Question:
hi.I was wondering if anyone knew of a good group in Wash.DC. I’m in twelve-step for alchohol but the trauma is what’s really the problem lately and I don’t feel comfortable talking about how I don’t want to drink, but I would really like to bleed.I havent cut in a long time – and I won’t because it’s not the answer – but I’m under alot of external stress as well as just starting to experience memories and I’m feeling overwhelmed by emotions that I don’t even know how to express. I do have a therp that I see every other week(no insurance) but I would really like to be able to talk with people who know what I’m talking about when alot of times the feelings are hard to put words to. Sorry to go on so long -there’s alot still stuck inside.
Response:
Nice to meet you – I am sorry that I can’t help you with group therapy – I don’t live in the US – you sound like you are having a rough time – the beauty of this group here is that there is always someone listening – if you are going to talk about anything upsetting or violent just put the words ‘trigger warning’ in the header that is so that someone who is a bit fragile don’t get inadvertently triggered by your story but don’t let that stop you from venting or anything like that – this is a free place and there is always someone listening — Cruelty has a human heart… And Jealousy a human face… Terror is the human form divine… and Secrecy the human dress. RScalvin <rscal…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010321235021.12930.00000239@ng-fv1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> hi.I was wondering if anyone knew of a good group in Wash.DC. I’m in > twelve-step for alchohol but the trauma is what’s really the problem lately and > I don’t feel comfortable talking about how I don’t want to drink, but I would > really like to bleed.I havent cut in a long time – and I won’t because it’s not > the answer – but I’m under alot of external stress as well as just starting to > experience memories and I’m feeling overwhelmed by emotions that I don’t even > know how to express. I do have a therp that I see every other week(no > insurance) but I would really like to be able to talk with people who know what > I’m talking about when alot of times the feelings are hard to put words to. > Sorry to go on so long -there’s alot still stuck inside.
Response:
RScalvin wrote: > hi.I was wondering if anyone knew of a good group in Wash.DC. I’m in > twelve-step for alchohol but the trauma is what’s really the problem lately and > I don’t feel comfortable talking about how I don’t want to drink, but I would > really like to bleed.I havent cut in a long time – and I won’t because it’s not > the answer – but I’m under alot of external stress as well as just starting to > experience memories and I’m feeling overwhelmed by emotions that I don’t even > know how to express. I do have a therp that I see every other week(no > insurance) but I would really like to be able to talk with people who know what > I’m talking about when alot of times the feelings are hard to put words to. > Sorry to go on so long -there’s alot still stuck inside.
Hi RS, Welcome. This is just as good a place as any to start talking while you seek out a group. A number of people here have experienced cutting, and the rest of us are pros when it comes to trauma. Sometimes recalling what you did in the past that helped you to get through difficult moments like this is useful.
Response:
hi. I’m not quite sure what triggers me yet so I’m really not sure what trigger material is – to be safe I’ll maybe label everything trigger (until I have a better understanding). My sincerest apologies to anyone who I might have upset in anyway. Truthfully, I’m not quite sure whether or not I’m going through a rough time – one minute I’m angry and cold, then I’m fine, then I’m teary, then I’m fine again and then…well then, I’m just REALLY confused. My mood changes seem so extreme and….I don’t know what word I’m looking for here.( an exorcism would be nice – giggle) Right now I feel good, normal .All the external stresses are still there and I’m fine with all of it. In an hour or two…?????Who knows? Anywho, thanks for your kind response and thanks for listening to me babble.
Response:
Hi , Trigger material is graphic descriptions of bad things that have happened to us. Where our PTSD comes from. I can relate to the feeling of wanting an exorcism. I hear my mother’s (my abuser) footsteps coming to get me, where ever I live. Yuck. I hope the mood cycling stops soon. Hugs, if you want them. Margaret RScalvin <rscal…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010323155447.03883.00000393@ng-fh1.aol.com… > hi. I’m not quite sure what triggers me yet so I’m really
not sure what trigger > material is – to be safe I’ll maybe label everything
trigger (until I have a > better understanding). My sincerest apologies to anyone
who I might have upset > in anyway. > Truthfully, I’m not quite sure whether or not I’m going
through a rough time – > one minute I’m angry and cold, then I’m fine, then I’m
teary, then I’m fine > again and then…well then, I’m just REALLY confused. My
mood changes seem so > extreme and….I don’t know what word I’m looking for
here.( an exorcism would > be nice – giggle) Right now I feel good, normal .All the
external stresses are > still there and I’m fine with all of it. In an hour or
two…?????Who knows? > Anywho, thanks for your kind response and thanks for
listening to me babble.
Response:
hi. Thanks for responding. I’m not too sure what I did in bad times before. My memory is not always constant, or linear might be a better word – oh well my memory isn’t real good- and the times just seem to pass just as sudden as they started. I know there is probably SOMETHING that starts it and stops it, I just haven’t figured it out yet. I keep telling myself that I need to keep a mood journal so that I can answer my therps questions with something more than a blank "I dunno". I gonna hafta work on self-discipline if I’m gonna really get better. Thank you
Response:
Yes, isn’t it a b*tch when you dissociate during a session. Paying $$ for blankness and numbness. Sigh. The mood diary can be a help. Good luck. RScalvin <rscal…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010323160541.03883.00000394@ng-fh1.aol.com… > hi. Thanks for responding. > I’m not too sure what I did in bad times before. My memory is not always > constant, or linear might be a better word – oh well my
memory isn’t real good- > and the times just seem to pass just as sudden as they
started. I know there is > probably SOMETHING that starts it and stops it, I just
haven’t figured it out > yet. I keep telling myself that I need to keep a mood
journal so that I can > answer my therps questions with something more than a
blank "I dunno". I gonna – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> hafta work on self-discipline if I’m gonna really get better. > Thank you
Response:
Hi margaret! > Trigger material is graphic descriptions of bad things that > have happened to us. Where our PTSD comes from.
