Guest guest Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 i'm just realizing that i suffer from this. makes so much sense. what have all of you done to desensitize yourselves from your painful memories and emotional triggers? just looking at the moon the other night with my daughter made me cry because of how many times i wished on the moon that the next day would be better, but it never was. i know you all will have some great and honest suggestions for me. amy barrycove@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 I experience PTSD symptoms, too. I understand how hard it can be to overcome. My T did not seem to think I had PTSD when I asked her a number of years ago, but I do not really have any other explanation for it. And my husband (an MD) describes it as such. So I go with it. I get triggered by seeing a photo of my parents, seeing their handwriting, hearing their voices, or seeing their name/number (or even just their area code!) on the Caller ID. I have a rush of adrenaline and panic reactions: rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, tunnel vision, muffled hearing, etc. Sometimes this reaction is not immediate but is delayed a few minutes or more. To recover, I use deep breathing, CBT/positive self-talk, and just take it easy. I give myself space and try to take care of myself. I consider it a time for reasonable amounts of comfort food. Exercise can be helpful, and mindfulness (paying close attention to all the sensations I am feeling and the environment around me) as well. Others have said that listening to music/dancing or watching favorite movies can help. I like to come on forums like this one to get support. I try to avoid triggers as much as possible. I cannot stop my parents from trying to contact me, but I can send someone else to the mailbox or hit delete on the answering machine. I can remind myself that I am not in immediate danger and that I can overcome the situation. And I can focus my attention on being gentle to myself. I can keep working on my boundaries. Sveta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 (((((((((Amy))))))))))) I will read the responses with interest also, as I still have some symptoms of ptsd, such as an exaggerated startle reflex. I think that the symptoms I no longer experience very often (if at all) such as frequent nightmares and flashbacks, have gradually lessened due to simply not being around my nada on a daily basis, but becoming free of those took years and years. My understanding is that ptsd is treatable; there are therapies specifically developed to treat those with ptsd, which is excellent and hopeful news. I myself can't afford treatment at this time, but hope to be able to afford it at some point. My main coping mechanism when I was growing up was partial dissociation; I dissociated myself from my emotions. Sister dissociated from even her memories; she is now in middle age able to retrieve more than just the few bits of childhood memories she had managed to retain. Going numb emotionally was, I suppose, survival-proactive for me; if I could retain my memory of what triggered my nada into rage, perhaps I could avoid enraging her. That's just me speculating out loud, I have no real insight about this. -Annie > > i'm just realizing that i suffer from this. > makes so much sense. > > > what have all of you done to desensitize yourselves from your painful memories and emotional triggers? > > > just looking at the moon the other night with my daughter made me cry because of how many times i wished on the moon that the next day would be better, but it never was. > > > i know you all will have some great and honest suggestions for me. > > > amy > > > barrycove@... > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Oh yes, I forgot about the nightmares. I used to have horrible ones, and wake up screaming, nearly every night. They became less frequent the longer I lived away from my FOO, and cleared up completely once I started T and learned to set boundaries. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Hello All,  I normally post in WTO Parents, but also follow posts in Adult Children. My dad has never been formally diagnosed with BPD...he believes any psych-related issues are nonsense. He is at a point in his life where he is in very poor health and gaslights about the past. I limit my exposure to him.  Therapy is helping a great deal; both in understanding my diagnosed BPD step-daughter and dealing with issues regarding my dad. Along with talking and lots of reading (SWOE), I've been trying Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing (EMDR). I've had two sessions, and find it incredibly interesting. It's like having a new tool in my bag of coping mechanisms.  http://emdr-therapy.com/  Take good care and enjoy your holidays. in NH ________________________________ To: WTOAdultChildren1 Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 6:48 PM Subject: Re: PTSD  (((((((((Amy))))))))))) I will read the responses with interest also, as I still have some symptoms of ptsd, such as an exaggerated startle reflex. I think that the symptoms I no longer experience very often (if at all) such as frequent nightmares and flashbacks, have gradually lessened due to simply not being around my nada on a daily basis, but becoming free of those took years and years. My understanding is that ptsd is treatable; there are therapies specifically developed to treat those with ptsd, which is excellent and hopeful news. I myself can't afford treatment at this time, but hope to be able to afford it at some point. My main coping mechanism when I was growing up was partial dissociation; I dissociated myself from my emotions. Sister dissociated from even her memories; she is now in middle age able to retrieve more than just the few bits of childhood memories she had managed to retain. Going numb emotionally was, I suppose, survival-proactive for me; if I could retain my memory of what triggered my nada into rage, perhaps I could avoid enraging her. That's just me speculating out loud, I have no real insight about this. -Annie > > i'm just realizing that i suffer from this. > makes so much sense. > > > what have all of you done to desensitize yourselves from your painful memories and emotional triggers? > > > just looking at the moon the other night with my daughter made me cry because of how many times i wished on the moon that the next day would be better, but it never was. > > > i know you all will have some great and honest suggestions for me. > > > amy > > > barrycove@... > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.