[Jet]

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

I am keeping busy and trying to take your advice and keep things as normal as possible.

How are you?

Hi apocalipstic. I am going through the most horrible time ever, truth be told. But no matter how grim or hopeless it seems, I still do everything in my power to move through as normally as possible. I get up and meet each day, shower, keep my home clean, wash my things, cook and grocery shop and I attend to matters at hand. I have bought everything I need for Thanksgiving and I intend to treat myself.

Normalize.

I do not sit in a corner, drink the days away, wallow in self pity, do drugs or anything that would make matters worse or seal my death. I am enduring things unspeakable. And with that, I have met every complication you can imagine; fucked up Rx meds, fucked up MRIs, hardships, constant setbacks, a frightening state of affairs, incredible fears from memories, terror and shock. Because of the nature of my PTSD nothing has ever helped—hospitals, support groups or medication (other than to sedate for brief periods at a time.) Reality...I am totally in the hands of God and, trust me, my faith is a thread that I am hanging on to.

I live hour by hour, many days, and manage to hang on to anything positive even for moments at a time. This keeps me going. Today, something wonderful in the smallest of ways—my dad. We spoke for about an hour and a half about many things and it brought back memories of me—the way I used to be and the ways I used to feel. Terrific memories that took me out of my pain.

My take for anyone from experience....face the reality of your PTSD, where it's brought you, what's it's stolen—years, opportunities, progress, happiness. You will be out of denial and will have taken the first most important step toward progress. There absolutely cannot be any illusions or denials of any kind at any time. Not saying this is you, but just saying in general. Accepting our state instead of sidestepping our selves or our realities is when God begins to work. He doesn't take it way in the twinkling of an eye, he makes us face it in his strength and through our human nature.

Thoughts in general...

Forge through dark days and try everything you can to recognize any gifts, light moments, reprieves and any positives in your life. Do that so you know and can reaffirm that your trauma has not claimed everything. Know that you are child of God no matter what belief system you have. PTSD can send us to dungeons and unimaginable darkness and depravity in our minds and hearts. But it is not impossible to break through if you are committed to facing and reclaiming your life. Have faith (even as small as a mustard seed, as it goes); do everything you can to self-nurture to keep sane. Send despair, darkness, hardships and anything that seems hopeless to your higher power however you perceive your God to be.

I've had to accept that my life as I knew it is gone. My person as I knew me, is gone—forever or how long is anyone's guess. Recognizing the severity of my PTSD and my state is imperative. Because now, all the cards are on the table. For me, it is do or die and my life is truly in God's hands. And I didn't used to be a prayin' man if you know what I mean. I'm sharing this with everybody to say that darkness and hopelessness and sickness can get unimaginably worse, so do everything to normalize..medication, prayer, support, if you have it, and everything in your space and daily living to make you feel comfortable at all times. I'm still standing and I think you will/can too. So fight like hell.

Try to see the light that you do have. See any positives, every day and never buy into negativity and despair that could lead you into darker spaces. They could just be memories, body flash backs and your trauma trying to get out. Mine feels like a pressure cooker getting ready to blow even though my trauma happened years ago.

I am a victim and survivor of severe trauma and PTSD that has lingered for 18 years. I post openly as someone who can relate from experience. And I contribute my thoughts and experiences for the benefit of you who have actually been diagnosed with PTSD or related conditions such as diagnosed multi-personality disorder, bi-polar or schizo-affective disorder. I don't have a lot of patience outside of this because as a general rule, we don't know how bad bad really is until we have experienced it on mental, physical or spiritual levels. In my case, all three are affected or compromised. My trauma came out of nowhere and to such a degree that I still experience it as my personal 9/11. That's how bad it is and I'm sure that many of you may relate.

I hope we can maintain this thread soley to retain its integrity and intention and as a connection between those of us who have been diagnosed and who suffer on a daily basis. Healthcare can't always be there for various reasons. So to be able to exchange here because we get each other is a nice piece to have.

I wish everyrone the best no matter how varied the nature or to what degree our PTSD.