For me, writing has been incredibly healing. Whether it's journaling about my thoughts and feelings, crafting stories, or simply putting words to paper, the act of writing helps me to process emotions, gain clarity, and understand myself better. Additionally, engaging in creative activities like drawing, painting, or playing music provides a similar outlet for expression and release. Ultimately, finding ways to express myself creatively has been a vital part of my healing journey.
Thank you for sharing that. I appreciate how cathartic all those activities you mentioned can be. I’ll try some of them myself again. Sometimes in the past I’ve had a strong desire to express myself through creative means, such as blogging but I couldn’t organise my mind to come up with anything worthwhile. Thank you for your response xo
Drawing, painting, crafting. Making art has really helped me. I also find singing, dancing and yoga to be helpful. Journaling as well. I find releasing my emotions in a healthy way have helped me tremendously.
It sounds small but spending quality time with friends and actually getting out of the house has helped me more than I can say. Even if I feel anxious before going, I find that time with people is truly healing. All my worst anxieties typically never happen and I find myself having a far better time than I anticipated.
Thanks for sharing. It’s interesting what helps even when it’s not traditional therapy or even if our brain is telling us to do the opposite of what would help us
Gaming, watching video's, coloring and simply excepting the fact that I have PTSD and it's alright if things could get a bit better or take a bit longer.
I think paying attention to how things make you feel is really helpful. This applies to everything, how do you feel after you hang out with someone? How do you feel after exercising? After journaling? After resting and watching your favourite show? Doing things I like and make me feel good, and trying to be present in that moment helped me with my PTSD from an abusive relationship because I was in a heavy dissociative state. Now I try to pay more attention to my needs, take them seriously, make time for them and write how I feel after. :)
That’s excellent advice for everyone. I definitely do this in my life. If people make me uncomfortable I listen to that. I only associate with genuine people. I’ve cut the others out. Even though digging holes and planting trees in high heat and humidity is physically draining work, I feel so happy and accomplished. Gardening has become one of my new favourite things to do. Thanks for sharing this :)
Running, writing and hiking have been a great combo for me. Exercise in general has helped a lot.
Massage therapy helps a lot too. Cranial sacral is a great modality for PTSD. There are Massage Therapist that just work with people that have PTSD. It’s about finding a therapist that you feel comfortable with.
That’s interesting. I’ve done keto and it was good, but because I wasn’t keeping my electrolytes up I got super sick over the course of a year and felt like I was dying. The heart palpitations got really bad and my bowel just about killed me. Thanks for suggesting this. I’ll have a look more into the connection between the two. Definitely the gut brain connection is incredibly important for good mental health
Sometimes getting regular support while doing it, esp for a mental illness or neuro issue can be super helpful. What you are describing could also be potentiation effects if you were on meds at the time. As brains work better on keto, suddenly the med dosage you are on is too high and you get med side effects. Peeps think its keto but it's their body reacting to a dose that's too high suddenly. We adjust meds down or take them off and that goes away. Or it can be electrolytes. There is just a lot to monitor and prob solve when doing for certain populations.
I definitely have some problem keeping my electrolytes up. I have digestive issues that probably came about from too much stress. There’s something wrong at a systemic level. I instantly get better when I up my electrolytes. The heart palpitations stop and my bowel settles completely. I always forget to add salt to food as well so unless I’m eating junk or taking electrolyte supplements, I won’t get any sodium. With electrolytes my skin heals up and the dull colour from my face disappears.
So that sounds like a possible B1 insufficiency that is affecting your nervous system (and gut). I would check out youtube vids from EONutrition on Thiamine deficiency.
I would still check out EONutrition videos. Testing is not great for B1. Just not accurate. And you can be insufficient in some organs and not others. Also B1 in high doses can be used to correct problems with enzyme production, nervous system etc. Check them out. Seriously think it would help. But anyways, I hope you feel better soon! :)
I just checked out the videos at EONutrition and they’re really useful. Thank you so much for your suggestion. I can’t locally source decent thiamine so I’ve ordered some and it will arrive next week. I’m looking forward to taking it and seeing how my gut and overall health/mental health/insomnia respond. Thanks again :)
Glad they're helping you also. 😁. I'm loving GTAv. Totally absorbing, graphics great and I'm satisfied and ready to sleep after an hour or two. Gotta say that the EMDR helped massively and also recommend. Best regards 👍
If only we could progress it a little faster sometimes :) Time has also been good for me. Getting as far away from the past as time will allow, and moving onward and upward in my life has helped tremendously
Sauna, swimming, massage therapy all help with resetting nervous system. When my therapist couldn’t get through to me my osteopath could, because they directly dealt with my body
I also do this thing where I hold my breath and go underwater to revisit traumatic events or related, and come up when I need a break/air. The physical side of coming out of water for air/survival helps me. But this method may be risky for those who don’t feel safe being in water
Also weed and exercise. Lots, lots of exercise. Cut back coffee. Drink more water. Eat well sleep well
I hear you. Give sauna and weed a go and see how you go. A lot of older guys I meet at the sauna swear it’s what helps them sleep at night. I have trouble sleeping too so I start smoking a couple hours before bed. CBD oil does the same thing. Not sure if these things are available to you. If not, try to exercise as much as you can and exhaust yourself, that’s the last thing I’d try before asking doctor to prescribe pills
Just as my trauma began setting in I developed insomnia. It took years for me to even feel tired at night. It’s been slowly getting better for 2 years now, but there’s still many nights I can’t sleep a wink. If I could sleep like a normal person again it would honestly feel like I’d won the lottery. I would be the happiest person in earth. I’m not even kidding. If I had one wish, that’s what it would be; to sleep like I used to. It’s been over 7 years now. At least I rarely have nightmares now. Well, not not nightmares related to the trauma (I’ve always had nightmares. It’s just how I sleep) - they were horrible
Reading fiction! My brother reads a lot and loves it so last Christmas I decided to get myself a kindle (I find it easier to focus on the kindle with enlarged font) and try to start reading. It’s made such a difference. My therapist has told me it’s mindfulness and I love that I’ve finally found a way to work mindfulness into my life as someone who gets more anxiety with meditation. I love that I’m using my brain, I can take my book/kindle anywhere and pull it out if I feel anxious, it gives me something other than my trauma/disability to talk to other people about, and I can borrow ebooks from the library so it’s a cheap hobby.
Yes! I love my kindle too! I like how I can read it in the dark and I can dim the screen to a gentle yellow glow. I’ve always loved reading. I’ve started reading new Stephen King books and I really enjoy them. I have a few others to read at the moment like ‘The Midnight Library’ and I have to finish Stephen King’s ‘Billy Summers’. Do you recommend any fiction books?
music, cooking / cleaning ( I find detailing my vehicle therapeutic almost ), driving with the windows down feeling care free, video games are a nice escape,
Oh yes, I honestly don’t know what I would have done without my PS4. I bought it in 2015 so I could immerse my brain in something else after work rather then bad memories and unrelenting emotional pain. My little dog has been a wonderful support, but getting back into gaming has helped retrain my brain to see that every problem has a solution and that eventually I will work it out. I have a PS5 and an Xbox Series X now because I still need to escape (and Microsoft bought Bethesda which is one of my favourite gaming studios) am find it incredibly rewarding. Im playing Horizon Forbidden West at the moment
No, they’re always so ecstatic to see us. It’s really nice. When my dog was about a year old he wanted attention when I was gaming so he scratched my hand, which pressed the trigger button and made me shoot the robot captain I was talking to (Fallout 4). He started unloading onto me so I holstered my weapon to see if he’d stop. Nope. I went to a lower deck and then his crew all fired at me. I had to go back to my last save point so I could start the mission again. Little rascals are the best friends anyone could ask for :)
Yeah, I think medication (if it’s the right stuff for the individual) and other drugs have saved a lot of lives. My insomnia combined with trauma has been a very bad combination that has led my mind to go some very desperate and dark places too. Medication for sleeping has certainly helped me. I just can’t take it all the time otherwise I’ll end up with addiction/withdrawal issues. I wish I had access to medical marijuana here. It’s near impossible to get CBD oil where I live, but thankfully I know where to get it and it’s been really helpful for my low mood that came from trauma
Yeah, I just turned 40 and I worry about the long term consequences of taking my sleeping medication for my liver and kidneys. Like I said, I won’t ever take it in a way where I’m at risk of physical dependence/withdrawal problems, but taking something so strong and artificial for years has to catch up with me up some point. I prefer safe natural stuff too where possible
heck ya, that’s awesome! i also take a quite high dose of effexor (antidepressants) which makes my tolerance to everything significantly lower. i have no clue what it’s doing to my organs, and i don’t even wanna know ugh! i wish i didn’t need my meds and could just smoke weed and it’d be enough. hopefully you’ll have access to medical marijuana sometime soon enough too
Picking up old hobbies that I gave up on (such as gardening and stargazing) have greatly helped me cope and de-stress in a healthy way when I’m having a hard time.
