Question:
Why should the children be damaged by my management’s poor work? "homo@home" <ba…@home.com> wrote in message
news:3B02A585.F7956007@home.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Richard wrote: > > Yes, big time! > > My employer has no accommodation plans in place. I get LTD but that is not > > enough for me to meet my support payment obligations. > > So in order for my family to be taken care of I must return to work. > Have you sought out modifying the support order. Support orders are > generally based on the financial situation of the parent, and can be > modified if you petition the court. Most of the states that I’ve looked > at have a formula to calculate the amount of support per month. > Understandably, you want to provide for your children, however, the > short term aim will be short term if this cost you emotionally and are > unable to work at all. Check out the "state laws" that apply to you. > http://guide.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/
Response:
Richard wrote: > Why should the children be damaged by my management’s poor work?
Absolutely. It isn’t fair for your children, or for you to be put in that spot. I wonder if it possible to find a ’silver lining’ in a crappy situation. Would it help you knowing what positive life lessons your children will learn from watching you returning to work, and learning new coping skills. To me, it sounds like you would be teaching your children that fear can be managed, or overcome with the right motivation. In the long run I think that will show them just how much you love them.
Response:
We all suffer in the end of this somehow……a very ignorant judge removed custody of my son from me and gave him to his abusive father (who was one of the reasons I suffer from PTSD). Good luck convincing whoever it is you need to educate….some people will be ignorant until the day they die and will never WANT to learn or understand.
Response:
tiny dancer, You’ll be interested in the information about polygraph "testing" that is available on the AntiPolygraph.org website: http://antipolygraph.org Polygraph "tests" have no scientific basis — they lack both standardization and control, and that they actually depend on trickery: the polygrapher must lie to and attempt to deceive every person "tested" about the nature of the procedure. The "test" has a built-in bias against truthful persons, yet can be (and has been) easily beaten by deceptive persons through the use of simple countermeasures. You’ll find all this explained in AntiPolygraph.org’s free book, _The Lie Behind the Lie Detector_, which I coauthored with Gino Scalabrini. You can download it as a PDF file or browse it on-line in HTML format at: http://antipolygraph.org/pubs.shtml We also have a message board where you might be interested in sharing your polygraph experience: http://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl Sincerely, George W. Maschke AntiPolygraph.org In article <AEcM6.23383$i56.5058…@typhoon.southeast.rr.com> , "tiny – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -dancer" <tinydancer…@hotmail.com> wrote: > I know this isn’t quite the same but when I was working a retail job at a > pharmacy everyone was required to take a yearly polygraph. Well I went the > first time to take it and it was horrible. Being in law enforcement I’m > sure you’re familiar with them, but being bound up tightly, especially > around my chest, alone in a windowless room with a strange man, (and the guy > that did me was just retired from the State Bureau of Investigations) and > grilled for almost two hours because I was so stressed I was constantly > hyperventilating, just about did me in. He said I wasn’t lying but because > I was so stressed he said I’d crack under pressure. Luckily my > boss/pharmacist knew I’d only crack under pressure if I was locked in a room > with a strange man and tied to a machine 
, so he hired me anyway. But > the part I’m getting to is the next year when my polygraph came due again I > told my boss I couldn’t do it again, especially knowing now what it was like > because I’d already done it once. Boss said I had to do it, the company > demanded them of everyone. Well I got my psychologist to write the company > a really good letter. He said things in it like he couldn’t say that being > put through this again wouldn’t cause me to have a complete breakdown, that > he felt this would be so harmful to me as to cause a complete decomposition, > etc., etc., etc., strong enough wording that the company was really afraid > to put me through it again, afraid of legal action, things like that, so I > became the only one who didn’t have to do the polygraph. Maybe your > doctor/therapist could write some kind of a letter covering your condition?? > Usually when there is something on record they are afraid to push things > because of legal recourse by you against them?? Just an idea for you. > tiny dancer > <si…@earthlink.net> wrote in message > news:150520010624367952%sir54@earthlink.net… >> I am a former police officer and combat veteran who has lived with PTSD >> for 16+ years. >> I have been in intensive treatment for about 18 months. >> I have a part time job that gets me out of the house and gives me a >> little self-esteem. >> My boss is not at all understanding when I ask for time off for Dr. >> appointments or when I need to get out of there and into a ’safe’ >> enviroment (home). He attempts to belittle me and trivialize the >> severity of my disorder. >> Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this? >> I am seriously considering giving his superior a copy of the Americans >> with Disabilities Act and screaming non-accomodation. Is there any >> other solution?
