How To Help Myself Outside Of Therapy?

I m wondering what other sufferers do outside of the therapy room to improve their PTSD symptoms? I get homework , cbt exercises, but I don t feel as if I m doing enough. Is simply going to therapy and working hard for an hour a week enough to get me as healthy as I can be? I m not sure it is but I don t know what to do on my own outside of my weekly session. Is it forcing myself to face triggers? Is it making myself write traumas? I feel like I ve done all that already with my trauma... How To Help Myself Outside Of Therapy?
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/how-to-help-myself-outside-of-therapy.51689/

Advice Needed From Parents With Ptsd

I m a single mother with a 20 month old daughter. Her father has never been involved, I have no family, and I ve never been able to make and keep relationships to have any trusted friends. I also have ptsd and have been struggling with varying degrees of dissociation and flashbacks for years. I m under the care of 2 wonderful therapists. The problem is that even though I have a good relationship with my therapists I still have trouble being fully honest about the difficulties I m having... Advice Needed From Parents With Ptsd
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/advice-needed-from-parents-with-ptsd.51688/

Taking It One Day At A Time

Hey, Been feeling really down and depressed lately and unable to shake it until I had a long therapy session and the therapist said I just need to take it day by day at the moment asking myself to do anything else and anyone else asking me to do more than this is just too overwhelming for me. It s only been a few days but so far it seems to be working. I was so angry in my session, sick of asking for help and feeling I was being turned away, I suspect I was a bit like a kid having a big... Taking It One Day At A Time
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/taking-it-one-day-at-a-time.51686/

Intrauterine And Birthing Trauma - Frank Lake Md

This is what I consider to be a very detailed article on what can go wrong and how it can affect us while in utero and during birthing. It explains how these things can come back to bite us along the way. There are also quite a few links to documentation that speaks to fetal stressors. I hope someone can find some use from it. http://primal-page.com/lakefr.htm
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/intrauterine-and-birthing-trauma-frank-lake-md.51683/

Introductions Thread Possible To Move To Trauma Diaries?

Hi moderators, I plan to use my Introduction thread as a diary, but would it be disturbing the Introductions forum. Is it possible for the staff to move it to the diaries section? I m new and I only saw the diaries section afterwards. Thanks. regards, BR
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/introductions-thread-possible-to-move-to-trauma-diaries.51685/

Panic Attacks From My Mothers Calls To Redeem My Abuser

I will try to explain what I am going through briefly, my story is that I was sexually abused and a few years ago I decided to tell my parents about it. my mother said: if it s no longer happening then there s nothing to discuss, my father asked me why I allowed the abuser to abuse me. This was shocking to me so I left home, feeling awful. My father then came back and apologized for his reaction and offered me his support sadly he died. As for my mother the matter was never discussed again... Panic Attacks From My Mothers Calls To Redeem My Abuser
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/panic-attacks-from-my-mothers-calls-to-redeem-my-abuser.51684/

What Is "narcissistic Abuse"?

I see this here once in a while and I really don t know...what is it about? Is it just mean people or is it about people manipulating you into somehow submitting to their own self-important agenda or diminishing you to make themselves look better? Or like people in authority creating hell for anyone who doesn t love them or admire them properly but maybe even questions them? (has a boss like this, but more below) I m curious because I ve known a couple people I would personally classify as... What Is "narcissistic Abuse"?
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/what-is-narcissistic-abuse.51682/

Dread Before Meeting With Ex

As some of you may know from my earlier posts, I have taken the initiative to try to keep things civil with my ex-boyfriend (because we run in the same circles). We met once a few weeks ago after several months of having no contact. I am due to meet with him tomorrow to say goodbye before I leave for a new job, but have been struck down with such dread. Looking back, I realize I always felt that sort of dread with him, almost as if I m afraid of him. Even when things were going well in our... Dread Before Meeting With Ex
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/dread-before-meeting-with-ex.51680/

Have You Checked Your Meds Safety?

I wanted to post this link as a quick and easy way for everyone to be able to check their drugs for safety. More and more drugs are being given a black-box label for serious side effects, but somehow some doctors don t seem to be passing this information onto their patients. Please, check your prescription for potential side effects before they catch you by surprise. http://www.bad-drug.net/bad-drug-list
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/have-you-checked-your-meds-safety.51681/

Big Steps And Accompishments

Yesterday was a good day but exhausting.I had a lawyer s appointment, a dog training lesson with my dog trainer. I always enjoy learning from her. On my way to the appointment Jellybean was her amazing self. When I was on the LRT (subway) I met a wonderful lady and had a very nice chat with her. She told me she wished she could take Jellybean home with her. I got to do some positive Service Dog awareness. She told me she know she was not suppose to touch, talk to a Service Dog. I explained... Big Steps And Accompishments
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/big-steps-and-accompishments.51623/

What Is Beauty????