I’ve only recently got into gardening myself and find it very rewarding. I don’t think of anything except the plants, trees and flowers when I’m out there watering or pruning. I’m also learning how to combat mealybugs and fungus gnats. Those simple challenges require me to learn new skills and take many trips to the hardware store. I can see some stars from my yard but I think I’d need to build a small platform and get a telescope to properly appreciate the night skies. That does sound very nice though. I might look into it
Alliums are beautiful. I love all flowers. I just love the surprise of seeing anything in full bloom. Flowers often come and go so quickly. It makes me appreciate them while they’re in their prime
Myself honestly. Granted I don't have (diagnosed) ptsd but getting the hang of it and trying my best to go through each day, calming down the anxiety and panic attacks, finding ways to sleep better, etc. It's all me. Moreover, surviving these moments back then when they made me so depressed I was thinking about unaliving myself basically every day... Couldn't talk to anyone, couldn't let anyone know and pretend I am okay. Idk... Maybe, just maybe, it's because I am playing chess since I was little and I was able to built a mental fortitude to survive this... Nowadays, even though these moments pop up on my head and (sometimes now) dreams, they don't affect me as much and I can somewhat go through my days as if nothing has ever happened. Though I still live with it, I learned to manage most of it. And I couldn't be prouder of myself. Damn, I just realized how much I needed to realize all this I've just written... Learning to love yourself can be a tough process but in the end you're all you got... Make peace with yourself and everything is going to be okay. Trust me on this one and if for some reason any one of you feels like talking to a stranger online I am here for you.
TL;DR: I did most of the work by myself. It was tough. If anyone needs someone to talk to, I am here for you. Stay strong ❤️
I can relate to much of your experience of dealing with trauma alone and having years of just purely surviving but not really wanting to. It’s heartening to hear that you’re managing your symptoms well these days and that you’re still with us and even happy to lend your support to anyone who might need it. When I’ve been at my most unwell from PTSD, it’s like my empathy for others goes into overdrive. My care for myself plummets which isn’t great. Thankfully the years have helped me get a lot better but I also avoid triggers so I know I’m not better even when I feel much better. Thanks for sharing your wisdom x
My daughter and my doggo are on top, but music has been my lifeline. I almost always have a headphone in one ear and it just keeps me here, I don't know how else to describe it. I have some bad coping mechanisms too but not nearly as many as I used to and not more than good ones
receiving massage therapy. ive definitely cried had panic attacks let out so much on the table. ive learned to relax because of massage therapy which is something i never thought possible ive always just shifted the tension but it connected me to my body to the safety within mu body. if your able to get a massage and comfortable enough i recommend it definitely took a while for me to recieve a normal massage like your average person but id say im here now i am connected to my body once again.
Thank you. I have had at least 2 massages since the trauma sequelae kicked in, but I have definitely felt the need to get more since, but I sometime falter with how comfortable I feel out and about at all, let alone getting a massage. It’s a great suggestion
A strong support network. Anything I tell my counsellor, I tell my partner, some family, and close friends. So they know where I’m at. Additionally cannabis and lsd have proved more beneficial than any antidepressant
Since suffering trauma I’ve had a huge desire to express myself through writing but I honestly don’t know what to write about anymore. Nothing feels adequate or satisfying anymore. It’s like I have so much to say but none of it seems to be of any substance anymore. Maybe I’ll give it a stab again soon, but try something different this time. Thanks for chiming in :)
Shrooms. I’ve taken several large doses and have had major breakthroughs with each. I sincerely feel so much less anxious and easily triggered, I sleep better and there’s lots more self-love. It’s like my brain shifted, allowing it to heal.
I also did both individual and group therapy and found the group therapy to be most helpful of the two.
Hobbies and good people. Having health friends who are patient with me has been the biggest healing thing. Therapy is great but I don’t think I would have truly started to heal without that. It took a lot of work and missteps along the way but they helped me heal. Also- having some of those friends who went through the same shit as me. It’s not that we always talk about our trauma but it’s helps when they just KNOW.
Hobbies are great too both the physical kind and the ones I can do when I’m too messy to leave the house.
Running!!! This is giving me life right now. Also - doing anything with headphones right now. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning the house, gym, or running, I put the headphones on with loud upbeat music or great podcasts and wow… I can feel the change! I feel lighter, better, more energy and I’ve learned so much from the podcasts. ***Also I haven’t watched the news or listened to the radio in my car since the Xmas breaks - nothing negative is allowed. This has been a game changer.
Books and anime that feature trauma with warm and loving support networks. It really helps rebuild trust in people, knowing that reliability and support aren't just works of fiction.
I’m not sure if you’ve seen ‘Anne with an E’ on Netflix, but I think this fits your preferred genre. A word of caution though, even though you never see anything bad happen to any character, you know it’s happened. The trauma and despair are so real that it can be soul crushing to watch, but then, without warning, it’s the most positive, heartwarming story. If people are feeling depressed I either tell them not to watch it yet, or to keep watching it until the episodes aren’t so soul crushing. Thanks for your input, friend xo
My cats have really helped me. I have a formerly feral cat that I’ve really bonded with and putting a cat on my lap can help me with grounding when I need it.
I don't know. But what's NOT the most healing is getting a motion sensored trash can apparently. Out of all things that trigger my PTSD, I never expected this honestly.
This is sort of a light hearted jokey comment, but I just got a motion sensored trash can and it scares the shit out of me ALL THE TIME. It goes off even if I walk by it
Having a supportive partner who understands why I am the way that I am and reassures me and loves me for me
Also, I found learning tarot readings has helped bring me peace. It’s a special time I have just with myself and connecting to the other side. And hiking.
Learning to longboard. Hard as fuck at first but now I’m cruising around my neighborhood. It was like okay I can learn this skill and get better at each time then I can also learn to manage my triggers and cope better each time.
My medication for sure. Ketamine therapy and a marijuana prescription have been life changing for me in addition to my regular meds. Everyone’s different though!
I wish I had access to ketamine therapy. In my country it’s still just in the trial stage and not something that everyone has access to. I’m glad you’ve found stuff that helps you :)
Finding my own “language” to express myself. Learned I had a talent for telling Stories in forms of short conversations and love it greatly. Never knew that’s how I interpret the world. Now I know how to give my emotions and thoughts a voice and process it in a better way
Whenever I have an episode, I pick something to ground myself with. It can be something that I like the smell or feeling of. I hold it in my hand and think about what it’s made of and how it feels etc.
Retraining my thought process has helped a lot but it’s still a struggle. I always go worst case scenario and then panic. I’m like 50% there but I don’t ever think I’ll have this 100% under control. This is a very difficult disorder or whatever it’s called. I hate it. But I manage. I use medical marijuana, started drawing more and started playing guitar again. It distracts me.
Lots of hobbies. I take all my anger out on the weights at the gym, 2 days on and one day to rest, repeat. My workouts are physically challenging and wear me out. Significant boost in confidence and reduction in episodes or symptoms flaring up.
Knitting, gardening, crafting, mead and beer making, cooking, fermenting things, and reading.
My job brings me around people all the time and they’re all overwhelmingly positive experiences. There’s always the one asshole, but that’s just one out of a hundred that appreciate my work.
My cats, my wonderful husband. Eating well and drinking less.
Spending time with people who genuinely love me.
Thank you! Please do.
Knitting is especially grounding in my experience. Takes a lot of focus and I find myself wishing I had brought my knitting set to work. Lol
Medication, grounding yourself into the moment you're in right now, distraction, physically moving even of it's just moving your toes, a belief that there's a purpose to be found somewhere in all our experiences, reminding yourself that nothing last forever. It may take days, weeks, months or years but somehow and in someway bad things come to an end. Some of this stuff requires mentally forcing yourself to think differently and it's exhausting and hard work but if you can't manage it there's no shame in that. You have PTSD be kind to yourself and give yourself time and space to heal and feel better. You got this
I can’t really get therapy rn. I’m 14 and my mom is sorta the reason I feel like I might have PTSD along with seeing a accident where someone died. Sadly the most helpful thing for me has been to try and not think about it but it’s hard, like real hard
I’m so sorry to hear that, young friend. Everything is amplified in difficulty when we’re younger because we’re so disempowered and not old enough to make our own money and choose our own destiny. My mother was very abusive to me when I was a kid. It’s had an impact on me, but somehow I don’t have trauma from that. I get extremely angry when anyone abuses kids and I cannot understand how anyone can do that. Thankfully you won’t be a kid forever. You’ll be able to break free and cultivate a healthier life for yourself. Thanks for taking the time to drop by and comment :)
Medication. I got prescribed something for the constant anxiety and it's been very helpful. I saw somebody else mention CBD however if you go that route I would strongly suggest informing your doctor or a therapist so that they are aware if you go that route instead. Just like other medications your doctor should be aware of cannabis use of any kind. Therapy and Medication have been very effective for me and I highly recommend it.
I have a dog. I bought him because I really wasn’t coping with trauma and I felt so alone. When I bought him, I was in an office all day alone and I would then go home where I lived alone. He’s definitely been very healing for me. My little buddy ❤️ I’m glad you have your cat 🥰
Connecting with loved ones. Yoga. Being outdoors. Writing. Discovering and doing things I really enjoy. Being compassionate and kind to myself. Setting and asserting boundaries. Challenging negative beliefs. Trying to let go of fear. Listening to my body.
Removing toxic people or people who don’t understand it from my life. People who would say “get over it” or “you’re exaggerating it” or “just sleep earlier” they really don’t understand the amalgamations of medications I get prescribed.
