Post Traumatic Stress

Wasn't sure what to call this.

My goal is to simply ask advice and share a bit more about myself. ( some facts are extremely personal so please no jokes or disrespect)

I am wondering the Jedi opinion on treatment for PTSD ( post traumatic stress disorder)?

I am not a veteran of a war. I am not a pro-fighter. I like to think of myself as a peaceful man, a caring man. I personally think my greatest strength is also my greatest weakness which is that I create empathetic connections with everyone I encounter. I am according to my friends an Empath.
I have been in a few bad spots in my life before; I have seen friends hurt by others and when I intervened on their behaves I have seen my efforts go unnoticed. I have also personally experienced every form of assault ( physical assault, emotional abuse " mind games" as well as rape) iin my 26 years on this planet: ( for the record no member of my family has ever harmed me in anyway)

Due to this I have recently been officially diagnosed with P.T.S.D. And I am curious as to any help/ advice I can gain from my fellow brothers and sisters in the force.

Please don't go out of your way, I am doing very well given the circumstances, simply curios as to the Jedi opinion.
Thank you. MTFBWY

Well, according to an acupuncturist in the Jedi Community, they are using acupuncture at Ft. Sam Houston now to treat PTSD. You might try that avenue in conjunction with a good therapist. If you are anywhere near Franklin, TN-I know a good one...which is saying something, I do not often say that I like any psychologists (even thought I'm getting my own degree in the subject so I can become a counselor...or maybe even a therapist, I'm still early in the education process)

Before you pick out a therapist, interview them and see if their style/personality is compatible with your own (knowing that sometimes they are going to say something you don't want to hear-but you have to...if they are the type to talk you around in circles because they want to avoid saying something that might offend you).

Hmmm....as somebody who has/had PTSD I understand your situation perfectly.

And i'm going to be totally honestly, brutally so, about living with it. PTSD is not something an amount of therepy can just work away. Certainly, with the right council, they can help you manage the more severe side effects. But those haunting memories will never leave.

When you struggle to come to terms with what you feel, it feels like the most degrading soul ripping experience. You feel weak, you feel powerless, you feel like there won't be an ever after. And it drives you crazy. Your mood changes, your sleep changes, your body changes. And no matter what anyone says it's never good enough to slay those inner demons.

But the good news is you can find peace. You can have your soul be at rest and enjoy life again. It's always coldest before the sunrises

If you ever need a friendly ear just PM me. the struggle is hard, but the inner peace is worth it.

Likewise, as someone else on the had/still-sort-of-has I can also affirm War Beauty knows what she's talking about and am equally available if you need to talk

I too was diagnosed with PTSD almost 5 years ago. I have just learned to deal with it. The flashbacks are all but gone. The only part I have been left with is the insomnia which is still problematic at best. Hence I am up at midnight on TOTJO working on clerical training and answering this post even knowing that I have work tomorrow. I will just be honest and say mine came from a rape situation. This isn't so people feel sorry for me or whatever. It's just to help explain my process. I took risks. I faced my sheer terror of dating again and did it. I was hurt, but I had great experiences in the process and while I still feel shudders of fear when alone with a man, it's a lot less and I can manage and stay calm. Master War Beauty is correct as far as the memories and also about finding peace by coming to terms with what happened. Meditation has helped me with finding peace as has just becoming a Jedi. The peace and community I have found here is incredible. Some possibilities sound weird, but work well. For example, whatever it is that you believe about yourself due to those memories, tell yourself your truth. Mine was "I'm unclean." Another was "Men can't be trusted." I say that I am worthy and that the love of my life is out there. I am also available if you'd like to talk.
Leena

I am in a job that brings me in contact with PTSD patience usually at their worst moments. I am an EMT and was a Paramedic for 20+ years now. In my business we have members that will end up with PTSD from all that we see and deal with. I have seen guys that I thought were rocks, fall apart over simple calls that they may have been on a thousand times.

My only advice, there is ALWAYS someone willing to listen! We ALL need someone to listen to us. There are so many public agencies to call, hospitals, counselors or doctors. Most of all and probably the best is your friends. You know, the ones that don't judge or point fingers. This is what I see is the most common trait of the PTSD patience I see. They don't know who to talk to, or don't talk because they are ashamed of themselves.

Please talk and remember you are not alone.

May The Force Guide You and Keep You Safe!

while PTSD isn't a military exclusive thing, as ex-military i've seen quite a few guys suffer from it while others seem to not be affected at all...even myself, i've seen and experienced some pretty messed up things both during military service and out of service yet those things never really bother me...for a day or two i may have trouble sleeping as i process it but then i put it away and move on. it's unfortunate that there are people that have difficulty getting past traumatic events...

i've always tried to lend others my strength when dealing with such things as i can't sit back and feel their pain and suffering without being partly affected(empathy can be a hassle like that).

as phortis said there is always someone willing to listen and help

PTSD is indeed a hard thing to overcome. I've seen it from many friends from abuse, to things from War, and even rational fears of driving a car because of a accident. Meditate on thoughts of peace, what makes you happy, and determine your triggers. Find the source and slowly ease your way out of the fear. Embrace it, but not fully. Finding the trigger can help you find ways to release your anxiety, or anger in more proper forms. Tai Chi and yoga helps, next to exercise and meditation. I hope you are doing well.


