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Astralynn, > I’m just not so sure how my family is going >to handle it. They aren’t like me and they all depend on me so much, that I >am concerned that my getting worse before I get better will have an enormous >impact on them.
In the long run, it could be beneficial to them. They will learn to be more self-sufficient. Not an easy way to get there, but it is a valuable skill to have in life. Risa She doesn’t have the art of conversation but unfortunately she retained the power of speech.
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Luanne, How did the move go? Risa She doesn’t have the art of conversation but unfortunately she retained the power of speech.
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I’d just like to add that maybe your family would benefit from a therapy session, maybe after you have found and are comfortable with a therapist. Could give them support and ideas of how to best help you and really everyone involved. I have done this with my son on more than one occasion. It has also helped my therapist get a different view of how I am. Shannon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> I’m just not so sure how my family is going >>to handle it. They aren’t like me and they all depend on me so much, that I >>am concerned that my getting worse before I get better will have an enormous >>impact on them. >In the long run, it could be beneficial to them. They will learn to be more >self-sufficient. Not an easy way to get there, but it is a valuable skill to >have in life. >Risa
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>Luanne, >How did the move go
Hi Risa: I’m all settled now. A bunch of little things went wrong but you know what? It is so quiet, nice, and peaceful out here, I don’t care. My computer crashed, my printer broke in the move, my phone wasn’t hooked up for the first three days (phone company messed up), no TV for five days, no cell phone, plus – hubby and I did most of the stuff ourselves. I’m still getting settled but everyday is getting better and better. Our only regret is that we didn’t paint the inside first, but that will come later. Best, Luanne
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Lu, I’m so glad to hear that the kinks are all ironed out, ESPECIALLY the computer, but then you’re THE ONE when it comes to that =) I envy you being in a quiet place. The last state I lived in, we had a house that was like that. I miss it now, but we’re in a different stage of life so I cannot complain. Hope that your physical pain is decreasing along with the stress from moving! Hugs, Kristine
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>Hope that your physical pain is decreasing along with the stress from moving!
Nah….that arthritis in the neck is worse than anything. This gal is getting OLD! Best, Luanne
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Hi. After 23 years I’m finally going to start therapy for PTSD. I was doing fine on my own for a very long time. I made it through a decade of nightmares, a couple of bad times brought on by some pretty bad happenings, but I was doing pretty good. Then along comes 9/11 and suddenly things aren’t going very good at all. It took me a while to realize that I wasn’t getting out of this one by myself. I can’t sleep at night any more, only during daylight and I find I’m shutting everyone out. I don’t want to live like this, so I finally gave in and made an appointment to see somebody trained to deal with PTSD. Unfortunately, I have way too much time to dread this. I flatly refused to consider seeing a male therapist, so I have to wait to see a female one. This is supposed to be one of the very best places in the nation to get PTSD treatment. The thing is, I have no clue what to expect. How am I going to react/deal with everything that will come out that I have been repressing for 23 years. I just don’t know what to expect, and I am scared. I don’t want to do this, but I know I need to. I don’t want to upset anyone or cause anyone any problems, I would just like to know what kind of things to expect. Thanks, Astralynn
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Hi Astralynn! > Hi. After 23 years I’m finally going to start therapy for PTSD.
Congratulations on deciding to let someone else help you with PTSD. > I flatly refused to consider seeing a male therapist, so I have to > wait to see a female one.
I’ve done the same thing, with more than one professional, in my life. Actually, now my criteria is: if you are not a woman, you had better be a smoker … :) > This is supposed to be one of the very best > places in the nation to get PTSD treatment. The thing is, I have no clue > what to expect. How am I going to react/deal with everything that will come > out that I have been repressing for 23 years. I just don’t know what to > expect, and I am scared. I don’t want to do this, but I know I need to. I > don’t want to upset anyone or cause anyone any problems, I would just like > to know what kind of things to expect.
