Post-Traumatic Stress? Losing My Mind
I think I am losing my mind. I am a 37 year old female firefighter married to a firefighter. I have been doing this type of work for nearly 18 years. This morning, I got my 3 older kids off to school and came in and started reading the news. Long story short, I heard mayday calls from Boston's 9 alarm fire and I think I had a panic attack from there. I had problems hearing initially, everything sounded like it was far away. I was cold, chattering teeth shortly after, then I threw up. It has been a downhill spiral since. My husband thinks this is all related to a ceiling collapse I went through in November. He think PTSD is at play. But I really have never felt any anxiety over that after getting out. So I'm not sure. I don't know what to do but every minute is longer then the last and I feel fear that is making it hard to breathe. I don't know what to do.
View 6 RepliesPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder? After Sexual Assault
I am too scared to ask my psychologist about this, i have been having flashbacks for a long time now of sexual assault when i was much younger (ages 3 to 5 most likely). they can be triggered by events or come out of nowhere. i am feeling a bit better now, but for about a month it felt like i was having non-stop back-to-back panic attacks because of this.
i can remember the event but i still have a lot of doubt and feel like my mind is tricking me into thinking that it's real. i've told my psychologist, but i don't want to right out ask if this is ptsd. i really just want something to call this.
Post-Traumatic Stress? Variety Of Torture And Abuse
The first twenty years of my life had a variety of chronic torture & abuse. As a child my home life constantly shifted and alcohol, physical and mental violence was the order of the day. I felt wholly unworthy as a person to be alive. It drove me into drug addiction for eight years. Within the first year, the dealer and his friends cornered me into the back of his shop and raped me, protracting the incident over three days. My addiction exploded and it forced me into dealing with the rapist for a length of time after the incident occurred. I did not develop PTSD at the time, my drug addiction was becoming life threatening and I spent the next twelve years in and out of rehab until I finally one day carved out a functional routine for myself. Life became better, I worked in a shop, got creatively involved and got married (Although I was never able to fall pregnant). Years later we decided to immigrate to Australia. My husband collided with the culture from day one. Within a short period of time he became manic. We had just given everything up and returning back would be security suicide I felt, so I found work, moved us out. My husband tormented me for the next two years until it exploded one afternoon with police coming to arrest him. In the last days of my time in Australia I worked abnormally long hours to pay migration costs, as I wouldn't be able to, once returning to South Africa in an unemployed state.
Landing back in S.A I was hit with the chronic diabetic condition of my mother, who had not gone to one doctor about her condition. I dug in to get her health back to a manageable level for almost a year before I found employment and finally moved out. The nightmare began then. After a court order against my now ex-husband, I landed in a strange town, with new work, where no-one knew me.
Nightmares began to pour into my sleep about the rape that happened over twenty years ago. Functionality levels became dangerously low. I sought help, but without any real finances I was thrown into a system of waiting and small bits of attention here and there. Being alone also didn't help. I had already lost my first job, after flashes bled into my waking hours. A friend came from Australia, three years after my landing back here and saw my condition. These episodes have already taken on a form of torture that has made me terrified to talk about them. Somehow one of the men who raped me, detached themselves into a character that would invade my mind throughout the day and talk to me, telling me of new ways to torture me, that I will never be okay again, that I will always be stuck here. My friend is adamant about me leaving work and seeking help...I am terrified that I will be put away into an institution.
Do I Have Post-Traumatic Stress? Tired, Mentally And Emotionally Drained
I feel like I'm on the outside of everything. I don't feel much of anything, most of the time, and I always just want to be alone because I feel I have to pretend in front of other people. I've been through awful things during my life, the most recent being the loss of two beloved pets within 4 months of each other. Yes, I consider their passing to be awful. I've been through cancer, abuse, abandonment, etc. My earliest memory is witnessing my mother being beaten by my father.
I'm not a miserable, unhappy person, normally. Lately, I just haven't been able to feel or care about much. I'm tired. Mentally and emotionally drained. I have zero energy for other people, which saddens me deeply. Often, all I want is to be left alone to stare at the wall or bury myself under the covers.
Maybe it's depression, but the reason I suspect some kind of PTSD is because my brain feels as though there's a block that prevents me from processing any new experiences. I don't know how to explain it...it's like wanting to run from the room, covering my ears with my hands to keep from hearing any bad news or having to deal with anything unpleasant.
Difference Between PTSD And Complex-PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
I was recently diagnosed with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The difference between C-ptsd and PTSD is that Complex happens over an extended period of time, and usually originates in childhood. Whereas PTSD is typically a one-time traumatic event (such as rape, war, etc).
After spending my entire life in pain, confusion, and emotionally abusive relationships, I finally have an answer. While it is a big relief, the process of recovery is not easy. I feel like there are two versions of me: The chameleon who has put on a good act and adapted for the sake of everyone else, and the real me, who has been hidden all these years. I'm just now starting to get to know the real me.
This is a relatively new diagnosis, and it didn't make it into the new DSM, but I read where someone said that Complex PTSD is at the core of a great many mental health issues.