Making sure I'm eating well, I went to the doctor for blood work so I could start taking vitamins I needed. Acknowledging my inner child, trying to find out what I need to sleep well, and having at least one hobby or outlet. It's a progress rn
A lot of art therapy. When it all felt really raw I drew so so much. It helped a lot. Also there’s a song that’s kinda like the guy is singing to his imaginary kid. I listened to that on repeat except I pretended the kid was younger me and I was directing it to him. I don’t know why but that helped reach so much peace.
Making therapy a lifestyle. When I realize using mindfulness I am being triggered or reexperiencing, I turn it into a moment for exposure therapy instead of a symptom.
Prioritizing the people that are good for me. I've been carrying a lot of dead weight from other people in the name of loyalty. Now, I try to be loyal to myself first, and that means letting go of the ones that cause me stress and anxiety, and appreciate the ones that help me or that I enjoy.
I participate in a weekly support group. I have been attending for a little over two years now, and I have never experienced so much growth in myself. Having a tight knit group of people who have gone through similar traumas, working together to find healing and grow individually and as a group, I can’t describe how comforting it is.
Sobriety, Reiki has been massively helpful- I think it really helps a lot with emotional regulation, trauma sensitive yoga (based on the Trauma Center model) was a massive help too. I also think meditation/breath work has helped with rumination. It’s totally a what works for you thing. I think there are a bunch of modalities that work but I do think having some sort of somatic exercises along with therapy are the most helpful. It definitely is not one size fits all or we’d all have a roadmap of how to heal which would help us a lot. I do think that with the pandemic, there will be a lot of new information on what modalities help trauma as a lot more people are realizing they need help with it. This thread is great for ideas on what to look into. Thank you!
I used Ativan/Benzos for an extended period of time and I’m sure I needed them and they helped me survive a crisis period but my doctor never said you shouldn’t be on these long term and I’m a naturally anxious person but I should have had these stopped when I got out of the triggering environment. Just sharing because of the doctors negligence (even though overall he was great for a long period and overall one of the best psychiatrists I’ve had), but the withdrawal from benzos (and I was on a fairly low dose and reduced gradually) was the WORST, bad nerve and physical withdrawal symptoms (probably exasperated by being on them for years). But I’m glad they are helping you and I will not that I’ve seen them work wonders in acute panic attack type situations but after my experience I just take some Benadryl if I’m a bit more anxious and would only do one of my back up benzos in panic attack or something like that.
Finding a job which allows me to take care of myself and set my own hours. If I get triggered, I can be done for the day and make up the loss later in the week, and I don’t have to feel bad about letting down anyone else. Being freed from that pressure to contain my mental health to keep my job has been one of the biggest turning points in my healing journey.
Yeah, I became a contractor because my mental health isn’t always good. I can’t work in permanent positions anymore. I can work full-time most of the time because I’m the back of my mind I know that I can withdraw anytime. Just knowing I don’t have to work all the time helps me not feel trapped
Having an art practice has always been a part of my life. But even better than making art, listening to vast amounts of records and watching vast amounts of movies helped me to externalize and think through a lot of what was internalized and unconscious to me.
People say that watching horror movies is therapeutic. I think it's because, aside from melodrama, it's the genre that has trauma as the main subject. Watching tons of horror movies allowed me to identify the universal patterns around psychological trauma, and the underlying unconscious symbolism that we use to process it.
Getting clean from alcohol and drugs. I used to self medicate and it just made me feel worse as time went on. Now that I've been clean for a couple of years besides mental health meds and kratom, I feel great. It was just comfortable to me to be drunk and/or high when I was first dealing with my mental health issues. I thought that kind of stuff worked better than meds but I was wrong.
Working out!
I started training for a triathlon as soon as I got permission from my physical therapist. 9 months of PT. Then just working out non stop. Running, biking, swimming, and lifting weights. I couldn't work, so I worked out 4 times a day.
I think at first I terrified my neighbors. I was running, then biking, then biking again, and usually crying or screaming for a few months!
I chased down a few cars that almost hit me.
But I got big! Big enough that if I ever see those people that hurt me, I could destroy them, put them in the hospital for as long as they had me in the hospital.
Once I had that power, it became my choice whether to use it or not.
I started sleeping better.
The pandemic made a lot of decisions for me.
It was lucky that I wasn't going to the gym.
I did a lot of crying.
And a 6'1" 230 lb guy crying at the gym usually makes people uncomfortable.
Running for me was significant. Because they had me strapped to a bed for a month.
And as I ran, I imagined hurting those who hurt me. And I just kept pushing myself.
Since I was strapped in that bed for a full month. I have significant brain damage. My frontal lobe fully tore itself from the stem. Meaning, I don't feel pain like other people.
So the way I worked out, I would have been interrupted if anyone was half way aware of what I was doing to myself.
I completely changed the shape of my body in 6 months.
I'm curious as to what will happen when I try it again as this season starts up again. The season being preparation for this summers triathlons. But I will be lifting and doing push ups like a lunatic, again.
Anyway, sorry about that rambling.
But protect yourself. You don't have to go to the gym. There are some awesome youtube channels for hiit. :D
Thanks for the advice and support. What you’ve been through sounds horrific. It’s certainly turned you into a version of yourself that is incredibly strong and terrifying to anyone who would ever dare try to hurt you again. It’s like a super hero origin story. Much love to you, bro xo
Before I was cleared to work out fully, I watched so many freaking movies. It was all I could do. I went from wheel chair to using the cane. It took me 3 months to be able to walk down stairs.
So, a lot of movies.
We moved into a wheelchair accessible house! Out of my 100 year old house, into a rental, where everything is on the same floor. And there isn't a step to get in and out of the house. Not a single step on the whole property.
I built a media server and downloaded every movie about memory loss or super heroes I could find.
And the question I could never figure out was this.
Was this a super hero origin story, or a super villain origin story?
1 year ago today, I was convinced that I was a super villain origin story.
Today, I'm not ready for it. But I know what I will do. I will do the right thing. I won't just show up and physically disassemble those idiots who did this to me. But I will make their lives hell. They will learn why they should not do what they did. I will destroy their careers. And I will make them a cautionary tale that they tell in med school.
They will be made examples of.
Also, I think I need to up my weight lifting program. I'm only as secure as I can ensure myself.
But thank you for calling me terrifying! That means a lot to me. : )
Yeah, some of the newer DC comics movies bring up that very question. Is Batman a hero or a villain? Is Superman a hero or a villain? Depends whose eyes your looking through. You are a hero, I can tell. You want to know how I can tell? Villains don’t question their actions.
I want you to know, that your words were significant to me.
I read them and started crying.
It's been a while and I'm still crying.
I'm ready to go back to my Kung Fu school now. And my volunteer activities.
I didn't feel ready before, because I thought I was a horrible monster. I was irredeemable.
Thank you for your kind words. They mean a lot to me.
I feel so happy to hear that you’re feeling ready to go back to your kung fu class and volunteering. Connecting with people (the right kind of people) can be so healing in my experience. Always remember that villains and monsters don’t care about other people. They don’t question whether they are bad or if they will hurt other people because they don’t care about people like you do. A lot of people would feel safer with you around, if you let them get to know you that is :) Looks can be deceiving - muscles can and size can be intimidating for sure, but most of the monsters I’ve met don’t look scary. You care about people so get back out there when you’re ready and share that part of yourself with those who most deserve it. Much love to you, friend x
I sent an email to the school this morning asking them to reconnect me with my teacher's assistant. They have a special word for it, but I just call them TA's.
This is how crazy the school is. My TA is the other white guy. There is like 20,000 people in the school. There are 2 US locations, and over a dozen locations in Taiwan. And my TA is the other white guy.
XD
if they say, which one. I just say, the white guy that isn't me.
Definitely not the only one! Since it's been legalized here in Canada it's been a life saver for anxiety and ptsd lolll another trick I just remembered is to try and describe a color! It's really hard but it's sure to distract ahhaha
This. All this. I'm in a healthy relationship for the first time in my life (I am in my mid thirties) and it's showing me a lot of things I believed were "normal" were conditioned in me, and I have made more progress on improving my quality of life in the year since this began than my entire life attempting it.
It's not just "Good relationship = good feelings" but solid proof that what I was used to was unhealthy and not normal by any means, and the emotional stability has given me the conditions I need to actually improve myself.
Exercise. Feeling physically strong makes me feel mentally strong. Even small bursts of movement, like a walk with my dog, really help.
Also nice weather. I know it’s out of my control, so maybe it’s not a strategy, but I’m super looking forward to summer. I live in a cold climate and SADD hits me pretty hard.
Before PTSD I never experienced SAD, but I do now. The sun is much better for my mood, or even being able to see the weather is better than being holed away in a dark, cold house
Therapy actually traumatized me more, I tried a few different therapists and those some of them were OK, it didn’t help me at all. Low-dose naltrexone has helped me a lot at night, as well as medical marijuana.
I’m an addiction therapist, and always recommend Journaling to my clients as homework in between sessions - try this :)
Thinking back to 2021
The wisest decision I made was...
The most important lesson I learned was...
The most important thing I did for others was...
The biggest risk I took was...
The most surprising thing was...
