Question:
Hi Cassie! > Has anyone found anything, no matter how odd or alternative that > helps? And yes, I have tried meds too. I just want to be able to > relax… > Please I will try anything at this point.
It always comes back to the SOS: meditation long, candlelit baths gardening going for a walk with nature listening to soothing music (such as BecVar and Dr. Jeffrey Thompson) having an indoor fountain gurgling all the time aromatherapy and/or incense tai chi chuan watching fish in a tank, patting your cat, etc. simplifying your life by getting rid of ‘things’ which you don’t need or use finding, listening to and trusting your own inner voice avoiding the newspaper, TV news and radio news no multi-tasking in your brain staying away from corrosive situations and people (including family members when necessary) This is all ’stuff’ / techniques which I have learned from the VA over the last 5 years. It sounds very basic, but each one of these has been very difficult for me to finally get in to my head. I tried one at a time … the one which seemed easiest at the time. Finally, I trained my body that it need only be hypervigilant about every 3 seconds, instead of every half second. 
YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
Well everyone’s pretty much covered all the suggestions I would have =) I’m not the ng drug pusher either, but taking Klonopin was a life saver for me. The anxiety has gone, and along with an SSRI, the depression has lifted. Now, other things help too: aromatherapy (in a bath, inhaler or massage)…lots of info on the web and VERY good for the soul nature: walking, breathing, "getting away from it all" I could go on, but others have listed alot of great helps. One big thing that I know for me is a critical step. Stop and FEEL your muscles and the state they are in on a regular basis. You may very well find your buttocks, shoulders, neck, legs or all groups of muscles are tight…tense…ready to defend. TRAIN yourself to do body checks and to relax those muscles. I am just now learning this, and I have suffered in pain for years being totally unaware of the damage I was doing with my physical hypervigilance. I hope you can help yourself avoid pain on this one! Best wishes, it does get better…Kristine
Response:
Hi all, I am a 25 year old female with PTSD (resulting from childhood sexual abuse.) I have tried EVERYTHING under the sun from therapy to hypnosis to massage to confrontation with my abuser, and I am out of ideas. After confrontation, my nightmares stopped. However, I find my real and chronic trouble is with hypervigilance and its delighful side affects: irritability, insomnia, exaggerated startle….you know the list. I am exhausted, but I can never rest. I have five jobs and I volunteer for everything. I figure if I have all this anxiety energy and awake time I may as well make use of it. But I am very tired and can never seem to JUST RELAX. I am deeply weary of racing through life with my muscles knotted up, my heart racing and jumping all over people for nothing at all. Even my military commander says I am "over-aggressive." Has anyone found anything, no matter how odd or alternative that helps? And yes, I have tried meds too. I just want to be able to relax… Please I will try anything at this point. Cass
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