How does anyone deal with Post tramatic stress syndrome?
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I watch tv. Eventually I start to fall asleep and then turn it off. You have to stop the voices by telling them to go away and think of something positive. It will never make it all better, but it does help.
When I started having symptoms of post-traumatic stress, I went to a neuropsychologist who prescribed an anti-convulsant. That medicine calmed my seizures (that were also causing the excessive anxiety post-trauma) and I've been alright since then. Not the best, but not as bad as it used to be.
See a therapist. What he/she will do is basically try to present the traumatic event to you, without the traumatic event. For example if someone got into a car accident is now afraid to drive, he would gradually introduce you to driving a car and obviously not allow you to experience the accident. So maybe a picture of the car, then maybe standing by the driver's side of it, then maybe opening the door, then maybe sitting in the drivers seat, and ultimately driving it. And this process goes at your pace and your comfortableness with it. Another, arguably better therapy technique is called EMDR therapy. This can treat PTSD in just a few sessions. The idea behind PTSD is when traumatic events in past memory interfere with present memory. The treatment is to seperate these two, and both of these therapies will attempt to seperate your traumatic memory from your present memory. Bottom line, see a therapist, get diagnosed, and let him/her treat you. Medication can help, but it will only mask the underlying problem.
P.S. I noticed below someone said PTSD is a dissociative disorder. Although he had some good information, he is wrong about it being a dissociative disorder. It is actually an Anxiety Disorder.
Finding yourself a good therapist is the best way. I would suggest you see somebody who has experience in treating trauma and dissociative disorders. Dissociative disorders are usually caused by some kind of severe trauma. PTSD is a dissociative disorder, but there are other kinds as well. The treatment is different depending on what kind you have, so it's *really* important you find somebody who knows this, and has experience. You don't want somebody deciding you have schizophrenia because you hear voices, when it's really a dissociative disorder (don't want the opposite, either).
The sidran foundation -just google "sidran", or "dissociative disorders" has therapist listings. If you're broke, check out community organizations (like United Way) or ask potential therapists if they have a sliding scale- some do- my therapist charges me about a fourth of her regular charge. I thank her so much, 'cause otherwise I could never have afforded it!
There's lots of info, and message boards on the web. Message boards can be great for personal support. Google "abuse" "dissociative disorders" "PTSD," etc. A few books that helped me are "The Body Remembers" (my mind can't remember the author!), "Dissociation: the Hidden Epidemic" (I think it's by somebody named Shapiro) and "Getting Through The Day" by Nancy Napier. They explain what's understood about how dissociative disorders work, and give strategies for dealing with flashbacks.
Dealing with dissociation can be hellish, but it's considered very treatable, so best of luck!
Drop me an e-mail if you want, I'm going through this stuff right now!
PTSD is treatable with some serious therapy and medication. YOu can take the medication to help with the flashbacks while you are engaging therapy and by time you complete the intense therapy you will most likely not need medication. At least, that's what my patients experience. If you do not deal with this now it could have tragic results later in life. Please talk to someone.
Hypnotherapy is a wonderful way to relax, combat stress and to get good quality sleep.
You can be taught self hypnosis by going to see a Hypnotherapist or get a self help CD (or download)
http://blog.hypnosisdownloads.com/?879..
You will find a lot of useful information on the following pages http://www.hypnotherapistregister.com/st...
The benefits can be enormous. Good luck.
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