Aa
Exposure not an option
As for PTSD exposure for me would be a very bad idea. Therapy for me has involved reduction of exposure, stress relief, feeling good about myself, etc.. Transformation is what I need but can't get. My only question is can I live like this for the rest of my days? I am unemployed and can no longer afford therapy. I don't have the option of free services since I am married and live in a rural area and can't get anywhere with no car.
I don't have nightmares daily but when they do occur they last for weeks on end. I don't really know what triggers the memories of trauma but my trauma, such as it is, was unlike anything any ordinary person here has ever experienced, with the exception of people from military situations. But even that is not like what I went through. I can't explain it here as I doubt any would understand my position.
I don't have nightmares daily but when they do occur they last for weeks on end. I don't really know what triggers the memories of trauma but my trauma, such as it is, was unlike anything any ordinary person here has ever experienced, with the exception of people from military situations. But even that is not like what I went through. I can't explain it here as I doubt any would understand my position.
Hi
If you have no way to get therapy, try walking. EMDR therapy uses the REM sleep activity of the eyes moving left and right, to process emotions from the emotional side of the brain to the thinking side of the brain.
When you walk, and think, you do this processing naturally.
With PTSD it is easy for us to hole up and hide... run away... over involve ourselves in activities (like workaholic)... give in to all kinds of negative thinking. We will use any excuse to keep it the way it is BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE KNOW AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
It is frequently hard to get moving on anything, we freeze, we run, we fight it to the death to keep the familiar thing.
Get up at dawn! Literally! Go for at least a 1 mile walk. Enjoy the fresh air. Let the world, wether it is sunny or snowing, enter you and cleanse your spirit.
Walking will help your metabolism get going, so you will not tend to gain weight. Walking will help you have a healthy appetite for breakfast. Cook yourself a nice breakfast. Include plenty of protein, fat, fruit, and Tea. You will feel depressed if you do not eat protein in the morning. You need to fill your stomach to feel nourished. Nourishment is LOVE.
Make a garden. Even in the winter... Put some dirt in a container and find some seeds or a houseplant clipping. Plop it in front of the window. Make that plant the happiest plant in the world. It will make you happy in return.
An interesting thing happens, even if you are good with plants. If the plant doesn't do well, and you are surprised why, you can apply that to yourself. If you are not doing well, it is probably something you are NOT looking for.
Make sure you accomplish something every day. Run the dishwasher, a batch of clothes, vacuume, organize... each of these things are EMDR related, and will improve how you feel.
Take a shower at least every other day, unless you stink in one day. Ablusions are a wonderful ritual of care.
Stay in touch. Isolation is devastating.
If you have no way to get therapy, try walking. EMDR therapy uses the REM sleep activity of the eyes moving left and right, to process emotions from the emotional side of the brain to the thinking side of the brain.
When you walk, and think, you do this processing naturally.
With PTSD it is easy for us to hole up and hide... run away... over involve ourselves in activities (like workaholic)... give in to all kinds of negative thinking. We will use any excuse to keep it the way it is BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE KNOW AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
It is frequently hard to get moving on anything, we freeze, we run, we fight it to the death to keep the familiar thing.
Get up at dawn! Literally! Go for at least a 1 mile walk. Enjoy the fresh air. Let the world, wether it is sunny or snowing, enter you and cleanse your spirit.
Walking will help your metabolism get going, so you will not tend to gain weight. Walking will help you have a healthy appetite for breakfast. Cook yourself a nice breakfast. Include plenty of protein, fat, fruit, and Tea. You will feel depressed if you do not eat protein in the morning. You need to fill your stomach to feel nourished. Nourishment is LOVE.
Make a garden. Even in the winter... Put some dirt in a container and find some seeds or a houseplant clipping. Plop it in front of the window. Make that plant the happiest plant in the world. It will make you happy in return.
An interesting thing happens, even if you are good with plants. If the plant doesn't do well, and you are surprised why, you can apply that to yourself. If you are not doing well, it is probably something you are NOT looking for.
Make sure you accomplish something every day. Run the dishwasher, a batch of clothes, vacuume, organize... each of these things are EMDR related, and will improve how you feel.
Take a shower at least every other day, unless you stink in one day. Ablusions are a wonderful ritual of care.
Stay in touch. Isolation is devastating.
you don't have to explain your trauma if your not ready to talk about it, i was injured in the military 16 years ago and it seems like yesterday that i was traumatized from combat i now have ptsd for that many years i no longer use alcohol& drugs instead i take pills for schizophrenia,tardive dyskinesia and PTSD :)
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