One of the books I read a few years ago wrote about filling your own bucket. (How full is your Bucket? http://strengths.gallup.com/114079/Full-Bucket.aspx) The theory following air flight attendants advice of put on your own oxygen mask before trying to help someone else. Over the years I learned that PTSD punches a hole in my bucket. …
I am noticing a change in the government PTSD page. More and more of the information is addressing the need for information for others plus the military. The page shares a number of ideas that are helpful to finding a therapist. http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/therapy-med/finding-a-therapist.asp My first therapist was awesome and understood PTSD. He helped me to regain…
Too often I was told how I should feel, how long I should hurt, and ridiculed if I cried. I learned to stuff how I felt, no longer acknowledged my pain, and didn’t cry. I was emotionally self destructing. I spent 3 years almost completely bed ridden. I could be up about 20 minutes a…
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…
what you don’t know. This week I was reminded something taught to me by my first counselor. I was stumbling through several counseling sessions when I first started going, confused and resentful not understanding where he was trying to get me to go with my thinking. I couldn’t grasp what he was trying to say. …
Guilt is supposed to happen. Very young children feel guilt. I notice my dog seems to feel guilt as she slinks into a room she knows she is not allowed to go. Guilt dictionary meaning http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/guilt noun 1. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal…
I love quotes and posters and a clever reminders. PTSD exists because something negative happened. I fell on a cactus. It was painful and difficult pulling out every hooked thorn. Sometimes a person is pushed into a cactus patch. No matter where they put their hand more pain occurs. The struggle out is painful and…
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…
During counseling, my therapist defined several different types of abuse. He wanted me to understand what it is and what it wasn’t. One of the most difficult forms of abuse to define and recognize is emotional abuse. It leaves no mark that I can point to, “See you hurt me there.” I was raised with…
PTSD - Accepting, Coping, Thriving 