Trauma – PTSD

Question:

You decribed me to a tee..It’s wonderful to find others that know exactly how I feel..try explaing your panic or anxiety to someone that has never suffered from it. I’m not on any meds now but if I contuniue to feel this way I will go to my Dr before it escalates into full blown panic. Lorri

Response:

. It is very common for people with anxiety disorders to have an *temporary* increase in their anxiety after a stressful event in their life, surgery was that event for you. I think you need to give yourself time to settle down. The best thing you can do is accept your anxiety, don`t fight it and keep busy with diversions. Take care Jackie

Hi Jackie and thanks for the welcome! I come from a long line of anxiety sufferers and I guess I beat myself up for "being like them" if you know what I mean. The funny(?) thing is I know I set myself up for the post op anxiety..I practiaclly told myself it was going to happen…..sigh. I’t is almost like part of me feels I don’t deserve peace and calmness in my life and I’m suppose to suffer. Right now I’ve cut the coffee, I try not to focus on my negative feelings and try to do relaxation techniques. Thanks for the support! Lorri

Response:

Hi Lorri!  What you describe is VERY common.  Remember, anxiety disorders are caused by a hypersensitive survival instinct (the fight or flight response).  Our brains perceive surgery as a life threat and initiate a life protecting response.  Some people have intense panic attacks post-op, while others can be consumed with catastrophic thinking or scanning (which you describe as looking for what’s "off").  You’re right that seeing it as a "weakness" is not helpful.  IMO, it is actually counterproductive, as those thoughts can cause you to spiral into a depressive anxiety.  Take some time out for yourself, perhaps increase your benzo if you use one, or ask the pdoc to prescribe some to get you through this hump.  If meds are not your thing, relaxation techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing and isometric muscle relaxation (tensing and relaxing) can be helpful.  Personally, I like a nice glass of iced raspberry tea, cool jazz and a massage.  Good luck! This, too, shall pass!  ~V.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Lorri. I am glad that you do feel better letting it out. We are people that are suffering with the same. I am 45 years too. My oldest daughter is 17. I also have a 16,14,and 12 yr old boys. I had gall bladder surgery in May of this year and after I came home I had horrible depression and anxiety which is that post traumatic depression syndrome-PTSD. About a month later I started not to worry about my surgery and what if this is wrong and what if that is wrong. It is not a weakness, it is an illness. A disorder if you prefer to call it that. You are not nuts nor losing control. In fact you sound pretty much in control to me. You probably will slowly come down after the surgery so just try to replace the what ifs with positive reinforcements or just yell out loud STOP. This will shake you up a bit and distract you from the thoughts. Of course this is hard to do in the grocery store but in the car,no one hears you !!!! Sometimes it helps to keep a journal so try that. Write down your negative thought and replace it with a positive one. Oh, skip the caffeine too. I use to drink 2 pots a day(with 4 kids, of course!!) I switched to decafe and the anxiety isn’t heightened. The herbal teas are good. Go to a VIx, Feel RIte or Wegmens and get some Lavender oil and put a dab on a silk flower near your pillow, or a drop on a little light bulb. Get some yardley lavender bath or shower gel. Scented candles are nice too. I like the mulberry and vanilla.   Just keep doing what you are doing. It sounds like you are on the right track!! love,Julie Hi Julie and thank you for the reply. I’m glad I came to this newsgroup. I get so angry at myself for being what I consider "weak" Thats part of my problem. Another is the control issue. It seem that many of us that suffer from this disorder are so afraid to lose control. I have been telling myself to "stop" when I start to get anxious, it’s just so had to break the cycle when you are caught up in the moment. I did learn along time ago I couldnt be superwoman and do it all. That was a start for me.  Now I have to get past the physical aspects of AD. I tend to look and feel for anything in my body that seems "off" Of course it doesnt help. Everything at that point seems wrong and bang…the anxiety becomes worse! But you all know that LOL! Glad to be here! Lorri Lorri

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All. I’m 45 yrs old and have suffered on and off with PA and AD since my senior yr in high school. Unfortunatly, in the early 70s one was told one was having a "breakdown" which did nothing to help me through the severe PAs I suffered through. Over the yrs I managed to control them but after the birth of my son 16 yrs ago I started to have full fledged PAs again. It was horrid as I thought I was having another "breakdown". Thankfully more and more was coming out about anxiety and when I saw my symptons in print, I realized I wasn’t nuts or losing control. Since then I really havent had a panic attack but I still suffer from AD at different times. Last week I had Lasik surgery, against my better judgement, because I know myself..I will focus on everything I think might be wrong (chalk it up to a bit of hypocondria) and put myself in a constant state of anxiety. My lasik went fine but I’m in a 24 hour a day anxious state and I think I’m more angry at myself for what I see as a "weakness". I think I need new coping skills. Right now I have cut my coffee down to a cup a day and suck down tons of herbel tea. Any other suggestions?? I can’t stand this! Oh, my anxiety doesnt effect my everyday life in doing what I have to doI still "function" and do my daily stuff. Thanks all…I feel better already dumping this on the board. Lorri

Dear Lorri, Welcome to ASAP!!  Please don`t think you are weak, you are no such thing. It is very common for people with anxiety disorders to have an *temporary* increase in their anxiety after a stressful event in their life, surgery was that event for you. I think you need to give yourself time to settle down. The best thing you can do is accept your anxiety, don`t fight it and keep busy with diversions.  Take care Jackie

