I tried forums and online communities but sadly I get super overwhelmed by the concept I must read all of it. I actually tried with one forum. I spent hours a day until I realized, I can’t do it. I can’t read and respond to everyone. I realize that is not the purpose of forums. …
I posted information before, I’ll probably post many more on Complex PTSD. I was not diagnosed with Complex-PTSD because it wasn’t identified yet. http://outofthefog.website/toolbox-1/2015/11/17/complex-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-c-ptsd My reaction is the main difference between PTSD and Complex PTSD is duration. PTSD usually with one or a cluster of traumatic experiences. Complex_PTSD refers to ongoing trauma that goes on…
I keep doing research and reading what others write about the challenges of PTSD. One of the more perplexing terms used by counselors is the explanation that I am ‘Stuck.’ Well great, what does it mean and how do I get unstuck? I imagined myself ‘stuck’ in quicksand, the more I struggled the more ‘stuck’…
This may be highly triggering for some people. Proceed with caution. I wrote this early in my counseling. I was attempting to get across to my counselor the struggles I was having with emotional distress. I’m bleeding I go to my parents – I’m bleeding. Oh honey I’m sorry to hear that, here’s a little…
I’m not a soldier but this poem depicts why I write. I was deep in a hole. Fortunately, my counselor understood how to help me get out of my hole. I want to pass on what I learned. I still struggle with many things but I have a life now that 20 years ago I…
In the battle of the mind, logic loses. I am struggling with one of the techniques in Karate. I know logically that it will work. I successfully done it several times. But every time I step up to the mat, I battle the terror again. In my mind, I’m lying on the ground unable to…
Anxiety is one of the leading and aggravating symptoms of PTSD. My daughter-in-law posted a link to an awesome article on anxiety. Not everyone with PTSD experiences anxiety. Not everyone with anxiety has PTSD. However, I believe this article can help people understand what she experiences with anxiety. She did label it with trigger warnings. …
This is a link that shows a graph of the PTSD Symptoms. http://www.tbbf.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/PTSDsymptomsflowchart.jpg I lived for 40 years with PTSD not knowing it was part of my life. I didn’t ‘connect-the-dots’ of diverse symptoms that when combined makes up PTSD. This chart classifies the array of symptoms into 3 main categories. Avoidance/numbing Intrusive memories Anxiety&…
“You worry about things that will never happen.” Sadly, this was a comment used to put me down. No one believed what happened on 9/11 when planes fell from the sky. Those that predicted such an extreme event before that day were ridiculed and told they were ridiculous that Americans would never be attacked on…
My world stopped then started unwinding when my counselor told me these words. I was told I was lying from the time I was very small until I thought it was true. However, my counselor changed all that. He believed me. He listened to me. He reminded me I was worth rescuing. I’m thankful I…
PTSD - Accepting, Coping, Thriving 
