Making Changes

One of the main points of this blog is to share activities, changes, and thinking that have helped me cope with PTSD better after counseling than before.  The huge division for me was BC before counseling and AC after counseling.  There is a reason for this.  Before counseling I didn’t know what was wrong with…

Relationships

I believe that every person with PTSD or not had difficulties with relationships because we are human.  We don’t see things the same way.  We don’t respond to stress in the same way. We all have different expectations.  However, PTSD and trauma can add layers of difficulty that can be difficult to cut through.  Me…

Lousy at play

I work at a school where Early Childhood Education is one of the courses of study.  High school students learn to be preschool teachers.  I coined the motto, “Our Work is Child’s Play.”  I help teach students the importance of play but I am lousy at playing. This link explains some of the reasons why…

Go back to what works

I am rebuilding my health after a rough beginning to 2017.  A fast trip to Kentucky followed by horrible allergies, finished off with a car wreck that was not my fault but left me with spectacular bruising and a sore neck.  The bruising is fading but still tender to the touch.  Sneezing is painful.  I…

Self-abuse

One of the confusing things that my counselor spent many hours trying to help me understand was I needed to fire my mean boss.   That mean boss that expects me to arrive early and leave late.  The one that doesn’t allow any sick time.  Punishes me for not doing enough.  Rages at me for the…

Don’t tell me why

I get articles about PTSD and depression…Every so often one of the articles tells me how I feel and why.  Don’t just don’t.  This particular article was about depression and stated why I feel depressed.  The article did share one of the causes of depression but it is not my cause for depression.  Over years…

Lizard Brain

One of the many cognitive dissonance moments was learning about the amygdala.  That pesky part of the brain that sees a T-Rex instead of a barking dog.  The amygdala kicks in when danger is perceived….unfortunately, long term abuse leaves me seeing danger everywhere.  Examples a black cat is a pouncing panther, a test precedes a…

Sharing

The past 3 days I spoke to high school classes where I work about PTSD and coping skills.  Fashion I discussed the dark side of fashion…anorexia, eating disorders, plastic surgery addiction, and other out of control behaviors trying to compete in a high stress, slave labor industry.  I shared the coping skills I list here. …