HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

ptsd

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/10/2011 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
over 20 years ago i was involved in a near death auto accident . i relive the memory vividly nealy every day of my life all of my senses are involved in the memory . i never had accident amnesia . i was left with substantial physical, emotional and mental disabilities and was never able to return to my career . i've basically become a recluse because of my deep and intense fear of driving and constant , chronic pain .  i have had all types of talk therapies ,  emdr , cbt , . i've even hired a driving school instructer to take me out on the road and i freeze on all instances seeing the accident over and over in my head . i'm even a white knuckler as a passenger . 1) r there any sufferers of ptsd in the group ? pls. share your experience with me  2) what types of treatments have u tried and were they helpful ? 3 ) have u tried any meds  ? i've been on anti . anxiety meds and anti . depress. of all varieties since my accident . they work initially for panic but have no real lasting effect . 4) any suggestions ? i'm out of money and insurance .  
Posted 9/10/2011 8:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Startsunshine

Welcome to the group you have come to a good place and you will meet others who can relate. Sorry to read your story sounds like you have had a lot to deal with. I do not have ptsd but I do know some of the members here do and hopefully they will be along shortly and reply to your post. Stick with us and keep us posted on how things are going.

Hibee
Posted 9/10/2011 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Startsunshine,

I do have PTSD and I don't take meds for it, and never have. I do for depression though.

What I try to do, is understand my triggers, pre-empt situations I am about to go into, and I try to act 'normal' when I am being triggered. (That way, only I know what is going on within me).

With identifying my triggers, I try to find a way to deal with them, if there really is no way around it at all that has success, I then give up, and avoid that trigger altogether. I try to not give too much energy to 'trying to get over things', I have wasted in my life so much time doing that and getting no-where, so now, I just accept it and try and live a good life inspite of the PTSD.

Hope that helps, it is never 'healthy' to try to avoid things, but for me, it works.
Posted 9/10/2011 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
my trigggers as an adult are primarily cars , car noises , traffic etc....pretty hard to avoid . i only wish i could live in that st world . its bad enough that i am constantly reliving the accident in my head without the triggers . does this make sense ? additionally, i suffer from ptsd from chilhood memories . i successfully divorced my parents when i was younger because of the toxic nature of our relationship which ultimately really helped me copewith that . i would like to move past the memories of my accident so that i could drive again but cannot afford the type of therapy i think i will need to succeed ..
Posted 9/11/2011 5:19 PM (GMT 0)

Yes, it does make sense.  What kind of therapy do you think you need?  I have not gone down the path of therapy at all, but I learn by reading.

And I totally get the  noises, load noises set me off too, so I break that down like this.  Some loud noises I can manage, the phone ringing, all my friends know, text me first before you ring, if you don't, I wont pick up the phone, as I have just gotten a fright.  So, this is managable.  Noises, like what occurred for me four hours ago, I am at work and a kid lite a fire in her room, which set of the alarm.  I have know control over that, I immediately was shaking as I got a heck of a fright, but, I logically have conversations with myself to keep me calm, my head sounds like this.  'I know you are shaking and just got a fright, it's ok, it's just the alarm, now you need to get the kids moving out of the building, and start giving staff instructions.  So lets start with what you need right now.......and action kicks in. 

I calmed really quickly with some of the kids offering me thier blankets as we were waiting outside at night, and them asking if I was ok.

So that sort of illustrates my process and the way I just live inspite of it, it isn't easy, some days are really tough and take all my energy, some days I have to just stay home and rest, but mostly, I just get on.

Posted 9/11/2011 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
it's called "desensitisation" therapy where the thearpist may start you on a video game driving for a few sessions . then they may take you driving very slowly with them behind the wheel etc...i'm explaining it very quickly . it's a long tedious process and only a profeesional is trained to do it . they know how to talk you down if you start to panic or when they should take over the wheel if it's your turn to drive when you truly have had enough for the session . eventually though the idea is that you are able to drive within reason . it's a form of cbt , i suppose.i have tried to do this with my husband and it doesn't work .none of the therapists in my area accept insurance if i could talk them into trying this type of therapy . i've tried emdr for the problem years ago when a social worker would accept my ins . but i had no success.
Posted 9/12/2011 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I know the therapy, it is meant to have fairly high success rates.

So, given that you don't have insurance currently, I don't know what to suggest, your health system is different to mine, I live in New Zealand and I don't know what ins and emdr is.

Hope someone that understands this termonology is able to answer you where I can't
Posted 9/12/2011 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
We have another member who suffers with PTSD and has had good success with EMDR, but she has not posted in some time.

Perhaps look for a group therapy meeting in your area. They are often reduced cost, and many members here have had great experiences with them.

Also there are some therapists willing to work on a sliding scale according to your income. It will take some searching and perhaps waiting on a list, but it could be worth it.

I went through two courses of CBT before I found it effective. Returning to therapy again after a time can make all the difference. You are in a different place now, things in your life have certainly changed, and now could be the time that it works!:)

I wish you the best of luck. (Later, I can look up some of those low-cost therapists if you would like some help...let me know)

Take care,
S.C.
Posted 9/12/2011 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
i'm on medicare because of ssdi . absolutely noone in my area will accept it and wont accept even a sliding scale . i feel so helpless .
Posted 9/12/2011 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
i accidentally clicked on unsubscribe to this thread . how do i fix that ?
Posted 9/12/2011 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
Oh everybody has done that at some point:) Go up to MY PROFILE, top of page, left side. On that page you should be able to 'unclick' the icon.

Later, I will try to do some research and see what I can find on getting into some kind of program, even if you are on medicare...there's got to be something...

S.C.
Posted 9/12/2011 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
i'm so sorry . i don't understand the instructions . a scar on my brain from the accident makes understanding very difficult . can u be any more specific ?i can't believe how fast you respond to my questions !!!
Posted 9/12/2011 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
She's speedy for sure.

With your mouse go right to the very top of this page, you should see the very first box you started thread with.

On the left hand side, there is an option, log out, or my profile, click on my profile.

This will bring you to some options, Edit email subscriptions is one of them. Click that, hope that helps
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply