Trauma – PTSD

Question:

Hi timujinn! >   After a long time lurking I ‘m finally able to comment and introduce

myself. Congratulations on taking this big step!  Welcome home! > I’ve been dx with PTSD for 11 years,  I’ve been in and out of the VA system > quite a bit. i was a corpsman so the idea of the healing starting definitely > caught my attention.  I have a problem though in letting the healing start > within myself, I’ good at helping others get started on that path but I can’t > find it for myself. Any ideas?

I’ve seen this one before. :/  I don’t know how to advise you about how to ‘let go and let God and the process work their magic’. My therapist kept talking to me about ‘taking a leap of faith’ to let the process work.  Every time I started to leap, I kept ahold of some branch of dis-ease, for at least 5 years.  I finally learned to trust the process (while not really trusting myself) and the more I let go, the better I’ve become. This evening I was talking with the neighbors and we laughed a little about the day I met them in 1994 … I went into complete terror mode when their dog appeared and screamed like a banshee.  ???  Today, the dog likes me and I like her; I’ll probably end up dog-sitting in August for her.  Dog hasn’t changed; I’ve changed. For me, one of the critical issues was letting go of chaos and the need for chaos … which is somewhat ‘normal’ for those of us with PTSD.  It was scary for me to let myself acknowledge I was incompetent in emotional decisions; I still double-check a lot of major decisions with a therapist. YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

welcome Tim — RB

Response:

Hi Tim, Welcome, I’m a newbie here too. From what I’ve read ‘healing’ chronic PTSD is a long and painstaking journey. Personally I’d be happy to just learn how to control my impulsive decision making, not react to triggers so much and be available for others – I’m not very practiced at maintaining stable relationships. There are many other facets to this illness I’m not aware of yet, but I know it’s influenced most of my life choices so far and that’s why I’m part of this newsgroup. The people here are walking point for me, pointing out the areas to be careful about and mindful of, so I’m following their trail and reading their advice. I lurked here for awhile too until I had to change or die, being part of something is an important step in my recovery. Good luck to ya, Tim, it’s nice to meetcha. >Brovet >~still cra-zy after all these years~

http://community.webtv.net/HermanoVetrano/doc

Response:

Hi Tim, I’ve had that tendency myself.  For me, personally, I think I do it as a way to avoid facing my own problems.  Much easier to help someone else than it is to face my "skeletons in the closet". Welcome. kat "timujinn" <timuj…@prrovide.net> wrote in message

news:3B242BF3.EE727A1B@prrovide.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> hi, >   After a long time lurking I ‘m finally able to comment and introduce myself. > I’ve been dx with PTSD for 11 years,  I’ve been in and out of the VA system > quite a bit. i was a corpsman so the idea of the healing starting definitely > caught my attention.  I have a problem though in letting the healing start > within myself, I’ good at helping others get started on that path but I can’t > find it for myself. Any ideas? > tim > Nancy Irwin wrote: > > Hi Bro Vet! > > Welcome home! > > > ..now, what should I expect? > > > Hi everybody, I posted here awhile ago under a different nom de net and > > > was just diagnosed today as PTSDed by a VA psychiatrist. I was > > > prescribed Zoloft (50mg/day, bumping to 100mg/day if I tolerate it well) > > > and put on a waiting list for an inpatient treatment center. I had a Vet > > > Rep fill out a claim form for combat related PTSD, and I’m approved for > > > state disability insurance, should I be doing anything else? > > Not that I know about, but I don’t know everything. :/ > > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > > Nancy

Response:

Hi Rick! > >YMMV.  It doesn’t work for everyone. :/ > If you don’t mind, what have you found that works best for your > anxiety. I think that I need to find something to give me some > additional help with my anxiety…at least until my WCSSDI case is > resolved. I have some of the SSRIs left to try, Buspar, unfortunately, > didn’t do a thing…except cost like hell. Thanks.

