PTSD and Trauma recovery

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Sparkle

I'm so glad you're feeling better! Amazing what breathing, moving, sunshine and laughter can do!

I think the lack of diagnosis and information about PTSD -- is part & parcel of the shifts in our health care system in America.

Insurance companies are running the show:

*numbers of visits are limited,
*Health centers are having patient's sign disclaimers every time they visit, acknowledging their care may or may not be covered at the whim of their insurance company - this discourages insured people from seeking thorough care and advocating for themselves when a health issue isn't sorted after one visit.

*Primary Care Physicians are encouraged to spend 15min or less with each patient
*and they're rewarded for NOT running tests etc.

If it weren't for my neurologist who was incredibly thorough, I wouldn't have received any quality of care after my accident. He did the job of my PCP, my Spine specialist and explained that some of my symptoms were PTSD related, in addition to his own job.

My PCP didn't even request I visit her after the accident and when I did finally see her - she called me: "SHE of the million dollar tests" in a disparaging tone and in reference to all of the tests my neurologist ordered. (needless to say I "fired" her)

In terms of my PTSD I was very lucky that I already had a good therapist who was able to walk me through the first 6months post accident - when my PTSD was at its highest.

My insurance company calls PTSD a "nervous disorder". It does pay for some of my treatment though. And I totally get the doc thing, my (now ex)neurologist called me "little lady" and laughed at the "fancy tests" my urologist ran on me. Yeay. The doctor visit should not be more traumatic than the events that caused the PTSD.

I finally found a great psychiatrist and therapist but I always end up paying for quite a bit of it out of pocket. I am lucky that my insurance pays for part of it.

Sunshine does seem to be the best medicine right now! And staying away from things that trigger me. I have been diagnosed with PTSD for 25 years and it comes and goes based on my life. My goal now is to live as simply and happily as possible and to strive to avoid situations that will stir me up. ...though sometimes I know it hurts people's feelings when I can't participate in some activities or just don't feel well enough.

[Apocalipstic]

OK so avoiding situations that stir me up is impossible.

[J. Mason]

Anyone else suffer from being scared over small things after having major surgery?

I had major surgery over a year ago and am not fully healed and I am scared to death about falling.

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by J. Mason

Anyone else suffer from being scared over small things after having major surgery?

I had major surgery over a year ago and am not fully healed and I am scared to death about falling.

Yes, that feeling takes a while to go away, but it will as you heal.

[J. Mason]

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

Yes, that feeling takes a while to go away, but it will as you heal.

Good cuz I can't stand the feelings I have, I am scared about almost everything.

[Nat]

Got triggered tonight for the first time in a long while. Not terribly triggered but still. triggered. And the weird thing about being triggered for me is that I *cannot* communicate effectively when it happens. I just get rigid. frozen. cold. distant. hostile. And just like it's way easier to spend money than it is to earn it, it's way easier to get triggered than it is to get untriggered. There's really no explaining what's going on. I know well enough that time will help. Pretty much nothing but time helps. And I feel split. Part of me in this dark, silent, awful void - and then this other part just floating above it observing it all go down and waiting for my heart and mind to be a safe place to be again. I know it's a matter of time.

Speaking of which, it's past my bedtime. So time for meditation and hopefully eventually sleep. And tomorrow I hope to feel like me again.

[SoNotHer]

I appreciate someone giving voice to this, Nat. Time and sleep help heal. I hope you get a good sleep tonight.

Originally Posted by Nat

Got triggered tonight for the first time in a long while. Not terribly triggered but still. triggered. And the weird thing about being triggered for me is that I *cannot* communicate effectively when it happens. I just get rigid. frozen. cold. distant. hostile. And just like it's way easier to spend money than it is to earn it, it's way easier to get triggered than it is to get untriggered. There's really no explaining what's going on. I know well enough that time will help. Pretty much nothing but time helps. And I feel split. Part of me in this dark, silent, awful void - and then this other part just floating above it observing it all go down and waiting for my heart and mind to be a safe place to be again. I know it's a matter of time.

Speaking of which, it's past my bedtime. So time for meditation and hopefully eventually sleep. And tomorrow I hope to feel like me again.