CPTSD resolution

that`s great news @janedoe2 xx, it is great to see you

Hello @utopia, @Decadian

glad to help @Adge

Hi @utopia. Thanks @Shaz51

I've been in long-term therapy for quite some time - 6 & 1/2 years (until now), most recently. 4 & 1/2 years (until 17 years ago).

About 11 years (or more) of weekly therapy, in total.

Although it's been different issues or reasons that have got me started, each time.

I've had about 5 different therapists (psychologist) through all that - I've stuck with this current one (with a 1 year break in between) for 6 & 1/2 years so far.

I do get very frustrated with the progress of things sometimes, & I'm definitely willing to try different approaches.

I've had: Hypnotherapy, Bodywork & trauma coaching, & standard pychologist's approaches.

Unfortunately the disability services work that I've been back in for 5 & 1/2 years (most recently) - is definitely re-traumatising on a regular basis, because of the extreme client (physical & verbal) aggression that I'm being subjected to.

That does not help someone who is wishing to fully recover from CPTSD.

My physical energy resources have been so low - with chronic sleep apnea (fatigue), & recovering from 3 major bowel surgeries.

So despite my repeated efforts for 18 months (& a job change), I've so far been unable to obtain work that's less taxing on my resources.

Adge

Hi @Adge

PTSD is a chronic condition - and I have done some thinking in this area and it seems there could be a genetic component here

My father's mother seemed to be always ill - Dad was very dismissive about it - so I didn't learn much about her condition - but I knew her well and she seemed to be struggling with health issues -

So he had several sons - and of her descendents 4 of us have chronic conditions - for me it's chronic pain - and I often wonder if it's harder for people to recover when it's in their DNA

When it comes to PTSD - I had it start after a car accident and my son died two days later from an unrelated event - and the stormy past of his troubled life was something really hard and complex - the reason that caused me to join this forum - it comes around every year

But thinking about it now I think I have not had a PTSD spell for a while lately I think that having shared all of this I have something useful to offer

One is that these things really happened to us and are happening to us - I have not needed to see my therapist now since February - and she said to me

The pain you have is real and serious - your past has been traumatic and it really happened - there are events in your past that make it easy to experience anxiety and bring the past back into focus. It's all real

Those words - it really happened - it was traumatic and it's all real seemed to slot into my mind like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle - but it was not as easy as it sounds

So for you - there is hope - it really happened and it's traumatic and sometimes on-going - so I think considering PTSD and CPTSD are possibly really similar - we sometimes have to live with chronic conditions -

My opinion is that it is real has helped me to accept it - of course the flashbacks from my car accident may return as the anniversary approaches - and my chronic pain is there - part of my life for a long time

The hope is that we can learn to accept all of this - it's horrible but normal to feel this way. Sometimes it can be overpowering and take the quality of our life with it

But it can - in time - heal - in spite of the scars

I wish you all the best

Dec

@utopiaYes, I think you are right - I'm more easily triggered because of many repeated or continuous traumas over several decades.

Less stressful (less triggering) work is important, & would help.

Unfortunately my psychologist has not acknowledged the cost of care (or many other types of work) to me, until very recently.

It was my pych who has expected me to remain in this line of work, for several years - despite my protests & insistence that it's been re-traumatising (& exhausting). Which she now seems to realise.

@OwlunarThanks for your insights & personal experience, that's helpful & makes a lot of sense.

Adge

Thanks @utopia.
Yes sometimes they really don't get it - although I really would (fairly) expect a trauma specialist psych to understand.

Unfortunately I had to put so much physical & emotional effort into obtaining this most recent job - very soon after my dad's death.

It's still only a year since he died, & I haven't been able to grieve much because of the on going stresses.

So gaining more suitable employment is taking time. I did not want to have to find a new job again so soon - but will when able.

Adge