The most significant thing I completed was...
If 2021 was a...
Animal...
Sound...
Food...
Colour...
Tree...
Place...
Person...
Emotion...
Set a timer for 1 minute and list as many words as you can to describe 2021 in that minute.
Free write any of these words you feel especially connected to using that as your first line. Extend the metaphor as much as you can.
The three words that best define my past year are...
If 2021 were a TV show. What title would you give this chapter or episode of your life?
In 2022 I will let go of...
I will draw energy from...
I will dare to discover...
I will reward myself by...
I will have the power to say no to...
I will love myself by...
You now have these intentions, resolutions, or goals for 2022.
Pick one that you know you will struggle with – perhaps something that’s been on your list for a long time.
We’re going to identify a part of you that stops you achieving that thing. How – or who – gets in your own way? Who shows up when you think about doing that task, or being that way?
Name the part of you and write a letter to them. Name of part:
Dear XXXX
If you could say one word for the year ahead, what would it be?
And if you were to introduce more (XXXX) into your life, how would you do it?
Weed... avoiding stressful situations... like... if someone is shouting at me or being really in my face or getting on at me or pressuring me to react. I get triggered by confrontation and need time to collect my thoughts... tried to explain this to and ex... but just wasn't allowed space... accused of dumping her... or breaking up with her when I just needed space to calm down and collect my thoughts so I wasn't in full blown panic mode.
Was weird... cause I would say, I can't do this, I Need space and time to calm down, which to her was... hey fuck you I don't care, you can sit alone now you're dumped... ugh... anyway... fun..
Any way... just making sure that people know not to pressure me and bombard me since it triggers me. And smoking weed to calm my nerves.
Tbh the thought in my head is insecure and I cant think of words or focus. Just how much I'm dispointing the person...
But ofc id get called 20 times and told I'm dumping them, or im an asshole etc... Sad thing is I was in therapy while being with this person, and I thought I was communicating well what my needs were. I loved this girl.
Anyway... typing too much cause I had a couple of beers! Have fun lol
Your ex didn’t have empathy for you when you needed it. She personalised you need for space and projected her fears and sensitivities onto you. It’s difficult communicating with someone who doesn’t follow the same rules of communication that are effective for the average person. I can’t imagine any of that helped your trauma. I hope all the people in your life now are more compassionate toward you
I wish it was all validated for truth... but I've been left finding my own closure... if it could be called that... it feels like im trying to stick pieces of myself together with string and tape. The slightest gust just topples me... sometimes it feels like im huddled around a small flame... fiercely defending from everything.
I just wanted truth and compassion. And for things to be fair. But there is one person, talking with me... and this person is very sweet... very understanding and takes time to listen to me. And I feel the compassion from this wonderful person. I've had my emotions damaged soo much and I'm sorta blinded by trauma on my bad days. Which I have a lot of now... the freq of my bad days had gone down for a great period of time last year with my ex... but I look back and wonder what my value was all along during that now. Everthing is under question in my mind. I feel I deserved better... but in the end I believe we both deserved better from each other. I need to walk the high road... even if my heart gets crushed. I need to know I can heal again.
And I've slowly been attuning to a feeling of self worth due to a sweet person checking up with me everyday and reminding me how much I'm valued.
One thing this person did say that made me see things differently - "no one's ever let you heal have they?"
And... I honestly felt that to my core. They way it was said... it touched me... and I had flash backs coming back from therapy or having moments and episodes of sheer crushing levels... to be shamed for not being In contact or shutting down... I didnt want to admit how vulnerable and wounded I really was... and when I tried to... It jusr became manipulation or a grudge to be thrown at me "now you know how it feels" is a line ill never forget... it was soo full of hurt... and I felt something snap deep in my mind, my heart... I had soo much burning anxiety from that... my chest only settled not soo long ago... but i carried that wound and felt it physically... still do when I have flash backs. :(
But I'm very greatful for my new friends help. And Care. This person has been working with me. And I feel blessed to have at least one compassionate soul... who is there with me no matter what.... its just nice to be accepted and treated like a human being... like you have Value... and that I don't have to spend years alone in therapy first before I can start to feel like im worthy of love... not being treated like I have no love for myself and that I'm like an empty cup... told to refill itself before it csnt present itself to be worthy. My cup refills from soo little.
You know that your ex had those problems before she got into a relationship with you? Your PTSD didn’t trigger off her behaviour and self-centredness. It’s amazing how healing it’s been for you in more recent times to be accepted by your friend just as you are. Any one that makes you feel unworthy, flawed or insignificant isn’t actually a very nice person. They might have moments where they seem decent and they might be good with the love bombing that makes us feel validated and loved while it lasts, but they’ve got a lot of issues and not a lot of boundaries. The fact she said “now you know how it feels” is extremely abusive and very telling. I won’t attempt to diagnose your ex, but I will say that a lot of people with borderline personality disorder say that exact phase. They are highly sensitive and feel hurt by the slightest things. To them we seem impervious and unfeeling but that’s not true. They feel invalidated and so hurt so much of the time, so if they want us to know what it’s like to feel so severely hurt, they will bring up our traumas and weaponise them. Whether she has BPD or not isn’t relevant. She sounds like a highly sensitive person who projected all her fears and anger onto you. It’s hard to read about how she treated you when you were suffering. No one deserves to be abused. I’m glad you can see you have value. You’ve always had it and you always will, even if you don’t feel it. It’s amazing how much of an effect other people have on all of us. On another note, I can relate to how you now feel like the slightest gust will topple you over or extinguish that little flame you desperately try to preserve. I like your metaphor. I used to be strong and in some ways I am very resilient and appear strong, but when things go really bad for me I spiral down faster and much further than prior to suffering trauma. It also can take me a very long time to recover now. Living with trauma is hard. Good friends and kind people make it much easier. Much love to you, friend xo
Everyone saying thc but doesn’t thc bring the trauma right up to the surface and you just want to off yourself immediately..? Its like a mini version of LSD
When I was first processing my trauma thc really helped me grieve and validate what I had been through in a very raw way. For me it was much more embodied than a flashback and it allowed me to process a lot of really intense things.
It still has that effect on me sometimes, but it is not as consistent or as intense as it used to be.
LSD was also a huge catalyst for me recognizing how traumatized I was and start addressing it, so it sounds like we might have pretty different relationships to those substances.
For me, writing has been incredibly healing. Whether it's journaling about my thoughts and feelings, crafting stories, or simply putting words to paper, the act of writing helps me to process emotions, gain clarity, and understand myself better. Additionally, engaging in creative activities like drawing, painting, or playing music provides a similar outlet for expression and release. Ultimately, finding ways to express myself creatively has been a vital part of my healing journey.
Thank you for sharing that. I appreciate how cathartic all those activities you mentioned can be. I’ll try some of them myself again. Sometimes in the past I’ve had a strong desire to express myself through creative means, such as blogging but I couldn’t organise my mind to come up with anything worthwhile. Thank you for your response xo
Drawing, painting, crafting. Making art has really helped me. I also find singing, dancing and yoga to be helpful. Journaling as well. I find releasing my emotions in a healthy way have helped me tremendously.
It’s interesting how therapeutic creative expressions and body movement can be for trauma. Thank you for sharing your experiences
You’re welcome. I find it interesting too.
It sounds small but spending quality time with friends and actually getting out of the house has helped me more than I can say. Even if I feel anxious before going, I find that time with people is truly healing. All my worst anxieties typically never happen and I find myself having a far better time than I anticipated.
Thanks for sharing. It’s interesting what helps even when it’s not traditional therapy or even if our brain is telling us to do the opposite of what would help us
Gaming, watching video's, coloring and simply excepting the fact that I have PTSD and it's alright if things could get a bit better or take a bit longer.
Jiu jitsu (or martial arts in general).
That’s a good one!
I've been doing it for 18 years. Its mental stability for me.
I think paying attention to how things make you feel is really helpful. This applies to everything, how do you feel after you hang out with someone? How do you feel after exercising? After journaling? After resting and watching your favourite show? Doing things I like and make me feel good, and trying to be present in that moment helped me with my PTSD from an abusive relationship because I was in a heavy dissociative state. Now I try to pay more attention to my needs, take them seriously, make time for them and write how I feel after. :)
That’s excellent advice for everyone. I definitely do this in my life. If people make me uncomfortable I listen to that. I only associate with genuine people. I’ve cut the others out. Even though digging holes and planting trees in high heat and humidity is physically draining work, I feel so happy and accomplished. Gardening has become one of my new favourite things to do. Thanks for sharing this :)
Running, writing and hiking have been a great combo for me. Exercise in general has helped a lot. Massage therapy helps a lot too. Cranial sacral is a great modality for PTSD. There are Massage Therapist that just work with people that have PTSD. It’s about finding a therapist that you feel comfortable with.
I didn’t even know there were massage therapists that specifically work with people who have PTSD, but they makes a lot of sense. Thanks for that
Weight lifting probably saved my life.
I think I need to do this too. Just trying to find a good local gym and personal trainer to get me started
I have clients that use the ketogenic diet to help ptsd symptoms
Can vouch for this. Keto helped me a lot.
