Living With Ptsd Feels Like Youre Living Your Worst Nightmare Over And Over Again
One of the main symptoms of PTSD is having nightmares, or flashbacks, that rehash the traumatic event. People with PTSD relive their traumatic experience over and over again in their minds, while sleeping, awake, or both.
Flashbacks often feel so real that the person with PTSD believes themselves to be experiencing the traumatic event all over again. Although PTSD isnt a psychotic disorder, someone with PTSD can have hallucinations of people and places related to the traumatic event when theyre having a flashback.
Obviously, this is a terrifying experience. Some people are able to put traumatic events in the past, but people with PTSD are forced to relive the scariest moments of their lives over and over again.
Ptsd Fatigue Ptsd Exhaustion As A Symptom Of Trauma
It is not uncommon for people living with PTSD to develop ME or fatigue syndrome over time. It is one of the major symptoms accompanying PTSD, as are migraines, fibromyalgic pains, irritable bowel syndrome, depressed immune system, and inflammation.
PTSD fatigue, tiredness, lethargy, and exhaustion can manifest in different forms. It can vary from a flat-out draining attack related to what you are dealing with and suffering from, to a lingering, sullen, but persistently pervasive, exhausted state.
I think PTSD fatigue and exhaustion is one of the most common symptoms accompanying post-trauma to be utterly exhausted, tired, fatigued, not having the will or the energy to do anything, and especially so after a triggering activation, when one’s story, accompanying emotions, and adrenaline get going.
The cause of the draining attack is obvious your flight/fight mechanism has kicked in through a triggering event, and after it has run its course, you will have to pick up the pieces and attempt to build yourself up again as best as you can.
Besides a triggering activation, there’s a lot of energy invested in keeping a traumatic state steadily static, and this is held mostly at an unconscious level. It is this manifestation of PTSD that leads to the persistently exhausted state.
When Is It Ptsd
As you probably noticed, there are many symptoms of PTSD, and very few people have all of them. Also, it is normal to experience times of greater anxiety in your life, particularly when you are under a lot of stress. Some of the symptoms of PTSD, such as sleep or concentration problems, for example, are also seen in other anxiety disorders. So how do you know if you might have PTSD? Here are two tips that might be helpful:
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Tip #1: If you have at least one symptom in each of the 3 categories, and your symptoms only started after a traumatic event, then you might have PTSD. If your anxiety symptoms were already present before the trauma, then it is probably not PTSD.
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Tip #2: It is normal to feel more anxious right after a trauma. But over time, these anxious feelings will settle down. Remember: not everyone who lives through a trauma will develop PTSD. But if your symptoms have been present for over one month, and you find that they are interfering significantly in your life, then you might have PTSD.
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What Can I Do To Help Myself
It is important to know that, although it may take some time, you can get better with treatment. Here are some things you can do to help yourself:
- Talk with your health care provider about treatment options, and follow your treatment plan.
- Engage in exercise, mindfulness, or other activities that help reduce stress.
- Try to maintain routines for meals, exercise, and sleep.
- Set realistic goals and do what you can as you are able.
- Spend time with trusted friends or relatives, and tell them about things that may trigger symptoms.
- Expect your symptoms to improve gradually, not immediately.
- Avoid use of alcohol or drugs.
Arousal And Reactivity Symptoms
- Having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Feeling irritable and having angry or aggressive outbursts
- Engaging in risky, reckless, or destructive behavior
Arousal symptoms are often presentthey can lead to feelings of stress and anger and may interfere with parts of daily life, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating.
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Recognizing Ptsd Do I Have It
John’s Story
John is a 54-year-old man who witnessed his grandson die in an automobile accident. A semi-truck trailer crashed into the car John was driving. His grandson was a passenger in the front seat. Although John had some minor injuries after the accident, his grandson died at the scene. Before the accident, John ran a successful small business and was very close to his family.
Since the accident 8 months ago, John has been having flashbacks, or very vivid images, of the crash these flashbacks will sometimes cause him to dissociate, that is, he will lose track of where he is and feel like he is back at the scene of the accident. He is very scared of these flashbacks, and worries that it is a sign that he is going “crazy”. He tries to avoid anything that reminds him of the crash, and will avoid looking at pictures of his grandson, going to his grave site, or talking about him with friends and family.
John also seems to be using work as a way of avoiding thinking about the accident. His wife is very concerned, because he is working over 10 hours a day and has started going in to work most weekends. However, when he is at work, he is constantly distracted and has difficulty concentrating. He also finds it hard to make important decisions. Several of his employees have told him that they are worried about the changes they have seen in him.