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi Lorri. I am glad that you do feel better letting it out. We are people that are suffering with the same. I am 45 years too. My oldest daughter is 17. I also have a 16,14,and 12 yr old boys. I had gall bladder surgery in May of this year and after I came home I had horrible depression and anxiety which is that post traumatic depression syndrome-PTSD. About a month later I started not to worry about my surgery and what if this is wrong and what if that is wrong. It is not a weakness, it is an illness. A disorder if you prefer to call it that. You are not nuts nor losing control. In fact you sound pretty much in control to me. You probably will slowly come down after the surgery so just try to replace the what ifs with positive reinforcements or just yell out loud STOP. This will shake you up a bit and distract you from the thoughts. Of course this is hard to do in the grocery store but in the car,no one hears you !!!! Sometimes it helps to keep a journal so try that. Write down your negative thought and replace it with a positive one. Oh, skip the caffeine too. I use to drink 2 pots a day(with 4 kids, of course!!) I switched to decafe and the anxiety isn’t heightened. The herbal teas are good. Go to a VIx, Feel RIte or Wegmens and get some Lavender oil and put a dab on a silk flower near your pillow, or a drop on a little light bulb. Get some yardley lavender bath or shower gel. Scented candles are nice too. I like the mulberry and vanilla.   Just keep doing what you are doing. It sounds like you are on the right track!! love,Julie

Hi Julie and thank you for the reply. I’m glad I came to this newsgroup. I get so angry at myself for being what I consider "weak" Thats part of my problem. Another is the control issue. It seem that many of us that suffer from this disorder are so afraid to lose control. I have been telling myself to "stop" when I start to get anxious, it’s just so had to break the cycle when you are caught up in the moment. I did learn along time ago I couldnt be superwoman and do it all. That was a start for me.  Now I have to get past the physical aspects of AD. I tend to look and feel for anything in my body that seems "off" Of course it doesnt help. Everything at that point seems wrong and bang…the anxiety becomes worse! But you all know that LOL! Glad to be here! Lorri Lorri

Response:

Hi All. I’m 45 yrs old and have suffered on and off with PA and AD since my senior yr in high school. Unfortunatly, in the early 70s one was told one was having a "breakdown" which did nothing to help me through the severe PAs I suffered through. Over the yrs I managed to control them but after the birth of my son 16 yrs ago I started to have full fledged PAs again. It was horrid as I thought I was having another "breakdown". Thankfully more and more was coming out about anxiety and when I saw my symptons in print, I realized I wasn’t nuts or losing control. Since then I really havent had a panic attack but I still suffer from AD at different times. Last week I had Lasik surgery, against my better judgement, because I know myself..I will focus on everything I think might be wrong (chalk it up to a bit of hypocondria) and put myself in a constant state of anxiety. My lasik went fine but I’m in a 24 hour a day anxious state and I think I’m more angry at myself for what I see as a "weakness". I think I need new coping skills. Right now I have cut my coffee down to a cup a day and suck down tons of herbel tea. Any other suggestions?? I can’t stand this! Oh, my anxiety doesnt effect my everyday life in doing what I have to doI still "function" and do my daily stuff. Thanks all…I feel better already dumping this on the board. Lorri Lorri

Response:

Hi All. I’m 45 yrs old and have suffered on and off with PA and AD since my senior yr in high school. Unfortunatly, in the early 70s one was told one was having a "breakdown" which did nothing to help me through the severe PAs I suffered through. Over the yrs I managed to control them but after the birth of my son 16 yrs ago I started to have full fledged PAs again. It was horrid as I thought I was having another "breakdown". Thankfully more and more was coming out about anxiety and when I saw my symptons in print, I

realized I wasn’t nuts – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -or losing control. Since then I really havent had a panic attack but I still suffer from AD at different times. Last week I had Lasik surgery, against my better judgement, because I know myself..I will focus on everything I think might be wrong (chalk it up to a bit of hypocondria) and put myself in a constant state of anxiety. My lasik went fine but I’m in a 24 hour a day anxious state and I think I’m more angry at myself for what I see as a "weakness". I think I need new coping skills. Right now I have cut my coffee down to a cup a day and suck down tons of herbel tea. Any other suggestions?? I can’t stand this! Oh, my anxiety doesnt effect my everyday life in doing what I have to doI still "function" and do my daily stuff. Thanks all…I feel better already dumping this on the board. Lorri Lorri

Hi Lorri. I am glad that you do feel better letting it out. We are people that are suffering with the same. I am 45 years too. My oldest daughter is 17. I also have a 16,14,and 12 yr old boys. I had gall bladder surgery in May of this year and after I came home I had horrible depression and anxiety which is that post traumatic depression syndrome-PTSD. About a month later I started not to worry about my surgery and what if this is wrong and what if that is wrong. It is not a weakness, it is an illness. A disorder if you prefer to call it that. You are not nuts nor losing control. In fact you sound pretty much in control to me. You probably will slowly come down after the surgery so just try to replace the what ifs with positive reinforcements or just yell out loud STOP. This will shake you up a bit and distract you from the thoughts. Of course this is hard to do in the grocery store but in the car,no one hears you !!!! Sometimes it helps to keep a journal so try that. Write down your negative thought and replace it with a positive one. Oh, skip the caffeine too. I use to drink 2 pots a day(with 4 kids, of course!!) I switched to decafe and the anxiety isn’t heightened. The herbal teas are good. Go to a VIx, Feel RIte or Wegmens and get some Lavender oil and put a dab on a silk flower near your pillow, or a drop on a little light bulb. Get some yardley lavender bath or shower gel. Scented candles are nice too. I like the mulberry and vanilla.   Just keep doing what you are doing. It sounds like you are on the right track!! love,Julie Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

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