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -tiny dancer wrote: > I know this isn’t quite the same but when I was working a retail job at a > pharmacy everyone was required to take a yearly polygraph. Well I went the > first time to take it and it was horrible. Being in law enforcement I’m > sure you’re familiar with them, but being bound up tightly, especially > around my chest, alone in a windowless room with a strange man, (and the guy > that did me was just retired from the State Bureau of Investigations) and > grilled for almost two hours because I was so stressed I was constantly > hyperventilating, just about did me in. He said I wasn’t lying but because > I was so stressed he said I’d crack under pressure. Luckily my > boss/pharmacist knew I’d only crack under pressure if I was locked in a room > with a strange man and tied to a machine , so he hired me anyway. But > the part I’m getting to is the next year when my polygraph came due again I > told my boss I couldn’t do it again, especially knowing now what it was like > because I’d already done it once. Boss said I had to do it, the company > demanded them of everyone. Well I got my psychologist to write the company > a really good letter. He said things in it like he couldn’t say that being > put through this again wouldn’t cause me to have a complete breakdown, that > he felt this would be so harmful to me as to cause a complete decomposition, > etc., etc., etc., strong enough wording that the company was really afraid > to put me through it again, afraid of legal action, things like that, so I > became the only one who didn’t have to do the polygraph. Maybe your > doctor/therapist could write some kind of a letter covering your condition?? > Usually when there is something on record they are afraid to push things > because of legal recourse by you against them?? Just an idea for you.
A perfect example for me that shows people will come to our rescue when we need them. I think when trauma happens when we’re young, we grow up with the belief that no one will be there for us. I’m glad your doctor was there for you then, and no with the hormone vs natural remedies issue.
Response:
> Hey, > Good for you. It’s greta to stand up for ones self and have it come > out like it *should*. > Rick
Thanks Rick, it did feel really good when it worked! Oh they did try to coerce me into "volunteering" to take it, but I just stood behind my "you’ll have to check with my doctor because he said it would be very bad for me to do." I would think the fact that no drugs or cash were ever missing would’ve been enough for anybody to see that I’m an honest person but large companies don’t like to give in. I found having that letter on my person and in my file, (because of course I made a copy for myself) was the thing that saved me. My boss said they were really afraid to do anything that would leave them open to being sued. That’s why I suggested
Response:
> Hey, > Good for you. It’s greta to stand up for ones self and have it come > out like it *should*. > Rick
Opps, sorry about that, I clicked when I wasn’t supposed to, but anyway, that’s why I suggested the first poster get a letter on file. It doesn’t sound as if his superior will just lighten up willingly. tiny dancer
Response:
Thanks for your input. At the time I was so stressed I wasn’t able to think at all. I just got more and more anxious the longer the test went on. Towards the end the guy just kept asking me two questions, one being something, can’t recall what, but something that was obviously a true statement, then countering it with "Have you ever been involved in organized crime?" Which just stressed me out more because it was so ludicrous! People have always said I have such a sweet innocent look about me, so I just got really scared when he kept grilling me about organized crime. Being "tied" basically to that awful machine, with the cords getting tighter and tighter because of my hyperventilating, I envisioned the door opening and cops coming in to throw me in jail for whatever organized crime he meant! It wasn’t till long afterwards that I was able to reason out that he was trying to find something so far out to see the different readings between the obviously true statement with the obviously false one. I’ll check out your sight, tiny dancer "George Maschke" <masc…@antipolygraph.org> wrote in message
