Anyone with experience of PTSD?

enginesuck

There has been some research which suggests psycadelics and MDMA may be benficial with PTSD google it or visit reset.me obviously there are legal ramifications but i found the idea interesting.

I had a mild case, but have had no treatment and it doesnt affect me anymore.

dizziblonde

Someone I know described the talking therapy she'd had to deal with things like repacking a suitcase... initially everything had been thrown in and so was bursting out at inappropriate moments and causing havoc, but with therapy she got each item of it out, looked at it, folded it up properly and then ended up with a nice tidy suitcase that's manageable and doesn't spring open in the middle of the high street.

I quite liked that analogy.

carrielovesfanta

Hi everyone

I’d like to thanks everyone who has posted so far. I’m very grateful that you would all share such personal insights with me – I really appreciate your honesty and openness.

Nlj1520 – I’m really glad that the thread is helping you too– you’re not hijacking it at all J

Sorry for the long post, but I really wanted to think about what everyone has said.

I can identify all of the symptoms you’ve all shared here in my OH, the anxiety, the anger flare ups, the depressive episodes and in some ways it’s good to know that this is all part of the PTSD and not something additional. I think he is relived as well that he knows for certain there is something wrong.

The origins of OH’s PTSD are actually in his childhood and it’s clear now that he’s been unwell as long as I’ve known him. I always putthings down to short temper, personality, laziness etc and now it breaks my heart that he’s been so ill for so long and I didn’t see it.

He’s a very kind, talented and wonderful man and in many ways I’ve seen improvement in him while we’ve been together, but the pressure of the final year of his degree tipped him over the edge a bit and we agreed that he needed to see the doctor. He was assessed and referred for treatment for anxiety, but it became clear to his counsellor that there was more at play and I’m so glad she was so switched onto what he was saying to her.

I’m going to really think about all your advice. It seems from what you’re saying that the most important thing I can do is listen and believe what OH tells me.

I’m a very practical, problem-solving type of person (morelike a typical guy!) and I find it hard sometimes to listen and not fix. I’m also a talker which doesn’t help. Luckily we have had some management trainingin work recently, and I think I can apply a lot of the listening skills that I’ve learned to this situation.

I will continue to re-visit the thread and I hope that it will continue to help me and others

Thanks again everyone

Clf x

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I'd also say two things;

A diagnosis isn't a get out of jail free card for unacceptable behaviour. Someone with PTSD or any other MH condition can still be lazy or mean or unthinking - like all people, they aren't benighted saints.

It's about you as well. You still have the right, the need, to look after yourself, have time out, feel grumpy with him or the world in general and do things that you want to do. Don't lose yourself in trying to look after somebody else at your own expense. It's ok to admit you find it isolating, frustrating and boring at times, or you just want to get away from it. Support can come from friends as well as professional organisations.

carrielovesfanta

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I'd also say two things;

A diagnosis isn't a get out of jail free card for unacceptable behaviour. Someone with PTSD or any other MH condition can still be lazy or mean or unthinking - like all people, they aren't benighted saints.

It's about you as well. You still have the right, the need, to look after yourself, have time out, feel grumpy with him or the world in general and do things that you want to do. Don't lose yourself in trying to look after somebody else at your own expense. It's ok to admit you find it isolating, frustrating and boring at times, or you just want to get away from it. Support can come from friends as well as professional organisations.

Hi Jojo - I understand what you mean. I'm not prepared to be a doormat. This condition is longstanding (although it was undiagnosed) and I have made it clear where the boundaries are (OH doesn't really like me to be out of his sight in case something bad happens - obviously not practical or acceptable!).

I'm lucky in that I also have some good friends that I can rant to if need be