Has anyone ever experienced post traumatic stress, years after the event took place? Something happened to me almost 5 years ago, it never affected me as much before as it does now. It keeps popping into my head, its affecting my relationship with my partner and I can't sleep at night, its even affecting my ability to be a good mother to my baby. It did affect me before but never this frequently, I think about it 24/7, its a living nightmare :'( What can I do?
meditation has helped me through a lot of PTSD symptoms. Bad things tend to stay with us regardless of the circumstances. You have to find a way to become a better person because of it. Try keeping a journal. That helped me a lot, also. I was able to get a lot off my chest AND it helped me discover things about myself that I never realized before.
Yes, I had blocked memories of childhood sexual abuse that came back when I was an adult. It sucks. Can you talk to your doctor about it? Maybe they can refer you for some help?
Yes, women are especially really good at blocking out traumatic events...you can look into some kind of therapy that can help you release your trauma in increments you can handle...certain types of yoga, meditation, creative therapy, even massage therapy can be beneficial. You may be able to find a support group that can help as well. Journaling is a great idea. You can take it one step at a time and keep coming back to it...keep sharing where you are and what your next step may be with someone or a community that is helpful and supportive, there are even communities online that can help. If this is literally 24/7 I would suggest really finding something/someone quick to be accountable to. In that case yes I would go to a doctor, spiritual leader/mentor, trusted family member who will take you seriously, not blow you up and offer you continuous support.
Yeah and it's just getting worse...but now I don't even really care, I mean it's too late anyways. I am already to the point where I can lose it and cause physical harm to even family. Over a recent road trip with my dad, sister, her boyfriend and my brother I almost hit my dad in the face because I got set off and he was drunk and said the wrong things so I couldn't control myself......luckily my brother was there to hold me back but I feel like if I had hit him I wouldn't have stopped. And that freaks me out I mean I kind of feel like I should get away from everyone I know so I don't hurt them by freaking out on them or causing harm to myself via drug abuse and/or suicide attempts or whatever. Though just up and dissapearing would also probably bother them.
If you feel that bad, yes you need to quickly find somewhere safe to go, someone to take you seriously and someone to care for your baby. There is no such thing as too late. In this moment you have the ability to make a decision. If there are people specifically triggering this, stay away from those people. Why don't you call a suicide hotline if you're feeling suicidal?
I'm really really struggling. I'll hopefully be calling the doctors in the morning, if I remember seeing as I seem to forget every little thing nowadays. I don't want to hurt anymore, but I hurt everyday, it isn't fair on my child to have such a weak mother, I need help and fast but I worry that they will take my child from and call me an unfit mother so I've been putting it off for so long. Hoping that there is a light at the end of this stupid fucking tunnel
Do you have anyone you trust with your daughter? I don't know if they would take your daughter, but as soon as you're well they will give her back.
Also, if you don't think you can remember, try to get someone now to either do it for you or remind you and make sure you actually do. Why are you waiting until tomorrow, by the way?
My daughter has gone to my mums, and I have to do it tomorrow as I'm in the UK and it is currently past 3am. I'm feeling much better actually
Just knowing that your daughter is taken care of must be a great relief. Now you can really focus on yourself and getting the help you need. I'm thinking of you and sending you positive energy. Please stay in touch!
The forgetting things is a common aspect of PTSD, as is wanting to get away from those you love to protect them. Therapy is very helpful, there's a few different methods to help deal with trauma. If your symptoms require medication, there's a variety of things that can be done about that too. You're not alone. I was just diagnosed a few months ago for PTSD from a situation that ended a couple years earlier. When you're in a space where you're able to handle these things, they come out. It's scary, I know, and when I began treatment they weren't lying when they told me it'll get a bit worse before I feel better. There's a forum site that's been very helpful for me called ptsdforum.org with many users from the UK who might know of good resources that may be good for you. If I can help in any way, just send me a message. It takes a lot of courage to face this, and I'm very glad that you're asking for help. That's a big step towards getting better. Hugs if you like hugs, if not, I love you anyway.
So wanting to get away from everyone so I don't cause harm to them is common with PTSD? I get that to but I didn't know if it was just me or something common with PTSD. But getting treatment early I hear is good.....I didn't and then even worse I tried to deny it and run away from it because I didn't want PTSD but it's pretty much flow blown now. So it can get worse but with quicker help sometimes you can mostly or even fully recover.......just don't deal with it the way I did whatever you do.
^I didn't know that either and would explain me being very anti-social lately. What started my PTSD happened at work and now it's almost impossible to hold a job down because of it...I'm tired of feeling this way. I think I will try that web site that someone suggested. I just hate talking to people in person, online I'm ok, but I can't talk to people in person. Making eye contact is very difficult for me and I can never find the correct words to say that describes what I'm feeling in that moment, so therapy is very very hard for me. Especially when the therapist just sits there and stares at me and expects me to talk the whole damn time.