Nykyrian

Towards the end of last year I was diagnosed with
PTSD. I tried therapy and it definitely did not help. I just simply would not open up about the causes behind my said "disorder". I was prescribed medication for it but I never opted to take it. Now here recently I have come to terms with the fact that I do in fact have a problem. The PTSD has rapidly increased with in the past few months. I feel it's time I try the medication but I'm looking for some one who has taken medication for it and if it actually helped. I don't like taking something or having to depend on a medication though if it really does help then I'm willing to go for it.

I work as a corpsman in the Navy. I see marines and sailors with PTSD on a regular basis. I wish there was a cure, because some of these guys really want to be in the service, and they can't stay in because every time the hear a loud noise the flip out. I have also watched more than a few sink into the depths of alcoholism and drug abuse to beal with their pain. A large portion of the drug and alcohol problems are the result of PTSD going untreated.:dry:

PTSD is one hurdle that many share. There are many treatments based on the triggers and severity.
Start your treatment follow up with your doctor as reqired. It will help in the long run.

wow, looks like you chose a good forum in which to ask your question on the topic. i have read over all these responses, and they all are valid. you can take parts from each and cobble together your own approach, or just start on a therapist or doctor defined path to wellness. but PTSD can be contained, controlled, lived with. i know, i am ex army who now works in the mental health field in consumer peer support which includes this very topic.

i see it a good bit, sometimes even from the old dudes at the legion who havent been in the service for decades. maybe a flag ceremony, a remembrance of the dead, something like that that we would find innocuous is enough to dredge up things half forgotten and better left alone. and yes, its hard. damn hard sometimes, to have to live with it or even just to try to help with it. know that, obviously, there are those you can talk to about it. rely on these that you can trust, be they friends, family, church, whoever, to build a support network. take it day by day. ah, i am rambling. all of this has already been said.

but yes, you can and will survive.

Wow, to tell the truth I am a little amazed at the number of responses.

I wanted to thank everyone for their continued support while I recover from my sexual assault, and I am very glad to see this post get a life of its own. I still have nightmares about the assault as well as the untimely tragic death of my daughter but I am taking things a day at a time and trying to not allow the darker events in my past to destroy my spiritual progress.

To everyone else with PTSD, I am truly sorry for what ever event caused it, and while not wishing to butt into your lives in any negative way, If anyone needs help simply ask for it.

Thank you all so much.
-PriestMitPen

Well, people tend to think of medical cannabis as really just an excuse to get high. There are a whole list of different maladies that proponents claim it treats.. I was surprised, however, when I found a petition on the White house government website, of all places, for allowing veterans of war to use medical cannabis to treat PTSD. Wow! Attitudes have really come around! My father has PTSD and is a vet. He would never use cannabis because of the stigma he's been fed his entire life... But I think he needs it! lol

I was diagnosed with PTSD at the age of 4 after my mothers death involving a car accident I was involved in. It's been incredibly difficult to live with and has affected my relationship with women throughout my entire life. I have some major trust issues due to it and have just begun to get a real handle on it.

There's no real cure for the trauma many of us have suffered but there is hope. We can get more control over it and learn to fight against it.

Meditation seems to really help me. As well as other peaceful and positive constructive activities like writing or painting.

I truly wish you the best. Do not give up hope.

May the Force be with you.

updates and such

I'm pleased to see that this post has a life of its own and that so many people are willing to share their stories.

honestly its in sharing what ever happened that true healing can begin. I congratulate many of you on your first steps in recovering from what ever trauma occurred.

as for my own journey; I'm still having a few issues involving personal safety and I'm very aware that I've been able to use the feelings of being fundamentally unsafe at all times in order to fuel my journey through martial arts and how I teach self defense.

I survived the sexual assault in '04; I survived being stabbed in '98; I survived a lot of deaths. and my own fractured relationship with God has been a bit of an issue of late, but every day is a gift and the sun will come out soon!

keep on keeping on all!
MTFBWYA

I'm a combat veteran and have my share of PTSD, and one thing I learned from working with first responders and even others in life is that it is not only a veteran thing. You brought up a special thing I noted, a fractured connection with God. I have been rebuilding mine for awhile now and I found several things to help me.

1: Make a list of those that hurt you, and forgive each of them for the hurts they have done.
2: At the top of that list, add your name and forgive yourself.
3: Separation from God, once realized, can be a choice. Renew your bond.

Now this of course is a generalized short list. I'm still working on it and I found making the list tremendously painful ... emotionally speaking, as I tend to relive some of those hurts and struggle with wanting to forgive those that hurt me. But I realize that every hurt I hold onto, every person I do not forgive.... I let their hurt live on within me. Thus their actions echo within me, hurting me over and over again.... and to forgive is divine (so the saying goes), so I decided to Forgive the hurts done to me. I say it is a work in progress as slowly listing the hurts done and truly forgiving each takes me time.