Small triumphs reinforce using PTSD symptoms. So what do I mean by that? Last night I flew to see my daughter. Flying causes me a lot of anxiety because I have to pay attention to someone else’s schedule and not miss my flight when they have delays, lay overs, and other traps for a time…
Hyper-focus is one of the symptoms of PTSD for some people. This is the ability to devout 100% of your attention on one thing. It is considered a negative thing because a person may block out the rest of the world so completely they don’t notice their house is on fire. So why would I…
Happy July 4th to the United States Declaration of Independence Day. I grew up with July 4th meaning fireworks. When I was a kid, I hated them. The noise was so loud. Now, I take out my hearing aids I can barely hear them. Nicely muffled for my viewing experience. For me, it was another…
Keep It Simple Sweety Yup, do not underestimate the power of combining several simple solutions. Before I started counseling, I figured out that simple changes can make a profound difference. During counseling I learned many more simple changes to make in my life. At first, I was hesitant to try them, too easy. But continued…
Every once in a while I back myself into a corner with my writing and I am not sure how to proceed. I am writing about different tools for a coping toolbox. PTSD is an extreme emergency survival tool. Unfortunately, it is like driving a tank down a residential street. Gas mileage is terrible and…
First, I had to know what it was. My entire childhood was so full of lies to protect ‘family image,’ I didn’t even realize how much I lied. Sometimes the lies were omitting the truth but that was necessary for my survival. I would get punished for telling the truth. If I reported truthfully to…
I believe this is one of the most powerful tools I was ever blessed with. Thank you first counselor. He taught me the power of the ‘I’. I came to his office complaining, “He did that…..” “She did this……” I didn’t understand that as long as I phrased all my thinking in what the other…
http://ptsd.about.com/od/relatedconditions/a/PTSDanger.htm Here is another perspective on the subject of anger. The article maps out the difference between destructive and constructive anger. Also the article has many links on how to manage anger. Using a time out was one of my favorite solutions. I would send myself to my room. I put out a stuffed TV…
Yup, I needed anger in my tool box. I don’t mean the kind of out of control that shuts off your brain type anger. Babies use anger to get their needs met. However, let a baby cry long enough, often enough the baby stops fighting for what it needs and dies. With that side note,…
Cloud and Townsend, in their book Boundaries, reminded me one of the unexpected side effects of setting boundaries. In the process of setting boundaries, I identify my needs. I remember the first time my counselor asked me what I wanted. I looked at him blankly. I had no idea. As I selected my rights and…
PTSD - Accepting, Coping, Thriving 