Well, Buspar isn’t a SSRI as far as I know.  I get a ‘hit’ when I take Buspar, and I can actually feel it releasing my tension in my muscles. That’s not supposed to happen, either. :/ I think SSRIs are stuff like Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Welbutrin … they don’t kick in like Buspar, but instead take 2 – 3 months to reach their full effect in one’s brain. BTW, the following came with my SSD denial: "Your representative cannot charge or collect a fee from you without first getting written approval from us.  If you want more information about having a representative, call us.  We can give you a free factsheet, ‘Your Right To Representation’ (Publication No. 05-10075)" Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

hi,   After a long time lurking I ‘m finally able to comment and introduce myself. I’ve been dx with PTSD for 11 years,  I’ve been in and out of the VA system quite a bit. i was a corpsman so the idea of the healing starting definitely caught my attention.  I have a problem though in letting the healing start within myself, I’ good at helping others get started on that path but I can’t find it for myself. Any ideas? tim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Nancy Irwin wrote: > Hi Bro Vet! > Welcome home! > > ..now, what should I expect? > > Hi everybody, I posted here awhile ago under a different nom de net and > > was just diagnosed today as PTSDed by a VA psychiatrist. I was > > prescribed Zoloft (50mg/day, bumping to 100mg/day if I tolerate it well) > > and put on a waiting list for an inpatient treatment center. I had a Vet > > Rep fill out a claim form for combat related PTSD, and I’m approved for > > state disability insurance, should I be doing anything else? > Not that I know about, but I don’t know everything. :/ > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy

Response:

Hi Rick! > >BTW, the following came with my SSD denial: > >"Your representative cannot charge or collect a fee from you without first > >getting written approval from us.  If you want more information about having > >a representative, call us.  We can give you a free factsheet, ‘Your Right To > >Representation’ (Publication No. 05-10075)" > Thanks, Nancy. BTW, did you eventually get approval?

Are you kidding?  I just got the denial.  Me, procrastinate?? Never.  It only took me 10 years to get up the courage to apply, and then another 6 months to actually do it.  I just got denied because I ‘waited’ too long (more than 5 years after the last qualifying quarter or something like that).  Actually, I made the mistake of not applying until I could use the assistance.  No good deed goes unpunished. Anyway, I turned it over to an attorney.  Let her argue with the SSA about how someone emotionally/mentally disabled can have a time limit before she regains some sanity.  I’m not able to even try to work that one into a sensible brief. :/ Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

HI BRO,  yeah, welcome to the *survivor-land*   hang  tight bro, ’cause there’s no really an end to PTSD trigger to stop from popping… i’ve accept my condition like i’m having to face wild adventure that i must know or learned how to defend myself to be able to survive… let say yo and lo that *savage _^v^_ creature is trying to scare you to death, and your only weapon use, going to attack this _mean-beast_ is reminding the story of david, which is you and goliath is the bad guy, of course (mental disabilties~your attacker and david is you~who knows how to~ cope or distract ptsd symptoms! ) not to forget the professional help plus Zoloft, i’m taking that same med. too…i am aware of the power of—-> mind does to your healing, keep the positive +) attitude.  take care leah y.

Response:

Don’t know much about anything some days.  :  ) Just wanted to say "welcome back!" kat "Bro Vet" <HermanoVetr…@webtv.net> wrote in message

news:29184-3B20D9E9-12@storefull-298.iap.bryant.webtv.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> ..now, what should I expect? > Hi everybody, I posted here awhile ago under a different nom de net and > was just diagnosed today as PTSDed by a VA psychiatrist. I was > prescribed Zoloft (50mg/day, bumping to 100mg/day if I tolerate it well) > and put on a waiting list for an inpatient treatment center. I had a Vet > Rep fill out a claim form for combat related PTSD, and I’m approved for > state disability insurance, should I be doing anything else? > Has anyone here been through the Palo Alto Ca. treatment center? Did it > help? What about aftercare and follow up? I think I’ve been symptomatic > for over thirty years, depression and anxiety initially manifesting a > few months after I returned home then popping up every couple of years > or so, but this last trigger I reacted to (Bob Kerry’s revelation) sent > me into a nose dive, depression-wise, that I haven’t been able to pull > out of for over a month. > Numba 10, no lie. > >Brovet > >~still cra-zy after all these years~

Response:

Rick wrote: >I am curious as to what the Zoloft does for you. >Which symptoms does it help with? Does it help >with generalized anxiety? I take Remeron and it >works for the panic attacks but is no help for the >high anxiety.

