Question:
Hi John! > The doctor seems to think that I am over reacting to the danger. I’m just > not sure.
One of the enduring things I’ve been taught in therapy is to ‘trust my gut’. So what if you are over-reacting? That’s ‘normal’ with PTSD. Who’s paying for this doctor? It surely sounds close to medical abuse if the doctor is telling you what to feel. If I’m over-reacting to your statement, I apologize in advance. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
Nancy I guess that I may have not phrased the statement correctly. He said that very few people are killed in my occupation and far more are killed driving. I am not afraid to drive and he left me to my own conclusion. I told him that five people were killed last year in their refinery in California, but he said that that wasn’t where I work. BTW the company is paying for the doc and I am aware of that. BTW the company is paying for the doc and I am aware of that. My therapist seems to think that I am justified in being scared. I have started to accept that it is okay to be scared. I have been working on that for the past month or two. I am going to school and learning a new job. I am really starting to feel okay that I am scared. The problem has been with believing in it. After the accident I worked on coping with the anxiety and the flashbacks and the anger and hoped they would go away. I learned after a while they wouldn’t go away. The problem was that I couldn’t catch up. I tried to deal with it, and keep running outside of your "comfort zone" as I was taught in the military. I started going to school, working and trying to get things done at home. To compound things, people started taking more shortcuts at work. This made me feel more and more insecure, because if they blow themselves up they could take me along too. I rode out of there in an ambulance once and choose not to do it again. I guess just accepting that I am scared is okay. My co-workers don’t understand, but I wouldn’t have before I got hurt. I just wish I had recognized what was going on before I got so LOW. I am doing much better now, I am sleeping, I can feel things again, I even sat out in the yard and watched some birds today, I layed in bed and watched my wife sleep this morning. A few months ago the only way out of this was to kill myself. It is strange how distorted my thinking got. Some meds, rest and therapy. Keep it simple. Thanks for being concerned, John Nancy <ki…@cris.com> wrote in message
news:8j2qge$ps5@journal.concentric.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi John! > > The doctor seems to think that I am over reacting to the danger. I’m just > > not sure. > One of the enduring things I’ve been taught in therapy is to ‘trust my gut’. > So what if you are over-reacting? That’s ‘normal’ with PTSD. Who’s paying > for this doctor? It surely sounds close to medical abuse if the doctor is > telling you what to feel. > If I’m over-reacting to your statement, I apologize in advance. > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy
Response:
> I >am really starting to feel okay that I am scared. The problem has been with >believing in it. After the accident I worked on coping with the anxiety and >the flashbacks and the anger and hoped they would go away. I learned after >a while they wouldn’t go away. The problem was that I couldn’t catch up. I >tried to deal with it, and keep running outside of your "comfort zone" as I >was taught in the military
Boy, John – I can sure relate to this. When my PTSD symptoms first kicked in full blast, I can remember trying to hold down a job and deal with the symptoms at the same time. It was like having TWO full-time jobs!! I could only sleep two hours a night before meds and was constantly in startle-response mode. What a nightmare! I just wanted you to know that I understand where you are at! Best, Luanne
Response:
Why go back to this job? How do you really feel about working for a company that thinks so little of you they let you risk your safety. I dont know where you live, but in the UK we have a Health and Safety Inspectorate, and an anonymous call to them might save you or someone else from an accident. estelle
Response:
Estelle, I am in the US and we have something called OSHA ( Ocuupational Safety and Health Act) it doesn’t have real teeth here. I have been getting lots of therapy and I have come to accept that this isn’t the job for me. I am looking for a new one in a new field. I have been going to school at night and I am about finished. I have been so brainwashed for years that you should get back on the horse that threw you. I don’t know if that is just an american term. I just finally realized that maybe the horse threw me for a good reason. The only thing I can do is hope that I am making the best decision I can. They say that people working in dangerous jobs have to have to deny that it is dangerous to cope. My denial has been exposed and choose not to go back. Just as a snake sheds it’s skin, we must shed our past over and over again. John EddaB <ed…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000706185505.04652.00001450@ng-ba1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Why go back to this job? How do you really feel about working for a company > that thinks so little of you they let you risk your safety. > I dont know where you live, but in the UK we have a Health and Safety > Inspectorate, and an anonymous call to them might save you or someone else from > an accident. > estelle
Response:
Thanks Cary cary charles <c…@cary.spamless.ezesurf.co.uk> wrote in message