news:9dtb0t$1nh$1@sshuraac-i-1.production.compuserve.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> tiny dancer, > You’ll be interested in the information about polygraph "testing" that is > available on the AntiPolygraph.org website: > http://antipolygraph.org > Polygraph "tests" have no scientific basis — they lack both standardization > and control, and that they actually depend on trickery: the polygrapher must > lie to and attempt to deceive every person "tested" about the nature of the > procedure. The "test" has a built-in bias against truthful persons, yet can > be (and has been) easily beaten by deceptive persons through the use of > simple countermeasures. You’ll find all this explained in > AntiPolygraph.org’s free book, _The Lie Behind the Lie Detector_, which I > coauthored with Gino Scalabrini. You can download it as a PDF file or browse > it on-line in HTML format at: > http://antipolygraph.org/pubs.shtml > We also have a message board where you might be interested in sharing your > polygraph experience: > http://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl > Sincerely, > George W. Maschke > AntiPolygraph.org > In article <AEcM6.23383$i56.5058…@typhoon.southeast.rr.com> , "tiny > dancer" <tinydancer…@hotmail.com> wrote: > > I know this isn’t quite the same but when I was working a retail job at a > > pharmacy everyone was required to take a yearly polygraph. Well I went the > > first time to take it and it was horrible. Being in law enforcement I’m > > sure you’re familiar with them, but being bound up tightly, especially > > around my chest, alone in a windowless room with a strange man, (and the guy > > that did me was just retired from the State Bureau of Investigations) and > > grilled for almost two hours because I was so stressed I was constantly > > hyperventilating, just about did me in. He said I wasn’t lying but because > > I was so stressed he said I’d crack under pressure. Luckily my > > boss/pharmacist knew I’d only crack under pressure if I was locked in a room > > with a strange man and tied to a machine , so he hired me anyway. But > > the part I’m getting to is the next year when my polygraph came due again I > > told my boss I couldn’t do it again, especially knowing now what it was like > > because I’d already done it once. Boss said I had to do it, the company > > demanded them of everyone. Well I got my psychologist to write the company > > a really good letter. He said things in it like he couldn’t say that being > > put through this again wouldn’t cause me to have a complete breakdown, that > > he felt this would be so harmful to me as to cause a complete decomposition, > > etc., etc., etc., strong enough wording that the company was really afraid > > to put me through it again, afraid of legal action, things like that, so I > > became the only one who didn’t have to do the polygraph. Maybe your > > doctor/therapist could write some kind of a letter covering your condition?? > > Usually when there is something on record they are afraid to push things > > because of legal recourse by you against them?? Just an idea for you. > > tiny dancer > > <si…@earthlink.net> wrote in message > > news:150520010624367952%sir54@earthlink.net… > >> I am a former police officer and combat veteran who has lived with PTSD > >> for 16+ years. > >> I have been in intensive treatment for about 18 months. > >> I have a part time job that gets me out of the house and gives me a > >> little self-esteem. > >> My boss is not at all understanding when I ask for time off for Dr. > >> appointments or when I need to get out of there and into a ’safe’ > >> enviroment (home). He attempts to belittle me and trivialize the > >> severity of my disorder. > >> Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this? > >> I am seriously considering giving his superior a copy of the Americans > >> with Disabilities Act and screaming non-accomodation. Is there any > >> other solution?
Response:
Yes, big time! My employer has no accommodation plans in place. I get LTD but that is not enough for me to meet my support payment obligations. So in order for my family to be taken care of I must return to work. What I found sickening in all this is that when I showed up at numerous calls for distress that no-one else wanted to do, I was everybody’s hero, no one wanted to do my job. But once I let my emotions get out, everyone wants to question my sanity, not when I was dealing with sites that would have repulsed any of the "good people"! To the rest of the group sorry if I am a bit of a lurker. Richard <si…@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:150520010624367952%sir54@earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am a former police officer and combat veteran who has lived with PTSD > for 16+ years. > I have been in intensive treatment for about 18 months. > I have a part time job that gets me out of the house and gives me a > little self-esteem. > My boss is not at all understanding when I ask for time off for Dr. > appointments or when I need to get out of there and into a ’safe’ > enviroment (home). He attempts to belittle me and trivialize the > severity of my disorder. > Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this? > I am seriously considering giving his superior a copy of the Americans > with Disabilities Act and screaming non-accomodation. Is there any > other solution?
Response:
Richard wrote: > Yes, big time! > My employer has no accommodation plans in place. I get LTD but that is not > enough for me to meet my support payment obligations. > So in order for my family to be taken care of I must return to work.
