Trauma – PTSD

Question:

hi all, i have been diagnosted by the VA as having PTSD. they have me in a group with others. i am now in relaxation therpy. breath, relax mind and muscles. how in the hell is this gonna help me with my PTSD problem?? i have bad dreams, nite sweats, and flashbacks. i can`t remember the last time that i had a good nites sleep. i`m always on guard duty, reguardless of where i`m at. i cannot relax. i carry a gun everywhere i go so i`ll feel protected. at the VA they say this sort of treatment is gonna make me feel better and get a good nites sleep. Who they trying to shit. it seems like thing are getting worst than better. after a visit to the VA`s ptsd clinic, i feel like shit and can`t sleep more than an hour a day, for the next few days. my mind feels drained and takes a few days to get over and back to my 4 hours of sleep a day. my question is: is this the way to cure PTSD?? i have been going to the VA for about 6 months. i didn`t know others had the same problem as i do , untill a nam buddy was telling me that the VA might help me out. i feel that i`m backing up, not going foward. they say you gotta get worst befor you can get better. i think its bullshit. do any of you have any thoughts on this? thanks david

Response:

I’m not sure that the breathe, breathe thing is such a good one for PTSD—(chronic)…I know with myself ANY treatments I undertake, I usually get worse, and then slightly better….Take one step forward, and 2-3 back. It’s a long and painful process, to deal with PTSD, with or without treatment.  I have times of being better and worse, having treatments, or not having treatment.  —- I just don’ t know what course to take..! I’m in a similiar situation now…I’ve tried all kinds of therapies, some helps alittle some helps none…All of them make me worse in the beginning..and nothing lasts…All’s I can say is hang in there! PTSD is as much about balancing as anything else—In ALL aspects of life… Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful….Be I do hear ya! :/ scho…@negia.net Peace Scholar aka Tracy Mel97802 wrote in message

<19990607171211.15306.00001…@ng-cq1.aol.com>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->hi all, i have been diagnosted by the VA as having PTSD. they have me in a >group with others. i am now in relaxation therpy. breath, relax mind and >muscles. how in the hell is this gonna help me with my PTSD problem?? i have >bad dreams, nite sweats, and flashbacks. i can`t remember the last time that i >had a good nites sleep. i`m always on guard duty, reguardless of where i`m at. >i cannot relax. i carry a gun everywhere i go so i`ll feel protected. at the VA >they say this sort of treatment is gonna make me feel better and get a good >nites sleep. Who they trying to shit. it seems like thing are getting worst >than better. after a visit to the VA`s ptsd clinic, i feel like shit and can`t >sleep more than an hour a day, for the next few days. my mind feels drained and >takes a few days to get over and back to my 4 hours of sleep a day. my question >is: is this the way to cure PTSD?? >i have been going to the VA for about 6 months. i didn`t know others had the >same problem as i do , untill a nam buddy was telling me that the VA might help >me out. i feel that i`m backing up, not going foward. they say you gotta get >worst befor you can get better. i think its bullshit. do any of you have any >thoughts on this? >thanks >david

Response:

I also enjoy combat PTSD which was just a minor problem until March this year when it exploded out of control into a really nasty problem.  Got to the VA but they are slower than my mental processes now.  They agreed It’s PTSD, have gotten me into one on one therapy which is just starting – will have to relive memories to purge them or learn to live with them and am not exactly thrilled by the prospect – They tell me I also have serioius depression and I don’t know where it’s going and don’t know if they know but they do have a lot of experience.  They have 1100 vets in their Trauma Recovery Program here in Houston.  I just hope the VA has it’s act together and isn’t just a collection of people who can’t make it on the outside – I wasn’t sleeping but have been getting different drugs for months now and run from 2 hrs to 6 hrs most nights so that’s a big improvement – try to get meds to help stabilize you – there are a lot of drugs, some of which might possibly help  They aren’t addressing my major panic/anxiety problems yet. All I know is that there is no magic bullet cure – but they should be able to help eventually Marvin