Sharon’s Story
How Else Can I Recognize If I Have Ptsd
Many adults with PTSD have strong feelings of shame, guilt, or despair about what happened. It is also not uncommon to have increased feelings of hostility or anger, this is sometimes directed towards entire groups of people .
Because living through a trauma can be such a life-changing experience, some adults with PTSD find that their relationships with others are different after a trauma. For instance, you might have difficulty maintaining a romantic relationship or trusting other people and their intentions following a sexual assault, or you might have some sexual or intimacy problems.
REMEMBER: Adults with PTSD can sometimes feel like they are “going crazy” or are “broken” following a trauma. But it is important to keep in mind that PTSD is a treatable anxiety disorder. No matter how bad you feel or how hopeless it seems, there is help for PTSD.
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How Can Parents Help
If your child has been through trauma, here are things you can do:
- Help your child feel safe. They may need extra time, comfort, and care from you for a while.
- Help your child relax. Invite them to take a few slow breaths with you. Breathe in while you count to 3. Breathe out while you count to 5.
- Do things together that you enjoy. Trauma can make it harder to feel the positive emotions that naturally help kids recharge. Play, laugh, enjoy nature, make music or art, cook. These activities can reduce stress and build your childs resilience.
- Reassure your child. Let them know they will get through this. And that you are there to help.
- Let your childs doctor know what your child has been through. Get a referral to a mental health professional .
- Tell your childs teacher that your child went through a trauma. Kids with PTSD may have more trouble focusing on schoolwork. Ask for your child to have extra help or more time to do schoolwork if they need it for a while.
Living With Someone Who Has Ptsd
When a partner, friend, or family member has post-traumatic stress disorder it affects you, too. PTSD isnt easy to live with and it can take a heavy toll on relationships and family life. You may be hurt by your loved ones distance and moodiness or struggling to understand their behaviorwhy they are less affectionate and more volatile. You may feel like youre walking on eggshells or living with a stranger. You may also have to take on a bigger share of household tasks and deal with the frustration of a loved one who wont open up. The symptoms of PTSD can even lead to job loss, substance abuse, and other problems that affect the whole family.
Its hard not to take the symptoms of PTSD personally, but its important to remember that a person with PTSD may not always have control over their behavior. Your loved ones nervous system is stuck in a state of constant alert, making them continually feel vulnerable and unsafe, or having to relive the traumatic experience over and over. This can lead to anger, irritability, depression, mistrust, and other PTSD symptoms that your loved one cant simply choose to turn off.
With the right support from you and other family and friends, though, your loved ones nervous system can become unstuck. With these tips, you can help them to finally move on from the traumatic event and enable your life together to return to normal.
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Your Skin May Scar More Easily
Your bodys stress response draws water away from your outer layers of skin this is thought to be a way to keep hydrated in an emergency situation. This results in a reduced ability for your skin to repair and regenerate itself, and as such, even the smallest of cuts or grazes may cause a scar on your skin. This is also a reason why you may find you have very dry skin, or even develop acne, rosacea, eczema or psoriasis. Find out more about the link between skin and PTSD here.
How Ketamine Can Stop Ptsd Flashbacks
Ketamine is a surgical anesthetic that can also treat mental health disorders like PTSD. Low-dose infusions of ketamine work on your brain by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter glutamate.
More glutamate helps restore normal function of your brain and can repair or grow new neural connections. This gives your brain a chance to heal properly from past trauma.
One of the biggest benefits of ketamine infusions is how fast they can work on your PTSD symptoms. Many people have a noticeable reduction in their symptoms within 24 hours of their treatment. As you continue through the course of your therapy, you should notice a significant difference in the frequency and severity of your PTS symptoms.
To find out if ketamine infusions are a treatment option for your PTSD condition, today, or book a consultation online.
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Aspects Of An Emotion
Every emotion has three parts:
- Behavior: The action you feel like taking when you’re feeling an emotion
- Sensations: The physical changes in your body when you’re feeling an emotion
- Thoughts: Ideas or images that pop into your head when you’re feeling an emotion
If you’re like most people, with or without PTSD, you probably haven’t been aware of the three parts of your emotions or the different ways those parts may affect how you feel.
For example, sometimes one part, such as uncomfortable thoughts, can “come on” so strongly that it’s difficult to get in touch with the others. If you were to experience this, you might simply try to push away or suppress your uncomfortable thoughts, which, of course, would keep you from identifying them and choosing an appropriate coping strategy that would make you feel better.