news:8ithef$ti5$1@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi John, > I am a lurker mainly in this group, but I read your message and was very > moved as a fellow sufferer. > I would like to answer your question for you, but PTSD has been with me > since youth and really the option of going back has never been feasible so > far for me. > I hope that when you do, that you can remember to be understanding to > yourself and just try to take it one step at a time so that it does not > overwhelm you. Others may disagree, having learned from experience which I > have not had yet, but live in hope of. > Bottom line, I just felt for you and wanted to wish you luck, pat you on the > back for even contemplating it. Too often such moves are taken for granted > by others. I understand how huge it might be for you, and really hope it > works out well whenever the time is right. > all the best to you, John, I really hope it all works out well. > BFN, > Cary 
> — > Cary, > c…@charlesc.spamless.freeserve.co.uk (remove spamless. to mail me) > Personal Website at http://www.charlesc.freeserve.co.uk/ > Eurythmics’ 57 Winters Website at > http://www.charlesc.freeserve.co.uk/57/index.html > JohnN wrote in message … > |I was involved in an industrial accident three years ago. I was hurt and > |with a few months of physical therapy I was ready physically to return to > |work. It is a potentially dangerous place to work. My co-workers work > |recklessly, and the company preaches safety but doesn’t really want the > safe > |way of doing things if a reckless way will get things done faster. My > |therapist says that people who work in dangerous occupations have to have a > |certain amount of denial to cope with the danger. I have had my previous > |image of what a man is destroyed, by this event. I thought that there was > |something wrong with me because I was scared. I was in the military and > |came from a family of John Wayne types. > |I have been out of work for about a month, my company has been good about > |getting me Psychiatric help and a therapist. I have been taking Zoloft for > |about a month and I seem to be on a roller coaster(Happy one minute, > |depressed the next). My depression was so bad in the beginning I wanted to > |kill myself to avoid the pain(emotional and physical). I still have > |physical pain from the accident and I have gone to a Pain Management > center. > |The doctor also said that there is a correlation between the physical pain > |and the depression. > | > |Can anyone share their experience for returning to the atmosphere that > |triggers them? I want to return to work but I am afraid. I am also afraid > |that if I rush back too quickly and can’t handle it I will be even more > |depressed. > | > |John > | > |
Response:
Hi JohnN! I’m sorry that you qualify for this group. I, for one, have been unable to return to my previous work … as much as I’ve tried. I had to find a new type of work which suited me in my current circumstances. YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
The message <Byo45.13393$Uw3.866…@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net> from "JohnN" <n…@none.com> contains these words: > Can anyone share their experience for returning to the atmosphere that > triggers them? I want to return to work but I am afraid. I am also afraid > that if I rush back too quickly and can’t handle it I will be even more > depressed.
Hi John What do your doctor/therapist advise? My understanding is that confronting such fears needs great care and support, or you will make things worse. Is it possible to find another job in a safer environment? The fear you have is absolutely normal. Would you feel safer in a different work environment or has the fear become associated with all workplaces? All these things are important factors in finding the best way forward, which is why it is difficult for an outsider to advise. I think you also have to think long term. You might want to get back to work asap, but in the longer term it may be wiser not to. I really would recommend you discuss it with your doctor/therapist. (Make sure first, if you haven’t already, that they understand traumatic stress – some don’t!) Your fear is a normal response to your experiences and I doubt it will be helped by working in an unsafe environment. best wishes Pauline
Response:
Pauline, I am trying to learn a new trade. One that would put me in a new work environment. I’m just not sure that if I leave, being afraid to go back, it would hurt me in the long run. My Psychiatrist said that if I am still afraid then I am not ready to return yet. I originally went back after the accident without being ready to return and I was terrified at work for the past few years. This may have harmed me. He says that realistically that I have a much higher risk of being in a car wreck than being in another accident at work. I would get flashbacks to the accident. I would get the feeling of falling and see myself falling and get the taste of blood in my mouth. It has decreased greatly since I have been taken out of the environment, gotten drugs and therapy. The doctor seems to think that I am over reacting to the danger. I’m just not sure. If I recognize that I am scared and I choose not to work in the environment then I am okay. If I am imagining that it is hazardous and over reacting and creating a problem then the is a problem. I just question my own judgement. It is difficult to talk to my co-workers because the therapist told me that people who work in dangerous jobs deny that it is dangerous as a coping method, so I question their judgement. John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi John > What do your doctor/therapist advise? > My understanding is that confronting such fears needs great care and > support, or you will make things worse. > Is it possible to find another job in a safer environment? The fear > you have is absolutely normal. Would you feel safer in a different > work environment or has the fear become associated with all > workplaces? All these things are important factors in finding the > best way forward, which is why it is difficult for an outsider to advise. > I think you also have to think long term. You might want to get back > to work asap, but in the longer term it may be wiser not to. > I really would recommend you discuss it with your doctor/therapist. > (Make sure first, if you haven’t already, that they understand > traumatic stress – some don’t!) Your fear is a normal response to > your experiences and I doubt it will be helped by working in an > unsafe environment. > best wishes > Pauline