Couldn’t tell ya, I just started taking it. Hope so, though, ’cause right now I’m having two or more anxiety episodes every day. Yikes. I’m interested in sleeping again, so I hope it helps with that, too. Tiny Dancer likes it, maybe she’ll chime in. BTW, thanks everyone, for saying ‘howdy’. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Brovet >~still cra-zy after all these years~

Response:

Hi guys, When I began zoloft I’d been off meds for a couple years because I got so disgusted with everything.  It was "try this, try that," like nothing I ever tried worked right or else were so full of the physical side effects that it got to the point of which is worse, feeling bad emotionally or physically. I can’t really tell you exactly "what" symptoms it works on, I can just say it gave me more of a well-rounded ability to function.  Most parts of my life became easier, if that makes any sense?  Since I had my surgery things have been a bit rocky, but I think that’s more hormonal, luckily you "guys" won’t have to worry about that!  The only thing I noticed different about the zoloft is that it doesn’t have any tranquilizing effects, at least not in me.  Some of the things I’d taken in the past, specifically ludiomil and melaril both seemed to have some tranquilizer type components to them.  With the zoloft I just "felt" more in control, less panic attacks, more able to confront being in public, being with other people, although I do still get nightmares.  My therapist said the other things I was on were a bit "heavier", in that when I fell asleep if I had dreams I never remembered them. I hope this helps, sometimes I have trouble explaining what I mean??? tiny dancer "Bro Vet" <HermanoVetr…@webtv.net> wrote in message

news:12026-3B222179-5@storefull-296.iap.bryant.webtv.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Rick wrote: > >I am curious as to what the Zoloft does for you. > >Which symptoms does it help with? Does it help > >with generalized anxiety? I take Remeron and it > >works for the panic attacks but is no help for the > >high anxiety. > Couldn’t tell ya, I just started taking it. Hope so, though, ’cause > right now I’m having two or more anxiety episodes every day. Yikes. > I’m interested in sleeping again, so I hope it helps with that, too. > Tiny Dancer likes it, maybe she’ll chime in. > BTW, thanks everyone, for saying ‘howdy’. > >Brovet > >~still cra-zy after all these years~

Response:

Hi guys & Nancy, Yeah, I do take xanax also, for the anxiety, but since he was specifically asking about the zoloft I neglected to mention that.  And what I meant was that before when I took the xanax with the previous anti depressants I felt much more drugged.  My therapist said the previous antidepressants had some anxiety reducers in them also.  What I mean is, now when I take xanax to sleep at night I still have nightmares, where before when I was taking say ludiomil and xanax together I never remembered any dreams what so ever. With zoloft and xanax I do. tiny dancer "Nancy Irwin" <ki…@cris.com> wrote in message

news:9ftpvk$eq7@dispatch.concentric.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi Brovet & tiny & Rick! > > I can’t really tell you exactly "what" symptoms it works on, I can just > say > > it gave me more of a well-rounded ability to function.  Most parts of my > > life became easier, if that makes any sense? > I had this same experience with zoloft.  I think that it’s supposed to work > on balancing the communication between brain cells.  After a couple of years > on it, I ended up taking a second med (at the same time) for acute anxiety. > Some folks believe that zoloft is for depression, but I’m not sure about > that.  What I do know is that it doesn’t work like the uppers and downers > handed out by Army medical types during the 1960s and 1970s.  :) > YMMV.  It doesn’t work for everyone. :/ > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy

Response:

> Hey td, > You did fine, I understand what you mean. Did you have any adverse > effects while you were first getting accustomed to the dosage? > Rick

I don’t remember any adverse side effects, actually I didn’t have any side effects what so ever.  First antidepressant I took that I could say that for.  The only thing that I remember is after being on an initial doseage of 100mg, after awhile, I can’t remember how long, I knew I needed a bit more. I told my therapist I thought I needed the dose increased, so we went up to 150mg. tiny dancer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >"Bro Vet" <HermanoVetr…@webtv.net> wrote in message > >news:12026-3B222179-5@storefull-296.iap.bryant.webtv.net… > >> Rick wrote: > >> >I am curious as to what the Zoloft does for you. > >> >Which symptoms does it help with? Does it help > >> >with generalized anxiety? I take Remeron and it > >> >works for the panic attacks but is no help for the > >> >high anxiety. > >> Couldn’t tell ya, I just started taking it. Hope so, though, ’cause > >> right now I’m having two or more anxiety episodes every day. Yikes. > >> I’m interested in sleeping again, so I hope it helps with that, too. > >> Tiny Dancer likes it, maybe she’ll chime in. > >> BTW, thanks everyone, for saying ‘howdy’. > >> >Brovet > >> >~still cra-zy after all these years~

Response:

hi bro,  have you tried *ZEPREXA ?   i only take 25mg, knock me out to sleep.  though, my doc adviced me to take that med only if i’m in hyper-vgilant mode….the last resort for me to be able to take my ZZZ’zzz. take care leah y.

