We would all fly off the planet. This past year is beyond frustrating. I pulled back on everything. I dumped myself into full out survival mode. I played video games and crocheted. I also worked on learning Spanish. However, I am living proof that given enough time I would not clean my craft room. I…
One of the struggles I had was the whole Fight or Flight concept. I didn’t run but I didn’t fight either. I felt like a worm or a doormat. The whole concept seemed to be lost to me. Then I read one of Pete Walkers articles about the 4 F’s http://www.pete-walker.com/fourFs_TraumaTypologyComplexPTSD.htm He explained that Fight…
This question was in one of the PTSD facebook pages. I decided to share my answer here too. Q: How does one connect to emotions in therapy? I have a super strong social/protective self which is hindering my progress. A: Wow. That is a tough question. I survived by disconnecting then my counselor wanted me…
I grew up learning about the Fight-Flight responses to stress. My mother taught us to either run or fight. I watched my brothers polarize their responses…one ran and the other fought every one and every thing. I didn’t feel like I fit either one. Then I learned about Freeze….closer. This is that “deer-in-the-headlights” where you…
Quite often when reading articles on healing you will encounter the suggestion to journal your thoughts. For me, that was down right scary and seemed impossible when my thoughts are all over the place. I do not journal every day. I do use writing as a way to organize my thoughts, put things into words…
This week I started working at work for 2 days. Most people would think, “Why is this post worthy?” First off, my contract doesn’t start until tomorrow. I was called in early. I offered to come in to help with the distribution of computers to students and they decided to take me up on my…
Quarantine was a natural boundary. No one comes in and no one goes out. Boring but predictable. Things are opening up some places but with a new restriction or boundary. You have to wear a mask. NOT going well with that one. Someone chided me that it is just a piece of fabric. Yes, a…
Spent the last 10 days wrestling with what shot my PTSD into over drive. Sleepless nights, anxiety, isolation, fear, raging anger, too sick to exercise, stuffing emotions with food. Finally figured it out, I am freaking mad over having to wear a mask. I stay away from people. I never applied for a job that…
Chatting online one of the concerns brought up are the personality quizzes. I took several. One I took was mandatory because of the type of medical test I was having. (Checking for epilepsy; no, I don’t have it.) I also help our students take different quizzes to find out what they like for possible career…
Before I started counseling, I recognized that at times I would get raging angry. I knew my anger was out of proportion of the incident. I would send myself to my room. I placed a blood shot eye TV vegetable with fat lip in front of my door. Fair warning I was not reasonable, not…
PTSD - Accepting, Coping, Thriving 