I greatly thank those replied to my previous thread when I was crying my heart out the entire day. Thanks for being there for me. This is the question I struggle with each day of my life. I grew up in a house where women were not allowed to wear make-up, dress to look good, no jewellery allowed, no nails, basically you had to be plain your entire life. My mother followed those rules in her father s home because her grandmother was a total bitch. That old woman used to give my mother a... What Is Beauty????
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/what-is-beauty.51679/

Going Crazy

Am having one of those really bad days where the anxiety is off the charts and I can t sit still. Am panicking but I don t know why. I keep trying to read but can t seem to force myself to concentrate for even a page ... Am contemplating going to get sedatives but don t want to have to resort to that. What do you guys normally do to deal with days like this?
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/going-crazy.51677/

Pain And Stuff

0 - no pain at all 1 - slight "itch" of pain 2 - blood test in the finger 3 - 4 - really bad soreness after exercise 5 - falling and ripping one of your callouses off on a grip (rock climbing reference) 6 - hip bone vs. door/furniture corner 7 - I DON T EVEN HAVE A REFERENCE ALL I CAN THINK OF IS ME AT THE MOMENT I M RIGHT HERE 8 - the thing that happened to my hip at *friend* s when I was leaving and couldn t move my leg forward without pain 9 - idk something between the hip thing and the... Pain And Stuff
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/pain-and-stuff.51676/

Ptsd Dx But I Feel Nothing?

I was DX with ptsd amd anxiety . They tried making me take tons of meds and got entertainment out of me telling them what happened to me so I stopped seeing a psychiatrist. They are all the same. Anyway I don t see how it is PTSD even though I can only sleep every few days when I have dreams of being shot i feel no pain anymore just numbness even when I am awake. I am sure they were nightmares and night terrors in the past but dont remember how it feels. I feel no love or hate in general... Ptsd Dx But I Feel Nothing?
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/ptsd-dx-but-i-feel-nothing.51675/

Sleep

is it possible to have nightmares and not remember having them. I had them constantly as a child and always woke up with achenes and feeling physically exhausted but i always remembered them. This morning i awoke feeling that way but i do not remember having a nightmare.Vary Stressful! Any thoughts?
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/sleep.50351/

Just Diagnosed With Dissociation

My t just changed my primary dx from ptsd to dissociation and is asking about alters to protect a little girl in my head from a bully in my head that wants us dead (So he can work on the bully first). I m so scared. I don t know what to think. I don t have anyone to talk to, tried to talk to husband tonight, he dismissed it. I want to get out of here and away from people. The bully is telling me terrible "I told you so" things that should have been done when I was 17. I left a message for t... Just Diagnosed With Dissociation
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/just-diagnosed-with-dissociation.51674/

Working With Body Memories

Hello, it s me again... On another thread we got to talking about how to work with body memories, and I thought it would be good to have a thread on that specifically. If you have worked with body memories, I am interested in what that process is like for different people. There seem to be various approaches depending on the individual and how the memory first presents itself. Sometimes the physical sensations come first and images and explicit memories come later; sometimes they don t.... Working With Body Memories
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/working-with-body-memories.51671/

How Would You Rate The Mental Health Services In Your Area?

I have experienced the mental health system in 3 different areas of the U.S. It was pretty clear from the first two places that mental health in this country is poor. However, where I am at now makes those areas look like an oasis for people who are suffering. Honestly, I have never been so appalled by how hard it is to get services at all. When I first started seeking help it was a 3 month wait for emergency services. Now it is nearly 5 months. I have heard that it is impossible to get a... How Would You Rate The Mental Health Services In Your Area?
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/how-would-you-rate-the-mental-health-services-in-your-area.51669/

Anxiety Stuck

For some reason my child s voice and food (really anything stimulating) is pushing an already stuck on anxiety button. I just calm down, and then I hear her voice, and my heart takes off, I get a piercing headache, and I can t breath. The ears start ringing. Eating makes this so much worse. I m getting to the point it is not worth eating, as having a full tum makes me feel like there is no room for my pounding heart.
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/anxiety-stuck.51670/

Another Me?