Response:

Hi Brovet & tiny & Rick! > I can’t really tell you exactly "what" symptoms it works on, I can just say > it gave me more of a well-rounded ability to function.  Most parts of my > life became easier, if that makes any sense?

I had this same experience with zoloft.  I think that it’s supposed to work on balancing the communication between brain cells.  After a couple of years on it, I ended up taking a second med (at the same time) for acute anxiety. Some folks believe that zoloft is for depression, but I’m not sure about that.  What I do know is that it doesn’t work like the uppers and downers handed out by Army medical types during the 1960s and 1970s.  :) YMMV.  It doesn’t work for everyone. :/ Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

> prescribed Zoloft (50mg/day, bumping to 100mg/day if I tolerate it well)

Welcome to the group.  I take Zoloft, started at 100mg/day and moved up to 150mg/daily.  I’ve taken alot of different anti depressants over the past 15 years, been on Zoloft about 5 years now, and so far it’s been the best by far.  I have no side effects to speak of.  When I first began taking it I had some trouble sleeping at night, but all we did was change my time to take it.  Instead of evening I take it in the morning.  Problem solved. Best wishes, tiny dancer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> and put on a waiting list for an inpatient treatment center. I had a Vet > Rep fill out a claim form for combat related PTSD, and I’m approved for > state disability insurance, should I be doing anything else? > Has anyone here been through the Palo Alto Ca. treatment center? Did it > help? What about aftercare and follow up? I think I’ve been symptomatic > for over thirty years, depression and anxiety initially manifesting a > few months after I returned home then popping up every couple of years > or so, but this last trigger I reacted to (Bob Kerry’s revelation) sent > me into a nose dive, depression-wise, that I haven’t been able to pull > out of for over a month. > Numba 10, no lie. > >Brovet > >~still cra-zy after all these years~

Response:

>>Zoloft (50mg/day, bumping to 100mg/day if I tolerate it well)  and put on a

waiting list for an inpatient treatment center. I had a Vet Rep fill out a claim form for combat related PTSD, and I’m approved for  state disability insurance, should I be doing anything else? >> I’m with Nancy on this, nothing else that I know of.  The only exception would be to perhaps seek out a therapist to see on a one-on-one basis until you get inpatient treatment. Be sure it is someone that specializes in treating trauma in individuals (ask when you talk to the offices-just ask what their speciality is, don’t say you’re looking for a PTSD therapist.)  I learned this finally, after going to therapists that thought they knew how to treat PTSD. Now I ask up front what the therapist’s specialties are. Good luck and hope for you, Kristine The unexamined life is not worth living – Socrates

Response:

..now, what should I expect? Hi everybody, I posted here awhile ago under a different nom de net and was just diagnosed today as PTSDed by a VA psychiatrist. I was prescribed Zoloft (50mg/day, bumping to 100mg/day if I tolerate it well) and put on a waiting list for an inpatient treatment center. I had a Vet Rep fill out a claim form for combat related PTSD, and I’m approved for state disability insurance, should I be doing anything else? Has anyone here been through the Palo Alto Ca. treatment center? Did it help? What about aftercare and follow up? I think I’ve been symptomatic for over thirty years, depression and anxiety initially manifesting a few months after I returned home then popping up every couple of years or so, but this last trigger I reacted to (Bob Kerry’s revelation) sent me into a nose dive, depression-wise, that I haven’t been able to pull out of for over a month. Numba 10, no lie. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Brovet >~still cra-zy after all these years~

Response:

Hi Bro Vet! Welcome home! > ..now, what should I expect? > Hi everybody, I posted here awhile ago under a different nom de net and > was just diagnosed today as PTSDed by a VA psychiatrist. I was > prescribed Zoloft (50mg/day, bumping to 100mg/day if I tolerate it well) > and put on a waiting list for an inpatient treatment center. I had a Vet > Rep fill out a claim form for combat related PTSD, and I’m approved for > state disability insurance, should I be doing anything else?

Not that I know about, but I don’t know everything. :/ Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

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