Have you sought out modifying the support order. Support orders are generally based on the financial situation of the parent, and can be modified if you petition the court. Most of the states that I’ve looked at have a formula to calculate the amount of support per month. Understandably, you want to provide for your children, however, the short term aim will be short term if this cost you emotionally and are unable to work at all. Check out the "state laws" that apply to you. http://guide.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/
Response:
I know this isn’t quite the same but when I was working a retail job at a pharmacy everyone was required to take a yearly polygraph. Well I went the first time to take it and it was horrible. Being in law enforcement I’m sure you’re familiar with them, but being bound up tightly, especially around my chest, alone in a windowless room with a strange man, (and the guy that did me was just retired from the State Bureau of Investigations) and grilled for almost two hours because I was so stressed I was constantly hyperventilating, just about did me in. He said I wasn’t lying but because I was so stressed he said I’d crack under pressure. Luckily my boss/pharmacist knew I’d only crack under pressure if I was locked in a room with a strange man and tied to a machine , so he hired me anyway. But the part I’m getting to is the next year when my polygraph came due again I told my boss I couldn’t do it again, especially knowing now what it was like because I’d already done it once. Boss said I had to do it, the company demanded them of everyone. Well I got my psychologist to write the company a really good letter. He said things in it like he couldn’t say that being put through this again wouldn’t cause me to have a complete breakdown, that he felt this would be so harmful to me as to cause a complete decomposition, etc., etc., etc., strong enough wording that the company was really afraid to put me through it again, afraid of legal action, things like that, so I became the only one who didn’t have to do the polygraph. Maybe your doctor/therapist could write some kind of a letter covering your condition?? Usually when there is something on record they are afraid to push things because of legal recourse by you against them?? Just an idea for you. tiny dancer <si…@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:150520010624367952%sir54@earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am a former police officer and combat veteran who has lived with PTSD > for 16+ years. > I have been in intensive treatment for about 18 months. > I have a part time job that gets me out of the house and gives me a > little self-esteem. > My boss is not at all understanding when I ask for time off for Dr. > appointments or when I need to get out of there and into a ’safe’ > enviroment (home). He attempts to belittle me and trivialize the > severity of my disorder. > Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this? > I am seriously considering giving his superior a copy of the Americans > with Disabilities Act and screaming non-accomodation. Is there any > other solution?
Response:
I am a former police officer and combat veteran who has lived with PTSD for 16+ years. I have been in intensive treatment for about 18 months. I have a part time job that gets me out of the house and gives me a little self-esteem. My boss is not at all understanding when I ask for time off for Dr. appointments or when I need to get out of there and into a ’safe’ enviroment (home). He attempts to belittle me and trivialize the severity of my disorder. Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this? I am seriously considering giving his superior a copy of the Americans with Disabilities Act and screaming non-accomodation. Is there any other solution?
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -si…@earthlink.net wrote: > I am a former police officer and combat veteran who has lived with PTSD > for 16+ years. > I have been in intensive treatment for about 18 months. > I have a part time job that gets me out of the house and gives me a > little self-esteem. > My boss is not at all understanding when I ask for time off for Dr. > appointments or when I need to get out of there and into a ’safe’ > enviroment (home). He attempts to belittle me and trivialize the > severity of my disorder. > Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this? > I am seriously considering giving his superior a copy of the Americans > with Disabilities Act and screaming non-accomodation. Is there any > other solution?
Sir, So sorry to hear that. I find it’s much easier to be of help to people when they can be specific about a situation. Overall, I find the best approach is to be direct. Perhaps if you wrote to us with what you would like to say when he makes his comments, we might help finesse it into something you can use before you go to the more extreme and threatening response. I find that most times, the lack of support isn’t intentional at all. Until I let someone know that something they are saying or doing has consequences for me, they will continue to do it. I think it’s also much easier to break any problem down into smaller increments. So to look at this situation, the first problem is what to do the next time it happens, and then what to do if the person refuses to desist?