Response:
Nancy, I did go back and I don’t know if it did me more harm than good. Being terrified at work for a few years took its toll. They have been telling me that it’s okay to be scared, and I’m finally starting to accept it. My judgement just got so distorted during this whole episode, that I just don’t trust myself anymore. At the time I was getting severe flashbacks and I would feel like I was falling and get the taste of blood in my mouth. I wanted to kill myself. I realize now that denying that there was a problem was the wrong thing to do. I am feeling much better now. Now I understand a little better what was happening to me then. I am trying to live for now. Thanks, for letting me vent! John Nancy <ki…@cris.com> wrote in message
news:8ivj63$a1@chronicle.concentric.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi JohnN! > I’m sorry that you qualify for this group. > I, for one, have been unable to return to my previous work … as much as > I’ve tried. > I had to find a new type of work which suited me in my current > circumstances. > YMMV > Smile and there will be something to smile about! > Nancy
Response:
I was involved in an industrial accident three years ago. I was hurt and with a few months of physical therapy I was ready physically to return to work. It is a potentially dangerous place to work. My co-workers work recklessly, and the company preaches safety but doesn’t really want the safe way of doing things if a reckless way will get things done faster. My therapist says that people who work in dangerous occupations have to have a certain amount of denial to cope with the danger. I have had my previous image of what a man is destroyed, by this event. I thought that there was something wrong with me because I was scared. I was in the military and came from a family of John Wayne types. I have been out of work for about a month, my company has been good about getting me Psychiatric help and a therapist. I have been taking Zoloft for about a month and I seem to be on a roller coaster(Happy one minute, depressed the next). My depression was so bad in the beginning I wanted to kill myself to avoid the pain(emotional and physical). I still have physical pain from the accident and I have gone to a Pain Management center. The doctor also said that there is a correlation between the physical pain and the depression. Can anyone share their experience for returning to the atmosphere that triggers them? I want to return to work but I am afraid. I am also afraid that if I rush back too quickly and can’t handle it I will be even more depressed. John
Response:
Hi John, I am a lurker mainly in this group, but I read your message and was very moved as a fellow sufferer. I would like to answer your question for you, but PTSD has been with me since youth and really the option of going back has never been feasible so far for me. I hope that when you do, that you can remember to be understanding to yourself and just try to take it one step at a time so that it does not overwhelm you. Others may disagree, having learned from experience which I have not had yet, but live in hope of. Bottom line, I just felt for you and wanted to wish you luck, pat you on the back for even contemplating it. Too often such moves are taken for granted by others. I understand how huge it might be for you, and really hope it works out well whenever the time is right. all the best to you, John, I really hope it all works out well. BFN, Cary — Cary, c…@charlesc.spamless.freeserve.co.uk (remove spamless. to mail me) Personal Website at http://www.charlesc.freeserve.co.uk/ Eurythmics’ 57 Winters Website at http://www.charlesc.freeserve.co.uk/57/index.html JohnN wrote in message …
|I was involved in an industrial accident three years ago. I was hurt and |with a few months of physical therapy I was ready physically to return to |work. It is a potentially dangerous place to work. My co-workers work |recklessly, and the company preaches safety but doesn’t really want the safe |way of doing things if a reckless way will get things done faster. My |therapist says that people who work in dangerous occupations have to have a |certain amount of denial to cope with the danger. I have had my previous |image of what a man is destroyed, by this event. I thought that there was |something wrong with me because I was scared. I was in the military and |came from a family of John Wayne types. |I have been out of work for about a month, my company has been good about |getting me Psychiatric help and a therapist. I have been taking Zoloft for |about a month and I seem to be on a roller coaster(Happy one minute, |depressed the next). My depression was so bad in the beginning I wanted to |kill myself to avoid the pain(emotional and physical). I still have |physical pain from the accident and I have gone to a Pain Management center. |The doctor also said that there is a correlation between the physical pain |and the depression. | |Can anyone share their experience for returning to the atmosphere that |triggers them? I want to return to work but I am afraid. I am also afraid |that if I rush back too quickly and can’t handle it I will be even more |depressed. | |John | |
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