Anxiety :: Trouble Sleeping And Horrible Nightmares
Well my boyfriend is having trouble sleeping but when he does sleep he has horrible nightmares that feel really real and now he won't sleep cuz the dreams terrify him what should I do?
View 2 RepliesDriving Stress And Anxiety
I have been driving now for 1 year and 2 months and find myself constantly stressed and sick. Its getting to the point I am sat in work and feel like I need to be out in the car. The thing that makes me so stressed is my own driving, I can be fine and then come up to a roundabout for example, get ready to move off again and if my car jolts even a little bit (bringing the clutch up to fast etc) I will be stressed for the rest of the day. It sounds ridiculous I know but it frustrates me so much. I now find myself analysing everything I do when I am in the car which I think is making me worse as I am even more concentrated on it now when driving should be something you just automatically do. I am stuck in a viscous circle and my over thinking is getting to the point that I feel physically sick with constant headaches and worry. I've looked up how to stop over thinking but nothing seems to work.
View 8 RepliesAnxiety :: Xanax Or Stress? What's Better?
Quite simply, what's better for a persons physical and mental health? Stress or Xanax?
I can make it through most days without Xanax. Note "make it through". It's work... Allot of work. Everybody deals with stress differently. Mine is usually, headaches, high BP/BPM, dizziness, and an inability to relax and enjoy the present. I have been dealing with anxiety for about 2 years now. Tried SSRI's. Not for me, to say the least.
Xanax works quite well for me. But I HATE that I take it. I want to be free from any pharmaceutical drug as long as I can. But sometimes I just don't want to put up with the struggle of the day.
What do you guys think? Is it better on the mind and body to struggle by with stress, or to use Xanax. I should state that I understand it doesn't have to be a "all or nothing" situation. But I guess I'm just curiouse about what's actually worse for a person in the long run.
Stress :: Daily Anxiety
So this is my first post and I figured maybe someone could help me on this because I think it's getting ridiculous and I'm just tired of feeling like this. I started college on the 26th and have been anxiety free for pretty much all of summer. Starting around Tuesday I had mini anxiety attacks that would come once a day but would literally be episodes of max 15 seconds. Thursday I had a big one, but instead of being a very quick and heavy anxiety attack that lasts just mere seconds, it turned out to be slowly building and started with me feeling uneasy, and restless, and then numb around my body. The numbness was most notable in the lips and hands. The same thing has been occurring daily since then but I would say that I am dealing with it a bit better every time but the symptoms are no less present. Does anyone else feel this way? I'll try to explain in greater detail my symptoms and a few extra ones to finish up:
Numbness of lips and arms. Heaviness in arms, especially right arm and wrist. Rightness and pressure in head. Weakness in upper body mostly. Elevated heartbeat. Neck feels weak occasionally.
Stress / Anxiety :: How To Relieve Naturally
Natural stress relief is quite possible when you undergo some stress relief therapy, which is way of treatment carried out by a health care provider, Ayurvedic practitioners, professional consultants and/or psychologists. The treatment generally is carried out in peaceful surroundings and patient-friendly environment in health centre. The main objective of such kind of natural stress relief is to improve the self confidence of the patient suffering from various mental disorders.
Natural stress relief music is a preferred method to treat mental disorder since such therapy not only decreases elevated stress levels but also teaches the person how to cope with the pressure of day-to-day life as well as eliminate unwanted bad habits that might come about as a reaction to stressful conditions.
A typical natural stress relief comprises of many different therapies and techniques those have been specially designed to alleviate the symptoms of stress. Let us learn some important therapies: Some of the more common therapies which are carried out include:
Meditation - This is one of the most important natural stress relief therapies. Ayurvedic and other holistic practitioners such as Yoga Gurus strongly prefer to practice meditation. It will not only work as natural stress relief therapy but will also keep all the bodily hormones and enzymes in harmony.
Counseling - When a patient becomes overwhelmed by stress and anxiety, counseling will certainly help in boosting their self confidence and they will have more power to control their anger and peevishness.
Medications- In ancient health systems such as Ayurveda, the medications are preferred to heal the elevated ailments internally. Herbs such as brahmi, ashwagandha, shatavari, mandookparni etc have been used to treat various mental disorders including stress and anxiety. However, one has to checkout for the dosage since it depends upon the individual and the case in particular.
Anxiety :: Sudden Exteme Stress
I have never gotten this, and it has only happened about 3 times but has happened 2 times in the past week.
What happens?:
1- I am normal fine,etc.
2- For around 30 Minutes I am in a situation of EXTREME 'stress', not sure if its stress but like my blood pressure/heart rate/etc is up and I feel like I am unable to move and feel like there's someone holding a sword to my head for example. (this can then become part 3)
3- After I escape that situation, (next part-> I become very very strange, I do not feel right whatsoever(to the extreme). I feel like I have no idea where I am kinda or what I am doing, I am also unable to function(25% battery power running left, where I am and what I am doing I just can't "do it", I am a totally different person/body/etc for the bad as in even everything I see and touch (senses,etc) are VERY VERY strange. Like almost half of my body/brain is there and the other half not or something. In general it is very strange, I also become VERY very warm and almost need to take of all my clothes and open windows,etc.
