Trauma – PTSD

Question:

Well, it happened again. My neighbors slammed their door, and I had an instantaneous reaction: heart pounding, adrenaline rush, fear, anxiety, stomach flip-floppy, on edge, etc. I have no time to think or rationalize about the source of the noise; the physical reaction is spontaneous and seems to occur before any logical thought processes kick in. After a short period of time – depending usually on what caused the reaction – my physical being returns to normal (or whatever approximates that for me). The cycle is usually repeated later on and can be set off by a number of things – my phone ringing, the doorbell, a loud vehicle, an argument, a screaming child, a car pulling into the lot, almost any sudden burst of noise, really. I think I know why I react this way (related mostly, I believe, to a violent relationship and stalking). But because the physical reaction comes before I can *think* and process the source of the noise, I seem unable to stop this fear/anxiety pattern, even though I understand *afterward* that I was not in danger. Anyone have any thoughts on how to handle this (other than, say, meds or earplugs)? I’m finding this emotionally and physically draining. Thanks. CT Carrot Top I have touched the highest point of all my greatness; And from that full meridian of my glory I haste now to my setting: I shall fall Like a bright exhalation in the evening, And no man see me more. William Shakespeare. King Henry VIII.

Response:

 My .02 also.    I react to loud noise as well. It it’s unexpected I jump. It happens every now and again at work. I just get absorbed in what I am doing and not paying attention to anything going on around me.  It seems to happend to a lot of us at work. We are always soooo  busy when something unexpected happens we jump 6 feet.    I live by myself in my house. I live on a very quiet block. I sometimes get startled by a sudden loud noise.  It’s not often that I get scared out of my wits but I know it makes me nacious(sp) when it happens for several minites.   .02 cents.

Response:

Hi….. and loudness.  I can’t stand to hear alot of noise—-tv, kids, cars, music.  It is like it drives me crazy.  It bothers me to no end.  I am constantly yelling at someone to turn something down.  I have had my kids scare me too—–jump out and scare me and I just freak out!  I have had the loud noise thing where I jump so violently that I think I am jumping right out of my skin.  I have the same reaction—-heart racing, breathing faster, fear of the unk, etc.  The bulk of my problem lies in noise.  I just can not tolerate it. I spoke to someone about this problem and they said it is anxiety and depression related.  I don’t know how it relates or why noise sensitivity is apart of being depressed but maybe it has to do with my need to be left alone, to be at peace and to just have quiet.  When I hear all the noises around me it is like I know the world will not leave me alone and I can’t again thanks for listening…. Becky

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi….. noise and loudness.  I can’t stand to hear alot of noise—-tv, kids, cars, music.  It is like it drives me crazy.  It bothers me to no end.  I am constantly yelling at someone to turn something down.  I have had my kids scare me too—–jump out and scare me and I just freak out!  I have had the loud noise thing where I jump so violently that I think I am jumping right out of my skin.  I have the same reaction—-heart racing, breathing faster, fear of the unk, etc.  The bulk of my problem lies in noise.   I just can not tolerate it. I spoke to someone about this problem and they said it is anxiety and depression related.  I don’t know how it relates or why noise sensitivity is apart of being depressed but maybe it has to do with my need to be left alone, to be at peace and to just have quiet.  When I hear all the noises around me it is like I know the world will not leave me alone and I can’t again thanks for listening…. Becky

Me, too (again, Becky!)  If I were to show this post to my husband, he would think that I had written it.  My therapist tells me that (for me) it is a form of post traumatic stress syndrome, after having grown up with a very violent and loud, loud , loud, disturbed family member. Mourning Dove — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:

Response:

WOW—-Mourning Dove we do have alot in common! Becky

Response:

: Anyone have any thoughts on how to handle this (other than, say, meds : or earplugs)? I’m finding this emotionally and physically draining. The docs call it ‘exagerrated startle response’ it’s in the list of symptoms for PTSD. I haven’t found a doc who knows what to do about it, none of the books seem to have anything either (other than one which recommends moving to a wilderness setting, lame). I’ve tried setting things up so it happens a lot, trying to make it happen so much that it goes away – didn’t work. Maybe if we all asked our docs and therps about it one of them may have a solution. I’d like to imagine that there would be some behavioural therapy that would make it easier to live with or even make it go back to normal levels. I don’t think I’d want a medication for it, that response is what helps us when we trip and fall or when other accidents happen. So we need some startle response. For now I just try to limit the triggers. — bev

Response:

HI I’m SUE  I HAVE PANIC ATTACKS  EVERY SO OFTEN SOMETIMES I CAN’T BREATH OR MY HEAD FEELS STRANGE LIKE  I’M GOING TO FAINT.  ALSO AT TIMES MY ARMS AND LEGS FEEL NUMBNESS I AM NOW ON MEDICATION TO CONTROL THESE EPISODES.  I JUST WISH MY HUSBAND WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH.

Response:

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS SUE)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))  It’s hard for a non depressed person to know what it is like. Maybe if he reads ASD with you maybe he will get a clue. Hugga Hugg Hugga  HI I’m SUE  I HAVE PANIC ATTACKS  EVERY SO OFTEN SOMETIMES I CAN’T BREATH – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -OR MY HEAD FEELS STRANGE LIKE  I’M GOING TO FAINT.  ALSO AT TIMES MY ARMS AND LEGS FEEL NUMBNESS I AM NOW ON MEDICATION TO CONTROL THESE EPISODES.  I JUST WISH MY HUSBAND WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH.

