. Kevin goes back to his family and friends. Kevin is fine for a few weeks or so, as he is so glad to be back that his brain hadn't yet caught up with his circumstances. However, one night Kevin goes to sleep and wakes up in pools of sweat shouting. His mom hears her young son and comes in to give her maternal love. 'Kevin, she says, 'you were screaming some stuff.' Over the next couple of weeks, Kevin can no longer play in a band, and has stopped thinking about marriage, and has cut himself off from his friends. Kevin walks to the grocery store and hears a child with her mommy, at that moment Kevin has been transported mentally back to Iraq, as on hearing this child in the store his brain knows this sound of children. He begins to hear the Iraqi children crying, as he once witnessed an Iraqi civilian blown up by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) and only yards away from her daddy stands a young girl crying. Kevin has these flashbacks over several months.

This is one version of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

 

[jsr1221]

I'm in blue

What is PTSD? - PTSD: National Center for PTSD

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something terrible and scary that you see, hear about, or that happens to you, like:

• Combat exposure
• Child sexual or physical abuse
• Terrorist attack
• Sexual or physical assault
• Serious accidents, like a car wreck
• Natural disasters, like a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake

During a traumatic event, you think that your life or others' lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening around you. Most people have some stress-related reactions after a traumatic event; but, not everyone gets PTSD. If your reactions don't go away over time and they disrupt your life, you may have PTSD (so you still feel the effects of the traumatic situaltion thus being tied to the past)
How does PTSD develop?

Most people who go through a trauma have some symptoms at the beginning. Only some will develop PTSD over time. It isn't clear why some people develop PTSD and others don't.
Whether or not you get PTSD depends on many things:

• How intense the trauma was or how long it lasted
• If you were injured or lost someone important to you
• How close you were to the event
• How strong your reaction was
• How much you felt in control of events
• How much help and support you got after the event

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not appear until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If the symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, you might have PTSD.
There are four types of symptoms of PTSD (en Español):

1. Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms)You may have bad memories or nightmares. You even may feel like you're going through the event again. This is called a flashback.
2. Avoiding situations that remind you of the eventYou may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event.
3. Negative changes in beliefs and feelingsThe way you think about yourself and others may change because of the trauma. You may feel fear, guilt, or shame. Or, you may not be interested in activities you used to enjoy. This is another way to avoid memories.
4. Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal)You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. Or, you may have trouble concentrating or sleeping. This is known as hyperarousal.

Can children have PTSD?

Children can have PTSD too. They may have symptoms described above or other symptoms depending on how old they are. As children get older, their symptoms are more like those of adults. Here are some examples of PTSD symptoms in children:

• Children age birth to 6 may get upset if their parents are not close by, have trouble sleeping, or suddenly have trouble with toilet training or going to the bathroom.
• Children age 7 to 11 may act out the trauma through play, drawings, or stories. Some have nightmares or become more irritable or aggressive. They may also want to avoid school or have trouble with schoolwork or friends.
• Children age 12 to 18 have symptoms more similar to adults: depression, anxiety, withdrawal, or reckless behavior like substance abuse or running away.

What other problems do people with PTSD experience?

People with PTSD may also have other problems. These include:

• Feelings of hopelessness, shame, or despair
• Depression or anxiety
• Drinking or drug problems
• Physical symptoms or chronic pain
• Employment problems
• Relationship problems, including divorce

In many cases, treatments for PTSD will also help these other problems, because they are often related. The coping skills you learn in treatment can work for PTSD and these related problems.
Will I get better?

"Getting better" means different things for different people, and not everyone who gets treatment will be "cured." Even if you continue to have symptoms, however, treatment can help you cope. Your symptoms don't have to interfere with your everyday activities, work, and relationships.
What treatments are available?

When you have PTSD, dealing with the past can be hard. Instead of telling others how you feel, you may keep your feelings bottled up. But treatment can help you get better. There are two main types of treatment, psychotherapy (sometimes called counseling) and medication. Sometimes people combine psychotherapy and medication.
Psychotherapy for PTSD

Psychotherapy, or counseling, involves meeting with a therapist. There are different types of psychotherapy:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective treatment for PTSD. There are different types of CBT, such as cognitive therapy and exposure therapy.
  • One type is Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) where you learn skills to understand how trauma changed your thoughts and feelings.
  • Another type is Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy where you talk about your trauma repeatedly until memories are no longer upsetting. You also go to places that are safe, but that you have been staying away from because they are related to the trauma.
• A similar kind of therapy is called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which involves focusing on sounds or hand movements while you talk about the trauma.

Medications for PTSD

Medications can be effective too. A type of drug known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which is also used for depression, is effective for PTSD. Another medication called Prazosin has been found to be helpful in decreasing nightmares related to the trauma.
IMPORTANT: Benzodiazepines and atypical antipsychotics should generally be avoided for PTSD treatment because they do not treat the core PTSD symptoms.

CBT is supposed to be the best type of treatment for most disorders. For someone that has been on multiple medications that didn't really do anything, I'm at the point now where I want to do everything natural. Everyone is different, though, and go about different ways in treatments. It's ultimately what works best for you in your situation.

 

[Jeff_56]

"For someone that has been on multiple medications that didn't really do anything, I'm at the point now where I want to do everything natural. Everyone is different, though, and go about different ways in treatments. It's ultimately what works best for you in your situation. "

for us, it took a lot longer to find the natural helps than it should have, but it was very much worth it!
a lot fewer doctors or professionals use them or even know much about them (most say at best, well they won't hurt you) ... but

if you can research the natural things (some have been used hundreds or even thousands of years) , AND stay under a doctors care (mostly for legal reasons, but also for their resources
for testing and verifying) , it can be a very rewarding journey.