Response:
Boy, did I ever come across the same thing. In fact it destroyed my fight to get back my life at a time when I had a chance to beat this and I lost my career in the armed forces because of it. When I got posted to a new job after my tour in Bosnia my supervisor found out that I was suffering from depression (he didn’t have a clue what PTSD was) and all he would say was that "someone like that shouldn’t be in the armed forces". It was complete and utter ignorance of the condition and he started to provoke and harass me. He gave me false evaluations that were the first steps in putting me on probation that would eventually lead to my release. I spent six weeks in hospital because of him and when I got out the army made me go back to work for him. I wasn’t back two weeks when he tried to give me a recorded warning (another step to release) for reasons that would have absolutely no basis in truth. He also complained about my medical appointments which totalled no more than 2 hours a week at most. It was unbelievable. I got moved to another office after that where I had great supervisors who, as I wanted, treated me no differently than anyone else. I put in a harrassment complaint against the supervisor and it was accepted. Nothing happened to the supervisor except extra "sensitivity training" and the damage was done. I stopped working soon afterwards because the symptoms had become so severe. What this supervisor did is called ’secondary wounding’ and can be as bad as the original trauma. Your boss needs to know this – that what he is doing is no different than twisting your arm after you’ve had major reconstructive surgery on the bones and soft tissue. Imagining how much pain that would cause is no different for PTSD. Unfortunately, from my experience, it’s extremely difficult to change people like that – they’re no different than an abusive spouse. Like Judge Judy says "you’ll never change them in a million years". Your first step is to educate him in an attempt to see if he can understand just what he is doing. I did the same thing but the abuse continued. If he fails to understand what he is doing then going after him with an accomodation complaint is a good idea but he needs to know ahead of time everything there is to know about your condition and the effects it is having on you. If not then he can claim he didn’t know and how "sorry" he is. There are some links in the FAQ where you can print off a great deal of information about PTSD and secondary wounding. I believe the link to the site on Bullying is there as well and that would fit the situation very well. Presenting him with this information and making him understand that he is making your condition worse is the best way to start – once he knows then any further action is his responsibility. Educating his supervisors the same way may go a long way to helping you and help them deal with the situation should you decide to go up the chain of command. The other option is to look for another job. You have to weigh the benefits you get from working against the threat of having what strides you have made destroyed by one person’s ignorance. Perhaps your supervisors’ boss can relocate you to work for someone else. I can’t think of anything else off hand. The point of the whole thing is just don’t put up with it – your health is the most important thing. .. View the AST-PTSD FAQ @ http://astpfaq.tripod.com/astpfaq/ <si…@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:150520010624367952%sir54@earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am a former police officer and combat veteran who has lived with PTSD > for 16+ years. > I have been in intensive treatment for about 18 months. > I have a part time job that gets me out of the house and gives me a > little self-esteem. > My boss is not at all understanding when I ask for time off for Dr. > appointments or when I need to get out of there and into a ’safe’ > enviroment (home). He attempts to belittle me and trivialize the > severity of my disorder. > Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this? > I am seriously considering giving his superior a copy of the Americans > with Disabilities Act and screaming non-accomodation. Is there any > other solution
Response:
Hi, guys. I’ve been mostly lurking here for about six months. My PTSD comes from an elevator crash I was involved in a few years ago. I really need some advice about maybe returning to work. I lost my job about a year and a half after the accident, in part because of the economy, and in part because one of the powers that be at my old job decided that I was "not reliable" because I took time for physical therapy, and was physically sick alot (Chronic bronchitis and pneumonia, which I didn’t have before the accident. I think my body just decided that I couldn’t deal with the high stress levels at work, and got sick to save me from an intolerable situation. But I’m no doctor, so who knows?) This is despite the fact that, sick or not, I worked more hours than anybody else there. I also have alot of hard feelings for the way the people at work reacted to the accident, which happened in the building I worked in, but that’s a whole long other story. I’ve been self employed and struggling ever since, and I am getting to the point where the financial situation is getting intolerable. So intellectually I recognize that the time is coming where I need to go back out & get another job. But I am terrified. I am petrified that I will not be able to handle the stress, that I will not be able to control my temper, or that I will flash in front of people or have a panic attack, and wind up getting fired or viewed as a nutcase. (Which is how most of my so-called friends and former colleagues now seem to view me. I have never been so talked down to in my life! They treat me like a child.) I don’t trust anybody anymore, not even myself since I can’t seem to control my own reactions. I am jumpy and irritable, and it seems like I start off at a higher level of agitation than the average person & it takes no time at all for me to just lose it. Not a pretty picture. I don’t even know if I can get thru a job interview, much less a job. But I feel like a worthless leech for cowering here at home while my husband struggles to keep us afloat. My flashbacks seem to be triggered mostly by noise, but if I talk about details of the accident, I set myself off. Sometimes just the word "noise" is enough to get me going because I will hear it all over again. (Shaking myself, or literally running out of the room sometimes distracts me from a full blown flashback, but how well do you think that’d go over at a job?) The most severe one lately happened in a cab on the 59th Street bridge, because of noise. I flipped out in the back of the cab. If I had been driving, I think I would have driven off the bridge. So I am petrified about not being in control, about driving to work, about riding elevators, and about other people figuring it out. I pretty much do not sleep. Which I am sure does wonders for my disposition. I have no energy at all. When I do sleep, I dream stuff I’d rather not dream. Most of my life (if you can call it that now) I spend hiding out at home with my dogs, who make me feel safe. I don’t even do anything "fun" anymore. Just sit around waiting to fall again. And mourning for the life I used to have. Have any of you guys managed to find a way to hold down a job and appear "normal"? A high stress job? I am flirting with the idea of chucking my old career in favor of something much less stressful, but everybody (including my therapist) is trying to convince me that it would be a huge waste of talent, and that I can find a way to go back. I have spent the last several years trying to talk myself into it, but I haven’t succeeded yet. I wish I had the financial luxury to not go back to work, but I think that my time is running out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Chele.