IME, you need to expect a supportive person who will lead you through the process. Therapists know more about us and our fears than we do. We just need to present our bodies and be truthful, as much as we can. If you are scared, tell her … she is responsible for the therapeutic relationship, not you. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
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Astralynn, I’m not sure what to say as I haven’t had the experience that you have had. I just wanted to send well wishes in your journey… 
Paula
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>Hi. After 23 years I’m finally going to start therapy for PTSD. I was >doing fine on my own for a very long time
Hi Astralynn; I started therapy in 1990. I was afraid to go, and have had a few therapists along th eway, but I found that therapy was the best thing that ever happened to me. So many things that I had kept buried and wanted to "pretend" never happened came out, and believe me, there are times(sessions) in therapy that you’ll go home feeling worse than when you went in, but in the long run, it will help. Just stick with the program If you feel comfortable with a woman therapist, then stay with that choice. Make certain it is someone you like, trust, and feel comfortable talking to. Within the first few sessions, you’ll "know". In the past few years, I have had the best therapists through the VA. As much as I complain about the VA, I will say, they do understand PTSD and have helped me a lot. At this time, I need to find someone in my area – the last therapist I had here was so far away and I didn’t feel I was making progress with her, so I am going to try and find one a bit closer to home. Good Luck finding someone and stick with it. It will be the BEST move you can make in your recovery from PTSD. Best, Luanne
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"LuanneMarie" <luannema…@aol.comstopjunk> wrote in message
news:20020109111101.08119.00000924@mb-fi.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >Hi. After 23 years I’m finally going to start therapy for PTSD. I was > >doing fine on my own for a very long time > Hi Astralynn; > I started therapy in 1990. I was afraid to go, and have had a few therapists > along th eway, but I found that therapy was the best thing that ever happened > to me. So many things that I had kept buried and wanted to "pretend" never > happened came out, and believe me, there are times(sessions) in therapy that > you’ll go home feeling worse than when you went in, but in the long run, it > will help. Just stick with the program > If you feel comfortable with a woman therapist, then stay with that choice. > Make certain it is someone you like, trust, and feel comfortable talking to. > Within the first few sessions, you’ll "know". In the past few years, I have > had the best therapists through the VA. As much as I complain about the VA, I > will say, they do understand PTSD and have helped me a lot. At this time, I > need to find someone in my area – the last therapist I had here was so far away > and I didn’t feel I was making progress with her, so I am going to try and find > one a bit closer to home. > Good Luck finding someone and stick with it. It will be the BEST move you can > make in your recovery from PTSD. > Best, > Luanne
Luanne, I guess I’m lucky to be able to use the VA then. From what I have heard, the VA where I am has the absolute best program for PTSD in the nation. From what I understand the VA will send some of the hardest cases here for treatment. Due to the nature of my trauma, a male therapist would be a disaster from the very start, so I insisted on a female therapist. I have warned my family that once treatment starts things could get a lot worse before they get better. The funny thing is that I’ve been so praised for so many years on how well I was doing without any therapy. I would laugh and think ‘if they only knew’. But when my trauma first occurred, there was no therapy for the aftereffects, people like me were expected to ‘get over it’ and go on with their lives. Even after a suicide attempt a year after the trauma, I was not able to get any therapy. I also had a severe clinical depression in 1990, and told the doctor about the trauma. He diagnosed PTSD, gave me antidepressants and when I got better that was it. No therapy for the PTSD. But then, I think he believed that I had made a good adjustment. Maybe I wasn’t ready, or maybe I was crying out for help then. I don’t know. I do know that now I will do the best I can to get over this, but I think, for better or worse, this is probably going to be something that I am going to have to live with for the rest of my life. It isn’t going to destroy me though. I’m a survivor and I’m a strong person, and I know I will get through this. I’m just not so sure how my family is going to handle it. They aren’t like me and they all depend on me so much, that I am concerned that my getting worse before I get better will have an enormous impact on them. They aren’t used to seeing me as anything but strong and in charge. When I think of the few times I’ve been reduced to a shaking, crying mess, I worry about them. — Take care and be well, Astralynn
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