During my EMDR session yesterday my brain made this connection that there is another me. It s hard to explain.. It s like there is the one me that has no emotion whatsoever. This is the me that takes care of business. The me that holds down a full time job. The me that is there in stressful situations. The analytical problem solving me. Then there is this other me. She keeps the emotions I don t want. I don t hardly feel them, even if I look for them. She stays behind this sturdy wall... Another Me?
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/another-me.51668/

Triggers

Not sure if this is appropriate place to post this or not, so if not please move to "right" place. I am not sure if I am just being sensitive...I am a victim of violence at gun point....so I am offended when someone s profile picture includes a gun. I know that is their freedom of speech, but I know that I am not the only person on here that is triggered by this. Not sure what I am hoping for, guess I just felt the need to express my feeling.
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/triggers.51667/

I Can't Trust My Mother

A little background... (Hope this isn t too long of a post) I m the youngest of a large family. Parents always fought & we moved around a LOT. Father had quick temper, all bark but no bite and mother is crazy passive aggressive. As a child witnessing these fights I assumed my dad was te evil one bc he screamed and my mother always ended up crying. I stopped talking to father at about 14. He passed away when I was 26. I was extremely clingy to my mom and in hindsight I believe she enjoyed... I Can t Trust My Mother
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/i-cant-trust-my-mother.47976/

I Hate This Symptom!

I m sorry to bother people... and don t even know why I feel that way, I ve never started a post like that before. I am 99.9% certain this problem doesn t have a physical origin and that seeing a doctor about it would either get me ignored or sent home with a prescription for Ativan. I ll do that if it goes on much longer, but I really, really don t want to. Sometimes my habitual anxiety takes a turn, just to keep things interesting, and instead of getting lightheaded and dizzy and zaps... I Hate This Symptom!
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/i-hate-this-symptom.51666/

First Date ... This Was A Surprise

I recently decided that i felt like i was ready to start actively dating again for the first time since me and my ex split almost 3 years ago. I am a PTSD sufferer so after leaving an emotionally abusive ex I needed some time to rework through some issues from my past and being a victim of college rape. Well, last night I met up with a guy for a first first date in a long time. It was very casual. Went to a bar we both regularly go to. Were stayed till close having a great time, he... First Date ... This Was A Surprise
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/first-date-this-was-a-surprise.51665/

Is It Common At All For A PTSD Sufferer To Cheat On Their Spouse?

Hi everyone again. I posted before about my husband and his new girlfriend and wanted to update people on some things and hopefully get more opinions from you all. Well my husband has made a couple appt. s with a psychologist/psychiatrist team so far and he has been diagnosed with PTSD and supposedly 2 other anger disorders he says. They said that they will try different treatments but he may have to be admitted to a hospital for up to 2 months or so. Just to update over the past 4 months... Is It Common At All For A PTSD Sufferer To Cheat On Their Spouse?
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/is-it-common-at-all-for-a-ptsd-sufferer-to-cheat-on-their-spouse.11893/

Books The Old Media Those You Love And Like And Found Helpful

I get a few hours of sleep a night, then it is writing the next chapter of the books I read. Books take me out of my own mindset. My body does not do well with pharma. On the streets, but the library has donated and found Charles de Lint "Memory and Dream . Like a journal done for therapy.
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/books-the-old-media-those-you-love-and-like-and-found-helpful.51661/

I Cried, Real Tears

Yes, I was alone. Yes, I still did the thing where I had to be in total silence. No, I don t feel comfortable posting why I was crying But today I cried actual tears for the first time in about 3 years. Which makes me happier than most people do about crying! I m hoping I can do a lot more of this!
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/i-cried-real-tears.51662/

My Issues....

I know that by now everyone must be sick of my threads here. I could see the last post on my previous thread and it affected me to the point that I felt like a failure and good for nothing. I have been noticing that I have the same repetitive issues over and over again and there is no stopping to them. One issue leads to the other and things keep going round and round like a Mary-go-round. Here is what I have noticed: 1. I am easily affected/influenced by other peoples comments or words. If... My Issues....
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/my-issues.51663/

Today My Cup Is Half Empty

So I felt relieved after disclosing to my therapist but now I think he is avoiding me. I ve emailed him twice since the disclosure and got the cold shoulder and our sessions have been uneasy. I don t think he wants to work with me anymore. So I think I ll just take a break and be the one to end our relationship. I feel super icky and melancholy. I also feel like I ve abandoned my little self. Like I failed her and I don t know where I m at or who I am or what to do. Is there some post... Today My Cup Is Half Empty
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/today-my-cup-is-half-empty.51664/

Had A Blow Out At Dinner

I am really weepy emotionaly cracking and have been falling down for a while now. I have tried to combat the depretion from sucking me down but I am losing this fight horribly. I went to dinner on Monday night with an aquaintance who mentioned a mutal aquaintance that has cancer and continued with empathy, sypathy and loads of concern. I freaking cracked. I went off at her and I said something I most likely should not have. To anyone that has faught cancer please don t take this... Had A Blow Out At Dinner
https://www.myptsd.com/c/threads/had-a-blow-out-at-dinner.51594/