Response:
Chele, Is your therapist a psychiatrist? If you are currently in an emotional place where you feel unable to work, you would be eligible for SSDI: Social Security Disability Insurance. The fact that you tried to work after your accident and suffered severe anxiety shows that definately something is awry. The pressure of having to go to work again is not helpful to the burden of stress you are already barely coping with. If you must go to work now, I would certainly suggest a quiet, low-stress job. Absolutely. Once you can manage that, then perhaps move back into your field. You have to do what is right for you. However, my suggestion is medical evaluation and a claim into SSDI. They WILL turn you down at least 3 times, so you must not become discouraged, but keep at it until you are granted an audience with an administrative law judge. You will need an atty at this time, who whill recieve a fixed percentage (by law) of your retroactive disability. Good Luck Linda
Response:
Wallpaper responded to Chele, <<I think it’s part of the story. If we have alot of pent up anger or such inside it is important to get it out. My therapist and Psychiatrist both ask me all the time if I’m getting any exercise. Exercise gets the body to produce more natural endorphins (Def.=Any of a group of peptide hormones that bind to opiate receptors and are found mainly in the brain.Endorphins reduce the sensation of pain and affect emotions.), the shortage of which leads to depression etc. A lot of the medication we take induces endorphine production and that’s a lay person’s babble for why they some of the meds are "anti-depressants". Go workout or exert in anyway you can – break into a *natural* sweat, it’ll do you good!>> Here’s something else that exercise does that’s particularly important for us here. It helps get rid of the adrenalin in our bodies. When I worked as a critical-care nurse I learned to go for a good hard run or walk or bike or anything as soon as possible within 24 hours of an adrenalin surge kind of crisis. The stress we feel when triggered is an adrenalin surge. The excess adrenalin sitting around in our bodies isn’t good for us. Exercise helps flush it out. Since my trauma, and immobilized with depression, I found it next to impossible to win that daily argument in my head, though, about how I SHOULD go for a walk. On a whim, I found a dog at the shelter thinking that would help me get off my butt. You know what? It worked!! Now I go for walks almost everyday. And I even enjoy them now! I’m not alone. I’m distracted from my ruminations by the cute things my canine buddy does. I meet other people walking their dogs. I walk longer than I would alone because she is just having so darn much fun chasing the entire squirrel population. I actually catch myself smiling pretty often! And, when I’m not walking with her, I have an adoring companion who lives to be with me. My therapist calls her "fur therapy." (Part of what originally gave me this idea was that the neighbor’s dog would often come over looking for a treat and somebody to go for a walk with him. Those were the days that I did get out for a walk. And I DO feel better! Just my 2 cents…. All the best to you. And be gentle with yourself! Jan
Response:
>Since my trauma, and immobilized with depression, I found it >next to impossible to win that daily argument in my head, though, >about how I SHOULD go for a walk. On a whim, I found a dog at the >shelter thinking that would help me get off my butt.
What a wonderful wonderful idea Jan, Thank you for sharing it! I was in my Psychiatrist the other day asking why I won’t get off my butt when i know for a fact it makes a huge difference. When I worked out with a trainer a few times per week, and walked briskly on the others I was feeling better then what 150mg of Zoloft can do! I have just started walking again and am hoping the weight training will motivate me soon. For all of you who have not tried exercising (I know leaving the house is the first step), it truly is amazing the benefit it can bring. I keep telling myself "years could possibly be saved". I hope the dog population in the pounds decrease as a result of jans suggestion. Good luck!
Response:
>Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Working with strong PTSD symptoms is tough. I was able to work in a low-stress job but even that was very difficult some days. As I began connecting the triggers to the original events, the PTSD sypmtoms eased up and I was capable of handling a more demanding job. Perhaps you could start off easy and work your way back into your preferred work? I wish you well. "I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name; it feels good to be out of the rain!" Desert Hooves~~
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.