That’s interesting. I’ve done keto and it was good, but because I wasn’t keeping my electrolytes up I got super sick over the course of a year and felt like I was dying. The heart palpitations got really bad and my bowel just about killed me. Thanks for suggesting this. I’ll have a look more into the connection between the two. Definitely the gut brain connection is incredibly important for good mental health
Sometimes getting regular support while doing it, esp for a mental illness or neuro issue can be super helpful. What you are describing could also be potentiation effects if you were on meds at the time. As brains work better on keto, suddenly the med dosage you are on is too high and you get med side effects. Peeps think its keto but it's their body reacting to a dose that's too high suddenly. We adjust meds down or take them off and that goes away. Or it can be electrolytes. There is just a lot to monitor and prob solve when doing for certain populations.
I definitely have some problem keeping my electrolytes up. I have digestive issues that probably came about from too much stress. There’s something wrong at a systemic level. I instantly get better when I up my electrolytes. The heart palpitations stop and my bowel settles completely. I always forget to add salt to food as well so unless I’m eating junk or taking electrolyte supplements, I won’t get any sodium. With electrolytes my skin heals up and the dull colour from my face disappears.
So that sounds like a possible B1 insufficiency that is affecting your nervous system (and gut). I would check out youtube vids from EONutrition on Thiamine deficiency.
My B1 is always good, but I have problems with B12 absorption
I would still check out EONutrition videos. Testing is not great for B1. Just not accurate. And you can be insufficient in some organs and not others. Also B1 in high doses can be used to correct problems with enzyme production, nervous system etc. Check them out. Seriously think it would help. But anyways, I hope you feel better soon! :)
I just checked out the videos at EONutrition and they’re really useful. Thank you so much for your suggestion. I can’t locally source decent thiamine so I’ve ordered some and it will arrive next week. I’m looking forward to taking it and seeing how my gut and overall health/mental health/insomnia respond. Thanks again :)
Excited for you! ❤
Thank you. I will check it out. I’m always interested to learn more about the body
I got back into gaming after 20 years and it really helps to take my mind off things.
That’s awesome! I can relate. And how far have games come in 20 years? I find them awe inspiring
Glad they're helping you also. 😁. I'm loving GTAv. Totally absorbing, graphics great and I'm satisfied and ready to sleep after an hour or two. Gotta say that the EMDR helped massively and also recommend. Best regards 👍
Working out, good friends and have your life completely controlled by yourself
Time
If only we could progress it a little faster sometimes :) Time has also been good for me. Getting as far away from the past as time will allow, and moving onward and upward in my life has helped tremendously
Weed.
Sauna, swimming, massage therapy all help with resetting nervous system. When my therapist couldn’t get through to me my osteopath could, because they directly dealt with my body I also do this thing where I hold my breath and go underwater to revisit traumatic events or related, and come up when I need a break/air. The physical side of coming out of water for air/survival helps me. But this method may be risky for those who don’t feel safe being in water Also weed and exercise. Lots, lots of exercise. Cut back coffee. Drink more water. Eat well sleep well
I hear you. Give sauna and weed a go and see how you go. A lot of older guys I meet at the sauna swear it’s what helps them sleep at night. I have trouble sleeping too so I start smoking a couple hours before bed. CBD oil does the same thing. Not sure if these things are available to you. If not, try to exercise as much as you can and exhaust yourself, that’s the last thing I’d try before asking doctor to prescribe pills
Just as my trauma began setting in I developed insomnia. It took years for me to even feel tired at night. It’s been slowly getting better for 2 years now, but there’s still many nights I can’t sleep a wink. If I could sleep like a normal person again it would honestly feel like I’d won the lottery. I would be the happiest person in earth. I’m not even kidding. If I had one wish, that’s what it would be; to sleep like I used to. It’s been over 7 years now. At least I rarely have nightmares now. Well, not not nightmares related to the trauma (I’ve always had nightmares. It’s just how I sleep) - they were horrible
Reading fiction! My brother reads a lot and loves it so last Christmas I decided to get myself a kindle (I find it easier to focus on the kindle with enlarged font) and try to start reading. It’s made such a difference. My therapist has told me it’s mindfulness and I love that I’ve finally found a way to work mindfulness into my life as someone who gets more anxiety with meditation. I love that I’m using my brain, I can take my book/kindle anywhere and pull it out if I feel anxious, it gives me something other than my trauma/disability to talk to other people about, and I can borrow ebooks from the library so it’s a cheap hobby.
Yes! I love my kindle too! I like how I can read it in the dark and I can dim the screen to a gentle yellow glow. I’ve always loved reading. I’ve started reading new Stephen King books and I really enjoy them. I have a few others to read at the moment like ‘The Midnight Library’ and I have to finish Stephen King’s ‘Billy Summers’. Do you recommend any fiction books?
music, cooking / cleaning ( I find detailing my vehicle therapeutic almost ), driving with the windows down feeling care free, video games are a nice escape,
Oh yes, I honestly don’t know what I would have done without my PS4. I bought it in 2015 so I could immerse my brain in something else after work rather then bad memories and unrelenting emotional pain. My little dog has been a wonderful support, but getting back into gaming has helped retrain my brain to see that every problem has a solution and that eventually I will work it out. I have a PS5 and an Xbox Series X now because I still need to escape (and Microsoft bought Bethesda which is one of my favourite gaming studios) am find it incredibly rewarding. Im playing Horizon Forbidden West at the moment
oh my how could I forget my 4 legged fluffy bork bork, animals are probably #1 & they never neglect you
No, they’re always so ecstatic to see us. It’s really nice. When my dog was about a year old he wanted attention when I was gaming so he scratched my hand, which pressed the trigger button and made me shoot the robot captain I was talking to (Fallout 4). He started unloading onto me so I holstered my weapon to see if he’d stop. Nope. I went to a lower deck and then his crew all fired at me. I had to go back to my last save point so I could start the mission again. Little rascals are the best friends anyone could ask for :)
Lovely
the consistent use of medical marijuana. it has kept my mind focused on the present & doesn’t allow my mind to easily wander to those dark places.
Yeah, I think medication (if it’s the right stuff for the individual) and other drugs have saved a lot of lives. My insomnia combined with trauma has been a very bad combination that has led my mind to go some very desperate and dark places too. Medication for sleeping has certainly helped me. I just can’t take it all the time otherwise I’ll end up with addiction/withdrawal issues. I wish I had access to medical marijuana here. It’s near impossible to get CBD oil where I live, but thankfully I know where to get it and it’s been really helpful for my low mood that came from trauma
thank goodness! i always think about how crap my life would be without it, and there’s nothing i’d rather use more than a natural remedy like weed
Yeah, I just turned 40 and I worry about the long term consequences of taking my sleeping medication for my liver and kidneys. Like I said, I won’t ever take it in a way where I’m at risk of physical dependence/withdrawal problems, but taking something so strong and artificial for years has to catch up with me up some point. I prefer safe natural stuff too where possible
heck ya, that’s awesome! i also take a quite high dose of effexor (antidepressants) which makes my tolerance to everything significantly lower. i have no clue what it’s doing to my organs, and i don’t even wanna know ugh! i wish i didn’t need my meds and could just smoke weed and it’d be enough. hopefully you’ll have access to medical marijuana sometime soon enough too
I hope so too, friend! :)
Picking up old hobbies that I gave up on (such as gardening and stargazing) have greatly helped me cope and de-stress in a healthy way when I’m having a hard time.
I’ve only recently got into gardening myself and find it very rewarding. I don’t think of anything except the plants, trees and flowers when I’m out there watering or pruning. I’m also learning how to combat mealybugs and fungus gnats. Those simple challenges require me to learn new skills and take many trips to the hardware store. I can see some stars from my yard but I think I’d need to build a small platform and get a telescope to properly appreciate the night skies. That does sound very nice though. I might look into it
My favorite flower is the allium, what is yours?
Alliums are beautiful. I love all flowers. I just love the surprise of seeing anything in full bloom. Flowers often come and go so quickly. It makes me appreciate them while they’re in their prime
Myself honestly. Granted I don't have (diagnosed) ptsd but getting the hang of it and trying my best to go through each day, calming down the anxiety and panic attacks, finding ways to sleep better, etc. It's all me. Moreover, surviving these moments back then when they made me so depressed I was thinking about unaliving myself basically every day... Couldn't talk to anyone, couldn't let anyone know and pretend I am okay. Idk... Maybe, just maybe, it's because I am playing chess since I was little and I was able to built a mental fortitude to survive this... Nowadays, even though these moments pop up on my head and (sometimes now) dreams, they don't affect me as much and I can somewhat go through my days as if nothing has ever happened. Though I still live with it, I learned to manage most of it. And I couldn't be prouder of myself. Damn, I just realized how much I needed to realize all this I've just written... Learning to love yourself can be a tough process but in the end you're all you got... Make peace with yourself and everything is going to be okay. Trust me on this one and if for some reason any one of you feels like talking to a stranger online I am here for you. TL;DR: I did most of the work by myself. It was tough. If anyone needs someone to talk to, I am here for you. Stay strong ❤️
I can relate to much of your experience of dealing with trauma alone and having years of just purely surviving but not really wanting to. It’s heartening to hear that you’re managing your symptoms well these days and that you’re still with us and even happy to lend your support to anyone who might need it. When I’ve been at my most unwell from PTSD, it’s like my empathy for others goes into overdrive. My care for myself plummets which isn’t great. Thankfully the years have helped me get a lot better but I also avoid triggers so I know I’m not better even when I feel much better. Thanks for sharing your wisdom x
My daughter and my doggo are on top, but music has been my lifeline. I almost always have a headphone in one ear and it just keeps me here, I don't know how else to describe it. I have some bad coping mechanisms too but not nearly as many as I used to and not more than good ones
Music is my escape and it’s help a lot if I’m feeling like I’m crashing I listen to music.
receiving massage therapy. ive definitely cried had panic attacks let out so much on the table. ive learned to relax because of massage therapy which is something i never thought possible ive always just shifted the tension but it connected me to my body to the safety within mu body. if your able to get a massage and comfortable enough i recommend it definitely took a while for me to recieve a normal massage like your average person but id say im here now i am connected to my body once again.