Maybe for some, but not necessarily for others. :/ I know, you were waiting for me to raise the clarion call of ‘we are all responsible for our own triggers’. 
Graphic descriptions of anything can trigger anyone. Actually, I think that being able to use graphic triggers is the sign of a good book writer. Unfortunately, our lives don’t read like Cinderella. (I’ve not read any Stephen King, but it is possible that he writes about us.) Anyway, my point is that with PTSD other things can be triggers too: smells, songs, season(s), holidays, happy events and sad events. Triggers can be positive and cause stress, just as much stress as negative triggers. Rather than focusing on someone else’s causing us to trigger in the ng, we need to focus on protecting ourselves by our not reading stuff which causes us pain. When I start reading stuff and feel my body starting to react by a change in breathing, I stop reading; amazsing how well this tactic is working. When I get overcome by curiosity and keep on reading, I use killfiles … for as long as I need. I really try to make myself responsible for my own self and my distorted thinking, including flashbacks from ng posts. YMMV Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
> Margaret: > > Trigger material is graphic descriptions of bad things that > > have happened to us. Where our PTSD comes from. > Nancy: > Maybe for some, but not necessarily for others. :/ I
know, you were waiting > for me to raise the clarion call of ‘we are all
responsible for our own > triggers’.
Yes, thank you. > Nancy: > Graphic descriptions of anything can trigger anyone.
Actually, I think that > being able to use graphic triggers is the sign of a good book writer. > Unfortunately, our lives don’t read like Cinderella. (I’ve not read any > Stephen King, but it is possible that he writes about us.) > Anyway, my point is that with PTSD other things can be
triggers too: smells, > songs, season(s), holidays, happy events and sad events. Triggers can be > positive and cause stress, just as much stress as negative
triggers. Yes, I was limiting myself to the ng. Smells are a big one. > Rather than focusing on someone else’s causing us to
trigger in the ng, we > need to focus on protecting ourselves by our not reading stuff which causes > us pain. When I start reading stuff and feel my body
starting to react by a > change in breathing, I stop reading; amazsing how well this tactic is > working. When I get overcome by curiosity and keep on reading, I use > killfiles … for as long as I need. I really try to make myself > responsible for my own self and my distorted thinking,
including flashbacks > from ng posts.
Yupper. It;s very important to increase self awareness. We don’t have to get over every tiny thing that triggers us, just enough of them so we can be functional (whatever that is). I still don’t like alcoholics in person, but have not had a good reason to get over it yet. Smiling, Margaret
Response:
virtual hugs are ALWAYS welcomed! Thanxs.
Response:
what are "killfiles"??
Response:
> I still don’t like alcoholics in person, but have not >had a good reason to get over it yet.
recovering too?no, I don’t take offense if your answer is affirmative. Everyone is welcome to personal opinions and we all work on things if and when it’s the time to. I myself have had to work through alot (not yet ALL!) of my fear-based resentments in order to stay sober but my acceptance and forgiveness does waiver in some circumstances.
Response:
Hi RScalvin! > what are "killfiles"??
They are macros written into every (that I know about) e-mail program (including aol’s) which automatically delete from your computer any ng parameter that I (or you) choose. For example: if you want to not read anything that says trigger in the subject line, you can specify that the program doesn’t display these posts. You can also specify that you don’t want to read anything that I may write. Smile and there will be something to smile about! Nancy
Response:
[p&e] for RScalvin… (((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))) Margaret RScalvin <rscal…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010324010428.21627.00000594@ng-cm1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> virtual hugs are ALWAYS welcomed! > Thanxs.
Response:
Yes, sorry. None of the people closest to me is an active or recovering alcoholic. However, I know this is *my* issue and make no judgments about others. Knowing someone in recovery on an ng is different though, and it does not seem to trigger me. Maybe there is some kind of smell involved in the real world. Sorry you qualify for this group, but I am glad you are here. Just never meet me for a cup of coffee in the real world. ; ) Deal? Margaret RScalvin <rscal…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010324012306.21627.00000596@ng-cm1.aol.com… > > I still don’t like alcoholics in person, but have not > >had a good reason to get over it yet. > recovering too?no, I don’t take offense if your answer is
affirmative. Everyone > is welcome to personal opinions and we all work on things
if and when it’s the > time to. I myself have had to work through alot (not yet
ALL!) of my fear-based – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> resentments in order to stay sober but my acceptance and forgiveness does > waiver in some circumstances.
Response:
>Knowing someone in recovery on an ng is >different though, and it does not seem to trigger me. Maybe >there is some kind of smell involved in the real world. >Just never meet me for a cup of coffee in the real >world. ; ) Deal?
O’tay. No apologies neccesary.
Response:
I hear you – I am no good in a group therp session either – talking to a therp is tough enough on its own — cadere angelus RScalvin <rscal…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010403223207.26400.00000005@ng-fg1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >Knowing someone in recovery on an ng is > >different though, and it does not seem to trigger me. Maybe > >there is some kind of smell involved in the real world. > >Just never meet me for a cup of coffee in the real > >world. ; ) Deal? > O’tay. No apologies neccesary.
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