Response:

you I understand about the husband thing. Mine doesn’t understand either or seem to want to understand.  I think he truly believes that I will get over it in a while as long as he ignores the episodes and deals with nothing.  Nothing has ever changed in our house since I was diagnosed.  I am still the one taking care of everything.  When I tell him I want to be dead or want to die—-he just goes on with whatever he was doing or changes the subject.  He does not want to know. He is a good person who just can not deal with the emotional impact of living with a wife that is depressed, anxiety ridden, suicidal, etc etc. He just feels it will all go away.  I like you are I can imagine, am at my wits end and just have no idea what to do.  My therapist even suggested that I move out with my children and live alone—easier said than done when you are not working and have no income to speak of.  <sigh Tell me more about yourself and what is going on.  Vent to me, rage to me.  I am here…….backed up on the email trail but still around…. Hugs Becky

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – you I understand about the husband thing. Mine doesn’t understand either or seem to want to understand.  I think he truly believes that I will get over it in a while as long as he ignores the episodes and deals with nothing.  Nothing has ever changed in our house since I was diagnosed.  I am still the one taking care of everything.  When I tell him I want to be dead or want to die—-he just goes on with whatever he was doing or changes the subject.  He does not want to know. He is a good person who just can not deal with the emotional impact of living with a wife that is depressed, anxiety ridden, suicidal, etc etc. He just feels it will all go away.  I like you are I can imagine, am at my wits end and just have no idea what to do.  My therapist even suggested that I move out with my children and live alone—easier said than done when you are not working and have no income to speak of.  <sigh

wow, becky.  i could have written every word of this. i wish i had answers…or even knew the question. -lyssa

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – tell you I understand about the husband thing. Mine doesn’t understand either or seem to want to understand.  I think he truly believes that I will get over it in a while as long as he ignores the episodes and deals with nothing.  Nothing has ever changed in our house since I was diagnosed.  I am still the one taking care of everything. When I tell him I want to be dead or want to die—-he just goes on with whatever he was doing or changes the subject.  He does not want to know. He is a good person who just can not deal with the emotional impact of living with a wife that is depressed, anxiety ridden, suicidal, etc

etc. Classic serious depression. This should be treated. Have you tried medication yet? If you are only doing therapy you appear to be not having much luck there. Many people with these symptoms need medication. Especially if you feel suicidal. I have heard that some drug companies provide free medication for low income as well, check with your doctor. Also, consider a different doctor. You can’t keep on feeling like this when there is so much available to help you. If all else fails check with your county(city) mental health office. Many services are available there and they may be able to help you even if money is an issue. They have some type of scaled pricing. At this point you are the most important thing to worry about. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – He just feels it will all go away.  I like you are I can imagine, am at my wits end and just have no idea what to do.  My therapist even suggested that I move out with my children and live alone—easier said than done when you are not working and have no income to speak of.  <sigh

Response:

Hi, Sue. Glad to see you here. I had a panic attack recently (my first), and it was terrible. You have my smpahties! You might want to know that typing in all caps in a newsgroup is the same as SCREAMING OUT LOUD, so if you’re not feeling thta way when you post, you might want to stick to lowercase/uppercase or just lowercase. (But by all means, if you feel like screaming here, feel free to!) Anyhow, glad to have you here.I think you’ll find that ASD is filled with plenty of kind, compassionate people who know what you’re going through (okay, there are a few people who aren’t so kind, but we try to ignore them). ((((Sue))))  <—– cyberhugs for you. Best, Jennifer  JD DYBICK

: HI I’m SUE  I HAVE PANIC ATTACKS  EVERY SO OFTEN SOMETIMES I CAN’T BREATH : OR MY HEAD FEELS STRANGE LIKE  I’M GOING TO FAINT.  ALSO AT TIMES MY ARMS : AND LEGS FEEL NUMBNESS I AM NOW ON MEDICATION TO CONTROL THESE EPISODES.  I : JUST WISH MY HUSBAND WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH.

Response:

AnnMarie – I’m going to print out your post and hand it to my husband and ask him to read it.  Then I’ll say "Sound familiar?"  This is *exactly* the way he treats me. Not only that, but he walked in and asked me a question while I was typing this.  He looks at things through the proverbial rose-colored glasses – he doesn’t *want* me to be depressed and have suicidal thoughts, therefore he won’t accept that I have them.  Ignorance is bliss, and all that. Soccer Mom

Response:

Hi Sue,  I have panic attacks too.  My husband does not understand them but he is getting better at seeing them come on……and getting out of the house!  I agree with Bighugs01.  It is difficult for anyone who has never been depressed or had such an attack to know what it is like.  Try maybe leaving some literature laying next to his favorite chair to see if he’ll pick it up and read it.  I finally did that and that is when my husband realized how serious these attacks are.  Take care of you  Krys – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS SUE)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))  It’s hard for a non depressed person to know what it is like. Maybe if he reads ASD with you maybe he will get a clue. Hugga Hugg Hugga  HI I’m SUE  I HAVE PANIC ATTACKS  EVERY SO OFTEN SOMETIMES I CAN’T BREATH OR MY HEAD FEELS STRANGE LIKE  I’M GOING TO FAINT.  ALSO AT TIMES MY ARMS AND LEGS FEEL NUMBNESS I AM NOW ON MEDICATION TO CONTROL THESE EPISODES.  I JUST WISH MY HUSBAND WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH.

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