MRI Advised Due To High Stress And Anxiety
So worried. Had a horrible stressful time recently and the sole of my left foot went tingly 5 weeks ago. Saw a neurologist who has requested an MRI of the brain and spine. I'm petrified it is MS and I know that's what he is looking for. Now i am worried about this I have developed a weird to staying sensation in my pelvic bone. Could this alone stress related? I really hope so. MRI is Friday and results next Monday.
View 19 RepliesAnxiety :: Stress Related Hives?
I rode in a HOT car on Thursday to pick up my husband's CT scan results and then read them on the way home. He has 8 areas of concern. By time my son and I got home, I had hives.
They come up, itch like CRAZY and go away then come up another area. Most are on my face with two that come and go on my side, one on my back and 2 on my shoulder.
I went to the doctor on Saturday morning when I woke up with about 6 on my face. By time I was taken back (20 mins?) all but one had gone down. He's the guy who treats me for anxiety and felt sure it was stress related since I've not eaten anything strange or new and since I broke out while reading this upsetting news. I had 2 or 3 more last night and a few start to appear on my jawline but I quickly used some Gold Bond Powder and they calmed down.
I was doing better today but took a long nap and made the mistake of covering up with a very warm housecoat while I napped. I woke with a VERY itchy hive in front of my ear (that one has bothered me at least once every day), one on my shoulder that went down very quickly, two on my side and two just starting to appear on my jawline. They were not itching so I grabbed the powder and only the one in front of my ear is really bothering me.
I can't afford to go back to the clinic and doctor had told me to use steroid cream and continue the Klonopin which helps me so much.
Has anyone ever had stress related hives and what did you do for them? The itch is pretty awful.
Stress / Anxiety :: Sweating / Choking
I have been struggling with anxiety for about eight months. I work a very stressful job (collections for a financial institution) and have tried to alleviate the stress by smoking/drinking more than I should. I know this just probably makes things worse, and I'm working on eliminating those habits.
At least three times a week I have had to change my clothes before going to work, because my anxiety is so high that I sweat completely through my clothes. I also go through bouts of coughing/choking just about every morning. I do not have much of an appetite. I often feel as though I am "out of my head."
Has anyone else experienced these symptoms? Has anything helped? I'm not a fan of anti-depressants, but I would be interested in hearing what other people have done to fix these problems, as they are unbearable and have made functioning very difficult.
Tension Headaches Due To Stress And Anxiety
I have been getting severe headaches recently and doctor just told me that it is tension headaches due to stress and anxiety. I have 2 children, 1 who is 5 and the other 8months old, I am due to go back to work and I work nightshift, I can't not go back as I need the money. My main problem is I have no umph! no desire to do anything apart from sleep. Does anyone have any ideas that could pick my mood up?
View 2 RepliesTechnique To Reduce Stress /depression / Anxiety
It's supposed to be a special breathing technique and I tried it and it really did relax me. He says you are creating a "energy circuit" when putting your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Can someone explain in further detail, this interests me majorly...
View 1 RepliesProstatitis :: Induced By Stress And Prolonged By Anxiety
After having both prostatitis and epididymitis for over a year, i am now convinced this was induced by stress and prolonged by anxiety.
I think both stress and anxiety tighten up the pelvic are leading to urination issues.
My prostate was inflamed but no real infection. The infection that was found in my semen is very common and probably would of been there had i not had prostatitis.
This all started with a very stressful event and then some more stress. After getting the initial symptoms anxiety set in. I knew it wasn't cancer but for some reason i was scared to death of an enlarged prostate. Being in my 40's i thought, " oh my god, if my prostate is a little enlarged now, it will be the size of a watermelon in my 50's. that will mean big time urination issues and sexual issues.
Crazy but it scared me. My prostate was a tad enlarged because it was inflamed.
All the anxiety and hyper focus on my prostate made my problem worse and appear worse than it was. Because of where the prostate is located, any little sensation will be exaggerated.
I remember reading an article that said those with large prostates wake up 3 or 4 times a night and have a weak stream. Wouldn't you know, that very night i woke up 4 times with a weak stream....the power of suggestion!
Anyway, my stream is sometimes weak and splits but that is irritation. I am feeling better and never had real pain, just soreness in my prostate area. That soreness gives the sensation of urination..hope i get totally back to normal soon.
Anxiety :: Significant Hair Loss And Induce More Stress
Has anyone experienced significant amounts of hair loss because of being symptomatic with anxiety? Did it ever grow back??
Ironically the hair loss induces more stress and its always been hard for me to accept because I know its premature and stress related. I know it may be vain to obsess on appearance but again, it happened unnaturally after my surgery and first anxiety attack 12 years ago. There seems to be more shedding since i've experienced symptoms.
Stress / Anxiety :: Stressed Out Because Of Work Place Problems
I've been stressed out because of the problems at my working place and the everyday problems. I think it might be anxiety.I had this problem for maybe about a year.
View 5 Replies