Does Trauma Always Cause Ptsd
No. Going through trauma does not always cause PTSD. Most kids and teens who go through a trauma will not get PTSD.
But most of them will feel the effects of trauma. Its normal to react to a deeply stressful event. Most will have upset feelings, thoughts of the trauma, and other signs of distress. This may last for a short while, sometimes days or weeks. With comfort, listening, and support, most can find ways to cope with what theyve been through.
PTSD develops when a trauma overwhelms a childs ability to cope. Kids and teens with PTSD need extra help to move through the coping process.
Things that affect whether someone develops PTSD after a trauma include:
- how severe the trauma was
- how quickly they get help and support
- a past history of trauma
- inherited risks like family history of depression and anxiety
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Sleep Tips For Partners Of People With Ptsd
While most efforts are focused on how to help someone with PTSD sleep, the partners of people with PTSD may also find it difficult to sleep soundly. For those with a partner who wakes up multiple times during the night, it may help to invest in a mattress that muffles sound and movement.
Nightmares and night terrors can be frightening and may cause your partner to lash out violently. Though you want to be there for your partner, you may find it necessary to sleep in a separate, nearby bedroom from time to time so you can get the restful sleep you need.
It may also be constructive to do exercise together with your partner during the day. In addition to improving sleep, developing healthy routines together can help you bond and help re-establish a sense of security for your partner.
Many caregivers struggle with feelings of guilt and a sense that they are responsible for saving their partner. However, pouring all your energy into helping another person can have a serious effect on your own mental health. Couples therapy, individual therapy, support groups, or a strong network of family and friends may help you manage your own thoughts and feelings to reduce the risk of burnout.
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What Does A Ptsd Attack Feel Like And What Can You Do About It
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, affects around six percent of adults at some point in their lives.
If you think you or someone near you is experiencing PTSD symptoms, you might be wondering, What does a PTSD attack feel like?
Support, time, and care help people with PTSD better manage their symptoms.
However, before you can offer those to a friend or loved one, its a good idea to learn about PTSD attacks first.
Posttraumatic stress disorder is a mental condition that develops in a person after exposure to trauma.
People who go through a traumatic event may develop temporary symptoms of anxiety and flashbacks.
However, if these symptoms do not get better with time and last for months or years, interfering with the persons daily life, they may have PTSD.
People with PTSD may also develop other mental conditions, such as panic attacks, acute stress disorder, reactive attachment disorder, and social engagement disorder.
Physical symptoms are also common among PTSD survivors, including chest pain, nausea, fast heart rate, lack of sleep, shortness of breath, and physical sensations.
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When To See A Doctor
If youre having trouble getting your life in order, consider seeking professional treatment. Getting a diagnosis as soon as possible can help prevent worsening symptoms and keep you from turning to coping methods that may be unhealthy, such as alcohol.
Psychotherapy, combined with medications like antidepressants, is the primary treatment method for PTSD. We can also help you learn skills that improve and encourage positive thought processes.
Therapy can treat depression and anxiety, which are problems related to traumatic experiences. Reaching out to close family and friends who may offer comfort, or turning to a trusted community can lessen symptoms of PTSD.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or tendencies, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifelineat 1-800-273-TALK to speak to a trained counselor.
Some additional resources if you suffer from PTSD include:
How Does Ptsd Affect Relationships
You care about those close to you, but PTSD can sometimes make it difficult for you to interact with them. You might say things you dont mean, or feel unable to relax and be intimate.
In response, those around you may withdraw or become unreceptive, creating a cycle in the relationship that can be challenging to break.
But living with PTSD doesnt mean you have to give up on connections with other people.
Its possible to manage symptoms of PTSD to improve your social skills and relationships. In turn, those around you can also learn what living with PTSD means and how to best support your healing process.
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Repeated Search For A Rescuer
Subconsciously looking for someone to rescue them is something many survivors understandably think about during the ongoing trauma and this can continue on after the trauma has ceased. The survivor can feel helpless and yearn for someone to come and rescue them from the pain they feel and want them to make their lives better. This sadly often leads to the survivor seeking out the wrong types of people and being re-traumatized repeatedly.
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How To Get Help For Ptsd
Sadly, PTSD is becoming more and more common. Living with PTSD can negatively impact your life, making it hard to hold down a job, look after your family or even care for yourself.
If you have PTSD, it is crucial to seek professional help and treatment as soon as possible. Dont put off getting advice from a medical professional. If you or a loved one lives with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder, centers like The Recovery Village can be a great place to get help. Reach out to a representative today for more information.