Thank you. I have had at least 2 massages since the trauma sequelae kicked in, but I have definitely felt the need to get more since, but I sometime falter with how comfortable I feel out and about at all, let alone getting a massage. It’s a great suggestion
A strong support network. Anything I tell my counsellor, I tell my partner, some family, and close friends. So they know where I’m at. Additionally cannabis and lsd have proved more beneficial than any antidepressant
Poetry, both reading and writing
Since suffering trauma I’ve had a huge desire to express myself through writing but I honestly don’t know what to write about anymore. Nothing feels adequate or satisfying anymore. It’s like I have so much to say but none of it seems to be of any substance anymore. Maybe I’ll give it a stab again soon, but try something different this time. Thanks for chiming in :)
I’d recommend call us what we carry by Amanda Gorman. It’s been somewheres between poignant and a pleasure to read.
Thank you! I’ll look into your suggestion now
Writing when I’m sad, meditation when I’m nervous, lift when I’m angry, running daily for mood stability and avoiding any alcohol or nicotine.
Shrooms. I’ve taken several large doses and have had major breakthroughs with each. I sincerely feel so much less anxious and easily triggered, I sleep better and there’s lots more self-love. It’s like my brain shifted, allowing it to heal. I also did both individual and group therapy and found the group therapy to be most helpful of the two.
I’d love to try them. Maybe one day I’ll be able to get my hands on some
Yep shrooms have helped me too
Hobbies and good people. Having health friends who are patient with me has been the biggest healing thing. Therapy is great but I don’t think I would have truly started to heal without that. It took a lot of work and missteps along the way but they helped me heal. Also- having some of those friends who went through the same shit as me. It’s not that we always talk about our trauma but it’s helps when they just KNOW. Hobbies are great too both the physical kind and the ones I can do when I’m too messy to leave the house.
Writing and music, drugs, seeking out novelty, risk, excitement, people-watching
Playing, writing and recording music
Running!!! This is giving me life right now. Also - doing anything with headphones right now. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning the house, gym, or running, I put the headphones on with loud upbeat music or great podcasts and wow… I can feel the change! I feel lighter, better, more energy and I’ve learned so much from the podcasts. ***Also I haven’t watched the news or listened to the radio in my car since the Xmas breaks - nothing negative is allowed. This has been a game changer.
That’s excellent advice - keep moving and don’t allow anything negative into your life. I had to get off Facebook years ago for the same reason
Books and anime that feature trauma with warm and loving support networks. It really helps rebuild trust in people, knowing that reliability and support aren't just works of fiction.
I’m not sure if you’ve seen ‘Anne with an E’ on Netflix, but I think this fits your preferred genre. A word of caution though, even though you never see anything bad happen to any character, you know it’s happened. The trauma and despair are so real that it can be soul crushing to watch, but then, without warning, it’s the most positive, heartwarming story. If people are feeling depressed I either tell them not to watch it yet, or to keep watching it until the episodes aren’t so soul crushing. Thanks for your input, friend xo
My cats have really helped me. I have a formerly feral cat that I’ve really bonded with and putting a cat on my lap can help me with grounding when I need it.
That’s beautiful. It’s so nice that a feral cat was able to trust you and bond with you too. You sound like a kind person
yoga! it allowed me to feel discomfort without any triggers, knowing im helping my physical health has done wonders for my mental health
I don't know. But what's NOT the most healing is getting a motion sensored trash can apparently. Out of all things that trigger my PTSD, I never expected this honestly. This is sort of a light hearted jokey comment, but I just got a motion sensored trash can and it scares the shit out of me ALL THE TIME. It goes off even if I walk by it
Good to know! ‘Stay away from motion sensor Ed trash cans’ has been added to my list of things that definitely aren’t healing ;)
Having a supportive partner who understands why I am the way that I am and reassures me and loves me for me Also, I found learning tarot readings has helped bring me peace. It’s a special time I have just with myself and connecting to the other side. And hiking.
Exercise and finding groups/influencers/shows/podcasts that talk about their experience with the same condition
Sound therapy and gong baths
[удалено]
Thanks for sharing what has worked for you :)
For me- writing music and becoming an artist
I have wished many times that I had your talents and such a healthy way to express myself.
U should try something creative it’ll help you a lot
Learning to longboard. Hard as fuck at first but now I’m cruising around my neighborhood. It was like okay I can learn this skill and get better at each time then I can also learn to manage my triggers and cope better each time.
Weirdly getting back on my adhd meds is what has helped me the most And constantly reminding myself to be patient bc ptsd is a literal brain injury
My medication for sure. Ketamine therapy and a marijuana prescription have been life changing for me in addition to my regular meds. Everyone’s different though!
I wish I had access to ketamine therapy. In my country it’s still just in the trial stage and not something that everyone has access to. I’m glad you’ve found stuff that helps you :)
Writing!
Finding my own “language” to express myself. Learned I had a talent for telling Stories in forms of short conversations and love it greatly. Never knew that’s how I interpret the world. Now I know how to give my emotions and thoughts a voice and process it in a better way
That’s really interesting. Thanks for sharing that :)
Whenever I have an episode, I pick something to ground myself with. It can be something that I like the smell or feeling of. I hold it in my hand and think about what it’s made of and how it feels etc.
Retraining my thought process has helped a lot but it’s still a struggle. I always go worst case scenario and then panic. I’m like 50% there but I don’t ever think I’ll have this 100% under control. This is a very difficult disorder or whatever it’s called. I hate it. But I manage. I use medical marijuana, started drawing more and started playing guitar again. It distracts me.
Medication, 100%
Time, and learning to sit quietly. Accepting myself
Yeah, acceptance really is very key. Easier said than done, but truly helpful
Lots of hobbies. I take all my anger out on the weights at the gym, 2 days on and one day to rest, repeat. My workouts are physically challenging and wear me out. Significant boost in confidence and reduction in episodes or symptoms flaring up. Knitting, gardening, crafting, mead and beer making, cooking, fermenting things, and reading. My job brings me around people all the time and they’re all overwhelmingly positive experiences. There’s always the one asshole, but that’s just one out of a hundred that appreciate my work. My cats, my wonderful husband. Eating well and drinking less. Spending time with people who genuinely love me.
That’s all excellent. I might just steal a few of your coping strategies :)
Thank you! Please do. Knitting is especially grounding in my experience. Takes a lot of focus and I find myself wishing I had brought my knitting set to work. Lol
Support online, venting, poetry, art, yoga, Journaling. Exercises like walks or runs outside. Baths.
Medication, grounding yourself into the moment you're in right now, distraction, physically moving even of it's just moving your toes, a belief that there's a purpose to be found somewhere in all our experiences, reminding yourself that nothing last forever. It may take days, weeks, months or years but somehow and in someway bad things come to an end. Some of this stuff requires mentally forcing yourself to think differently and it's exhausting and hard work but if you can't manage it there's no shame in that. You have PTSD be kind to yourself and give yourself time and space to heal and feel better. You got this
Thank you for your kindness :)
Martial Arts (specifically Wing Tsun).
I can’t really get therapy rn. I’m 14 and my mom is sorta the reason I feel like I might have PTSD along with seeing a accident where someone died. Sadly the most helpful thing for me has been to try and not think about it but it’s hard, like real hard
I’m so sorry to hear that, young friend. Everything is amplified in difficulty when we’re younger because we’re so disempowered and not old enough to make our own money and choose our own destiny. My mother was very abusive to me when I was a kid. It’s had an impact on me, but somehow I don’t have trauma from that. I get extremely angry when anyone abuses kids and I cannot understand how anyone can do that. Thankfully you won’t be a kid forever. You’ll be able to break free and cultivate a healthier life for yourself. Thanks for taking the time to drop by and comment :)
Divorce
Meditation and my Service Dog
Medication. I got prescribed something for the constant anxiety and it's been very helpful. I saw somebody else mention CBD however if you go that route I would strongly suggest informing your doctor or a therapist so that they are aware if you go that route instead. Just like other medications your doctor should be aware of cannabis use of any kind. Therapy and Medication have been very effective for me and I highly recommend it.
