If you read yesterday’s post of Maladaptive Schema http://weareone-ruth.blogspot.com/2015/05/maladaptive-schemas.html and find yourself saying, “That is so me.” By the end of the list, I felt very discouraged. I felt like some research wrinkled gnome just wrote out the worst part of my life for the whole world to see. But that is just it, I…
I learned long ago, before counseling, when I was raising my small children we checked out a library book called, It Could Always be Worse. (http://www.amazon.com/It-Could-Always-Be-Worse/dp/0374436363) I delightful tale of the woes of a young man when his brother’s widow moves in with her lazy son. Seeking answers things became much worse. Survivors experience worse. …
Information is available if you know where to look on the signs and symptoms of child abuse. One of the more disturbing statistics is the one that I saw that stated over 50% of people with PTSD are child abuse survivors. Even more disturbing is how high a percentage of children they suspect suffer from…
I am always trying to look for ways to make concrete examples of abstract concepts. I heard numerous times how I need to get back to what I was before trauma….problem…my trauma began when I was 5 years old. I don’t think going back is a viable option for me. I have a series of…
I’m fairly sure the last one is not a word, but it needs to be. Thriving was not part of my vocabulary. I understood taking orders, I knew how to survive; it is like I knew how to drive a tank but didn’t know how to walk down a city street. I do believe some…
My first attempt at a reblog…..Failed. https://cherished79.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/therapy-what-is-cbt/ CBT explanation for those that want to know. This is one of the accepted counseling methods for PTSD. I hope this helps. Part of my counseling was CBT in addition to other methods. I still use the CBT process of recognizing, greater awareness, play detective with my thoughts,…
I love holidays. If I had my way, I would put up a Christmas tree in December and decorate for Christmas. Then in January the tree would be covered with snow flakes. February would be doused in hearts and cupids. (The minions played on the fact that cupid and stupid rhyme.) March would bedecked with…
Someone posted a note of encouragement on Facebook reminding us with time things will get better. Two people asked, “When?” I answered. I learned that if you want to make PTSD worse….much, much worse…..do nothing. That’s easy. I remember the worst time of my life is when I gave up fighting this mysterious illness with…
One of the homework assignments I was given early in my counseling required me to follow the 5-50 rule. Do something for someone else that takes less than 5 minutes and cost less than 50 cents. (A candy bar usually costs more than 50 cents unless you can find them on sale.) Doesn’t sound like…
Hard work sometimes feels like spinning your wheels in mud. Lots of energy but nothing changes. So when small changes are suggested, most people ignore the suggestion. How can one small change make a difference when a whole bunch of work produces so little? I am a math geek. I love equations and how things…
PTSD - Accepting, Coping, Thriving 