Response:

thanks for the replys.  my time at the VA (Gainsville, Fl)  is slower than half dead snails. i started in a "support group" then got sent to the relaxation program,(i musta got promoted after 7 weeks) that is to last 6 weeks. i`m going along with the program even though i don`t have any faith in it, but i`m willing to start where they say, so maybe i`ll get help somewhere alone the line, in another program, but i don`t know where to start so i started there. next week i will be seeing their syco drs. to figure out how fucked up i am. i don`t know so maybe they can figure me out.   i entered the PTSD program thru the VA hospital emergancy room. the drs. there put me on doxapin, and told me they`d set me up for the PCT clinic. the process so far has taken  5 months, and i seem worst today than the day i entered the program. i almost hate going to the meetings, because i don`t feel that i`m getting any better, but i can hope. david

Response:

Hi David! Welcome home! > my question > is: is this the way to cure PTSD??

Actually, I’m not sure that you can cure your PTSD.  But … you can reduce your symptoms, lead a ‘better’ life, when you ‘walk through the pain’ and out the other side using the techniques you mentioned. When we have PTSD symptoms like no sleeping, I believe that my body is trying to tell me to ‘find another way’.  I certainly couldn’t ‘find another way’ on my own.  The stuff that the VA is trying to teach you is ‘another way’ which has worked for many of us. As my therapist keeps saying to me: just go with the process. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy

Response:

There are a lot of other drugs out there – if you’ve only had Doxepin, try to get them to give you something else – one thing the VA seems to do is pass out pills like candy at Halloween – they started me on Trazodone, then tried Doxepin but it did nothing – then I got on Serzone privately and it seems to help a little – marginally – also tried it in combination with Ambien, Remron, and Seroquel which now seems to at least get me 4-5 hours sleep in fits and starts – Doesn’t seem like it’s getting any easier to work however and I sure hope the VA starts to pull some rabbits out of the hat – but as you say, we can hope – there’s nothing else left Marvin    i entered the PTSD program thru – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> the VA hospital emergancy room. the drs. there put me on doxapin, and told me > they`d set me up for the PCT clinic. the process so far has taken  5 months, > and i seem worst today than the day i entered the program. i almost hate going > to the meetings, because i don`t feel that i`m getting any better, but i can > hope. > david

Response:

Hi Dana The major benefit I think I get from the Seroquel is a little sleep.  The Serzone was pretty effective in reducing flashbacks and involuntary memories – I think.  However they just decided I was OK to start therapy and I went right off and flashed back in therapy so the doc backed off but after leaving his office I started to flash back again repeatedly while driving in big city traffic.  not good but I got where I was going rattled but OK.  I’m not sure what the meds are doing anymore.  Hope your PTSD is cooling off Marvin – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi Marvin, > Seroquel is also a med in my ‘med cocktail’ for my PTSD (200mgs daily > along with Zoloft and lithium). I’ve been having good results with it > thus far (lessening of flashbacks and intensity of flashbacks, lessening > of paranoia, easier to sleep, etc.). I was wondering if it is helping > you in these ways as well or if maybe, just maybe, my PTSD might be > abating after 8 years (I can hope!). > Take Care, > Dana

Response:

David, did they give you an explanation of the brain chemistry of PTSD.  I’m asking, because it helped me feel in control now I understand why I cant remember and cant relax.  Anything that lowers stress, adrenaline,cortisol helps. For over a year, I have been taking Serzone, and now I’m trying St Johns Wort as well, because it lowers cortisol in some people.  I think it helps a bit. The Serzone definitely made me feel less angry.  A Beta Blocker might help instead of Serzone because it lowers adrenaline.  Relaxation helps but not if you are too stressed to do the relaxation exercises.  I am also getting a lot of help from cognitive therapy and I have also taken some action against the people I was angry about. In a year, the whole situation has changed for the better.  I dont walk around angry any more, I don’t feel so spaced out.  I am starting to be ableto recall day to day memories.   Obviously, if you can’t remember anything, you feel more stressed because you cant control your life. Keep trying.  I got no help for 25 years, but now I am improving. estelle.

Response:

ps from Estelle I dont believe you gotta get worse before you get better.  If you are getting worse, read up on PTSD and therapy and find another therapist.

Response:

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