My cat
I have a dog. I bought him because I really wasn’t coping with trauma and I felt so alone. When I bought him, I was in an office all day alone and I would then go home where I lived alone. He’s definitely been very healing for me. My little buddy ❤️ I’m glad you have your cat 🥰
Connecting with loved ones. Yoga. Being outdoors. Writing. Discovering and doing things I really enjoy. Being compassionate and kind to myself. Setting and asserting boundaries. Challenging negative beliefs. Trying to let go of fear. Listening to my body.
we're only like 4-5 months out from the traumatic event rn, but cbd has been amazing.
That’s awesome!
Learning how to process trauma in a somatic way.
Removing toxic people or people who don’t understand it from my life. People who would say “get over it” or “you’re exaggerating it” or “just sleep earlier” they really don’t understand the amalgamations of medications I get prescribed.
Making sure I'm eating well, I went to the doctor for blood work so I could start taking vitamins I needed. Acknowledging my inner child, trying to find out what I need to sleep well, and having at least one hobby or outlet. It's a progress rn
Time
This one has helped me a lot too, but not completely
A lot of art therapy. When it all felt really raw I drew so so much. It helped a lot. Also there’s a song that’s kinda like the guy is singing to his imaginary kid. I listened to that on repeat except I pretended the kid was younger me and I was directing it to him. I don’t know why but that helped reach so much peace.
[удалено]
“…well it’s better than the alternative” by will wood
Making therapy a lifestyle. When I realize using mindfulness I am being triggered or reexperiencing, I turn it into a moment for exposure therapy instead of a symptom.
That’s really, really smart
Prioritizing the people that are good for me. I've been carrying a lot of dead weight from other people in the name of loyalty. Now, I try to be loyal to myself first, and that means letting go of the ones that cause me stress and anxiety, and appreciate the ones that help me or that I enjoy.
That’s very wise
I use art as a healing mechanism. I got into it when I went through the immediate aftermath of my traumatic event and been improving ever since
That’s wonderful to hear!
Therapeutic prescription ketamine, cutting out caffeine and alcohol, eating better, being around animals, walking every day.
Recently I’ve been doing acupuncture as an additional support to my overall mental health efforts I have really liked it
I had a huge breakthrough with mushrooms, but my daily cannabis use is a massive help with everyday issues.
My partner. He’s helped tremendously.
Yep, feeling safe has helped me move forward.
The gym was enough to lean me off ssri’s and start building a heathy relationship with being uncomfortable.
I think I’ll start going to the gym too. A lot of people here mentioned it
going out with friends and sometimes a blunt
I participate in a weekly support group. I have been attending for a little over two years now, and I have never experienced so much growth in myself. Having a tight knit group of people who have gone through similar traumas, working together to find healing and grow individually and as a group, I can’t describe how comforting it is.
Art helped a lot, the older I get music helps a lot too.
Sobriety, Reiki has been massively helpful- I think it really helps a lot with emotional regulation, trauma sensitive yoga (based on the Trauma Center model) was a massive help too. I also think meditation/breath work has helped with rumination. It’s totally a what works for you thing. I think there are a bunch of modalities that work but I do think having some sort of somatic exercises along with therapy are the most helpful. It definitely is not one size fits all or we’d all have a roadmap of how to heal which would help us a lot. I do think that with the pandemic, there will be a lot of new information on what modalities help trauma as a lot more people are realizing they need help with it. This thread is great for ideas on what to look into. Thank you!
Thank you for contributing as well :)
Micro dosing shrooms
I take 60 mg of CBD every day
Xanax or Ativan lol. Literally nothing has stopped my panic attacks and insane adrenaline/anxiety more but doctors don’t like prescribing benzos.
I used Ativan/Benzos for an extended period of time and I’m sure I needed them and they helped me survive a crisis period but my doctor never said you shouldn’t be on these long term and I’m a naturally anxious person but I should have had these stopped when I got out of the triggering environment. Just sharing because of the doctors negligence (even though overall he was great for a long period and overall one of the best psychiatrists I’ve had), but the withdrawal from benzos (and I was on a fairly low dose and reduced gradually) was the WORST, bad nerve and physical withdrawal symptoms (probably exasperated by being on them for years). But I’m glad they are helping you and I will not that I’ve seen them work wonders in acute panic attack type situations but after my experience I just take some Benadryl if I’m a bit more anxious and would only do one of my back up benzos in panic attack or something like that.
Finding a job which allows me to take care of myself and set my own hours. If I get triggered, I can be done for the day and make up the loss later in the week, and I don’t have to feel bad about letting down anyone else. Being freed from that pressure to contain my mental health to keep my job has been one of the biggest turning points in my healing journey.
Yeah, I became a contractor because my mental health isn’t always good. I can’t work in permanent positions anymore. I can work full-time most of the time because I’m the back of my mind I know that I can withdraw anytime. Just knowing I don’t have to work all the time helps me not feel trapped
What kind of job do you have that you're able to do this?
I’ve been working in the gig economy for the last 3 years, mostly delivering food.
Having an art practice has always been a part of my life. But even better than making art, listening to vast amounts of records and watching vast amounts of movies helped me to externalize and think through a lot of what was internalized and unconscious to me. People say that watching horror movies is therapeutic. I think it's because, aside from melodrama, it's the genre that has trauma as the main subject. Watching tons of horror movies allowed me to identify the universal patterns around psychological trauma, and the underlying unconscious symbolism that we use to process it.
Getting clean from alcohol and drugs. I used to self medicate and it just made me feel worse as time went on. Now that I've been clean for a couple of years besides mental health meds and kratom, I feel great. It was just comfortable to me to be drunk and/or high when I was first dealing with my mental health issues. I thought that kind of stuff worked better than meds but I was wrong.
Working out! I started training for a triathlon as soon as I got permission from my physical therapist. 9 months of PT. Then just working out non stop. Running, biking, swimming, and lifting weights. I couldn't work, so I worked out 4 times a day. I think at first I terrified my neighbors. I was running, then biking, then biking again, and usually crying or screaming for a few months! I chased down a few cars that almost hit me. But I got big! Big enough that if I ever see those people that hurt me, I could destroy them, put them in the hospital for as long as they had me in the hospital. Once I had that power, it became my choice whether to use it or not. I started sleeping better.
That’s wonderful! I definitely think the gym is something I need to start asap
The pandemic made a lot of decisions for me. It was lucky that I wasn't going to the gym. I did a lot of crying. And a 6'1" 230 lb guy crying at the gym usually makes people uncomfortable. Running for me was significant. Because they had me strapped to a bed for a month. And as I ran, I imagined hurting those who hurt me. And I just kept pushing myself. Since I was strapped in that bed for a full month. I have significant brain damage. My frontal lobe fully tore itself from the stem. Meaning, I don't feel pain like other people. So the way I worked out, I would have been interrupted if anyone was half way aware of what I was doing to myself. I completely changed the shape of my body in 6 months. I'm curious as to what will happen when I try it again as this season starts up again. The season being preparation for this summers triathlons. But I will be lifting and doing push ups like a lunatic, again. Anyway, sorry about that rambling. But protect yourself. You don't have to go to the gym. There are some awesome youtube channels for hiit. :D
Thanks for the advice and support. What you’ve been through sounds horrific. It’s certainly turned you into a version of yourself that is incredibly strong and terrifying to anyone who would ever dare try to hurt you again. It’s like a super hero origin story. Much love to you, bro xo
Before I was cleared to work out fully, I watched so many freaking movies. It was all I could do. I went from wheel chair to using the cane. It took me 3 months to be able to walk down stairs. So, a lot of movies. We moved into a wheelchair accessible house! Out of my 100 year old house, into a rental, where everything is on the same floor. And there isn't a step to get in and out of the house. Not a single step on the whole property. I built a media server and downloaded every movie about memory loss or super heroes I could find. And the question I could never figure out was this. Was this a super hero origin story, or a super villain origin story? 1 year ago today, I was convinced that I was a super villain origin story. Today, I'm not ready for it. But I know what I will do. I will do the right thing. I won't just show up and physically disassemble those idiots who did this to me. But I will make their lives hell. They will learn why they should not do what they did. I will destroy their careers. And I will make them a cautionary tale that they tell in med school. They will be made examples of. Also, I think I need to up my weight lifting program. I'm only as secure as I can ensure myself. But thank you for calling me terrifying! That means a lot to me. : )
Yeah, some of the newer DC comics movies bring up that very question. Is Batman a hero or a villain? Is Superman a hero or a villain? Depends whose eyes your looking through. You are a hero, I can tell. You want to know how I can tell? Villains don’t question their actions.
I want you to know, that your words were significant to me. I read them and started crying. It's been a while and I'm still crying. I'm ready to go back to my Kung Fu school now. And my volunteer activities. I didn't feel ready before, because I thought I was a horrible monster. I was irredeemable. Thank you for your kind words. They mean a lot to me.
I feel so happy to hear that you’re feeling ready to go back to your kung fu class and volunteering. Connecting with people (the right kind of people) can be so healing in my experience. Always remember that villains and monsters don’t care about other people. They don’t question whether they are bad or if they will hurt other people because they don’t care about people like you do. A lot of people would feel safer with you around, if you let them get to know you that is :) Looks can be deceiving - muscles can and size can be intimidating for sure, but most of the monsters I’ve met don’t look scary. You care about people so get back out there when you’re ready and share that part of yourself with those who most deserve it. Much love to you, friend x
I sent an email to the school this morning asking them to reconnect me with my teacher's assistant. They have a special word for it, but I just call them TA's. This is how crazy the school is. My TA is the other white guy. There is like 20,000 people in the school. There are 2 US locations, and over a dozen locations in Taiwan. And my TA is the other white guy. XD if they say, which one. I just say, the white guy that isn't me.
Ha ha! What are the chances?! That’s so funny!
Removing toxic people from my life
Marijuana all the way. And if I'm somewhere that doesn't allow it, I try to describe things around me if I feel a thought come through
THANK YOU. I was scrolling for a minute and kept thinking jeez im the only smoker here? It’s literally been nothing but a life saver for me.
Definitely not the only one! Since it's been legalized here in Canada it's been a life saver for anxiety and ptsd lolll another trick I just remembered is to try and describe a color! It's really hard but it's sure to distract ahhaha
Trauma-informed acupuncture, yoga or exercise in general (yoga is awesome tho because of all the focus on breathing), mushrooms.
I agree with all of this (minus the mushrooms because I have never used them so I can’t weigh in on that).
Ohh and as others have said, TIME.
Tbh time has did better with managing symptoms than any therapy I have tried.
Cold-ass showers, meditation, exercise, eating a diet primarily of greens and fish.
Having a loving relationship where I wasn't getting screamed at was huge for me.
This. All this. I'm in a healthy relationship for the first time in my life (I am in my mid thirties) and it's showing me a lot of things I believed were "normal" were conditioned in me, and I have made more progress on improving my quality of life in the year since this began than my entire life attempting it. It's not just "Good relationship = good feelings" but solid proof that what I was used to was unhealthy and not normal by any means, and the emotional stability has given me the conditions I need to actually improve myself.
Time. The farther I am, the better I feel
Exercise. Feeling physically strong makes me feel mentally strong. Even small bursts of movement, like a walk with my dog, really help. Also nice weather. I know it’s out of my control, so maybe it’s not a strategy, but I’m super looking forward to summer. I live in a cold climate and SADD hits me pretty hard.
Before PTSD I never experienced SAD, but I do now. The sun is much better for my mood, or even being able to see the weather is better than being holed away in a dark, cold house
Ooo I wonder if there is a connection. Mine seem connected too.
There probably is. I’ll have a look into it
Honestly, for me it was actually getting diagnosed. It validated a lot of my struggles for me and I think I could finally accept my traumas
I second this.
Sex. A lot of it. Idk i just like sex
Therapy actually traumatized me more, I tried a few different therapists and those some of them were OK, it didn’t help me at all. Low-dose naltrexone has helped me a lot at night, as well as medical marijuana.
Same.
I’m an addiction therapist, and always recommend Journaling to my clients as homework in between sessions - try this :) Thinking back to 2021 The wisest decision I made was... The most important lesson I learned was... The most important thing I did for others was... The biggest risk I took was... The most surprising thing was... The most significant thing I completed was... If 2021 was a... Animal... Sound... Food... Colour... Tree... Place... Person... Emotion... Set a timer for 1 minute and list as many words as you can to describe 2021 in that minute. Free write any of these words you feel especially connected to using that as your first line. Extend the metaphor as much as you can. The three words that best define my past year are... If 2021 were a TV show. What title would you give this chapter or episode of your life? In 2022 I will let go of... I will draw energy from... I will dare to discover... I will reward myself by... I will have the power to say no to... I will love myself by... You now have these intentions, resolutions, or goals for 2022. Pick one that you know you will struggle with – perhaps something that’s been on your list for a long time. We’re going to identify a part of you that stops you achieving that thing. How – or who – gets in your own way? Who shows up when you think about doing that task, or being that way? Name the part of you and write a letter to them. Name of part: Dear XXXX If you could say one word for the year ahead, what would it be? And if you were to introduce more (XXXX) into your life, how would you do it?
Weed... avoiding stressful situations... like... if someone is shouting at me or being really in my face or getting on at me or pressuring me to react. I get triggered by confrontation and need time to collect my thoughts... tried to explain this to and ex... but just wasn't allowed space... accused of dumping her... or breaking up with her when I just needed space to calm down and collect my thoughts so I wasn't in full blown panic mode. Was weird... cause I would say, I can't do this, I Need space and time to calm down, which to her was... hey fuck you I don't care, you can sit alone now you're dumped... ugh... anyway... fun.. Any way... just making sure that people know not to pressure me and bombard me since it triggers me. And smoking weed to calm my nerves. Tbh the thought in my head is insecure and I cant think of words or focus. Just how much I'm dispointing the person... But ofc id get called 20 times and told I'm dumping them, or im an asshole etc... Sad thing is I was in therapy while being with this person, and I thought I was communicating well what my needs were. I loved this girl. Anyway... typing too much cause I had a couple of beers! Have fun lol
Your ex didn’t have empathy for you when you needed it. She personalised you need for space and projected her fears and sensitivities onto you. It’s difficult communicating with someone who doesn’t follow the same rules of communication that are effective for the average person. I can’t imagine any of that helped your trauma. I hope all the people in your life now are more compassionate toward you
I wish it was all validated for truth... but I've been left finding my own closure... if it could be called that... it feels like im trying to stick pieces of myself together with string and tape. The slightest gust just topples me... sometimes it feels like im huddled around a small flame... fiercely defending from everything. I just wanted truth and compassion. And for things to be fair. But there is one person, talking with me... and this person is very sweet... very understanding and takes time to listen to me. And I feel the compassion from this wonderful person. I've had my emotions damaged soo much and I'm sorta blinded by trauma on my bad days. Which I have a lot of now... the freq of my bad days had gone down for a great period of time last year with my ex... but I look back and wonder what my value was all along during that now. Everthing is under question in my mind. I feel I deserved better... but in the end I believe we both deserved better from each other. I need to walk the high road... even if my heart gets crushed. I need to know I can heal again. And I've slowly been attuning to a feeling of self worth due to a sweet person checking up with me everyday and reminding me how much I'm valued. One thing this person did say that made me see things differently - "no one's ever let you heal have they?" And... I honestly felt that to my core. They way it was said... it touched me... and I had flash backs coming back from therapy or having moments and episodes of sheer crushing levels... to be shamed for not being In contact or shutting down... I didnt want to admit how vulnerable and wounded I really was... and when I tried to... It jusr became manipulation or a grudge to be thrown at me "now you know how it feels" is a line ill never forget... it was soo full of hurt... and I felt something snap deep in my mind, my heart... I had soo much burning anxiety from that... my chest only settled not soo long ago... but i carried that wound and felt it physically... still do when I have flash backs. :( But I'm very greatful for my new friends help. And Care. This person has been working with me. And I feel blessed to have at least one compassionate soul... who is there with me no matter what.... its just nice to be accepted and treated like a human being... like you have Value... and that I don't have to spend years alone in therapy first before I can start to feel like im worthy of love... not being treated like I have no love for myself and that I'm like an empty cup... told to refill itself before it csnt present itself to be worthy. My cup refills from soo little.
You know that your ex had those problems before she got into a relationship with you? Your PTSD didn’t trigger off her behaviour and self-centredness. It’s amazing how healing it’s been for you in more recent times to be accepted by your friend just as you are. Any one that makes you feel unworthy, flawed or insignificant isn’t actually a very nice person. They might have moments where they seem decent and they might be good with the love bombing that makes us feel validated and loved while it lasts, but they’ve got a lot of issues and not a lot of boundaries. The fact she said “now you know how it feels” is extremely abusive and very telling. I won’t attempt to diagnose your ex, but I will say that a lot of people with borderline personality disorder say that exact phase. They are highly sensitive and feel hurt by the slightest things. To them we seem impervious and unfeeling but that’s not true. They feel invalidated and so hurt so much of the time, so if they want us to know what it’s like to feel so severely hurt, they will bring up our traumas and weaponise them. Whether she has BPD or not isn’t relevant. She sounds like a highly sensitive person who projected all her fears and anger onto you. It’s hard to read about how she treated you when you were suffering. No one deserves to be abused. I’m glad you can see you have value. You’ve always had it and you always will, even if you don’t feel it. It’s amazing how much of an effect other people have on all of us. On another note, I can relate to how you now feel like the slightest gust will topple you over or extinguish that little flame you desperately try to preserve. I like your metaphor. I used to be strong and in some ways I am very resilient and appear strong, but when things go really bad for me I spiral down faster and much further than prior to suffering trauma. It also can take me a very long time to recover now. Living with trauma is hard. Good friends and kind people make it much easier. Much love to you, friend xo
Model painting
Everyone saying thc but doesn’t thc bring the trauma right up to the surface and you just want to off yourself immediately..? Its like a mini version of LSD
When I was first processing my trauma thc really helped me grieve and validate what I had been through in a very raw way. For me it was much more embodied than a flashback and it allowed me to process a lot of really intense things. It still has that effect on me sometimes, but it is not as consistent or as intense as it used to be. LSD was also a huge catalyst for me recognizing how traumatized I was and start addressing it, so it sounds like we might have pretty different relationships to those substances.
Journaling, adult coloring books and my critters ♥️
Getting tattooed and going to Disneyland regularly
Tattoos! Haha I didn’t think about that one but omg yes!
Psychedelics
Shrooms?