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Discussion Topic: Depression & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
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 hec
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07-02-2003 @ 12:00 AM |
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Member
Joined: May. 2003
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Has anyone suffered from depression and PTSD?
I am seeing a therapist but still can never sleep
because of flashbacks and nightmares about stuff
that happened to me as a kid.
My therapist said to let the flashbacks come and try
to think about it but I dissassociate when I try to
think about this stuff and I start to think about
insignificant things on a loop when I try to work out
the past. I have no control over this.
How do you deal with this and how do you get to
sleep and not wake up from nightmares. All my
nightmares are someone chasing me or someone
dying or the past recurring and I am being
victimized.
When I was in the hospital they tried every kind of
sleeping pill and none worked.
Help.
thanks
heather
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| Pippychick |
07-02-2003 @ 8:00 PM |
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Joined: Jul. 2003
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Hi Heather,
I took the test thing on here and found I had PTSD as well as severe depression. Mine comes from the suicide of my Dad and brother. My bro was a heroin addict who took an overdose. When my Dad found him dead he took an overdose of painkillers. A couple of days later I walked into their house and found their bodies.
Due to me being off work, I have no money and have had to move with my mom back into the house where I found them. I have nightmares and trouble sleeping. I feel really scared here too sometimes. I think it may have something to do with guilt - it's my dad I'm scared of.
It also seems to have got worse over time and now I am finally talking to a counsellor, it is seeming to get worse still.
I don't really know the answers to your questions and I haven't been through the same thing but I know how it feels to be scared. You are not alone.
I hope you get to read this.
Pip 
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| hec
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07-02-2003 @ 10:59 PM |
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Member
Joined: May. 2003
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Hi Pip
I did get to read your message. Thanks for posting.
I am really sorry that you had to go through such a
terrible ordeal.
Maybe we will both find the answers eventually. It
helps me to know that someone else has the
same problems as I do. I was starting to feel like I
should be able to get past this but....I dont know
how.
It has been worse for me also since seeing a
counsellor but the therapist and my shrink both say
it will improve eventually and I should be able to
move on....I am not sure about this but am still
hoping it to be true.
I hope you improve soon too.
Thanks again
Heather
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| Anne-Marie, Site Director |
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07-03-2003 @ 6:43 AM |
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Moderator
Joined: Nov. 2000
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Hi Pippychick. It's easy to understand how living in that house can trigger houghts. Have you and your mom thought of moving?
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| Pippychick |
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07-03-2003 @ 10:12 AM |
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Member
Joined: Jul. 2003
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Hello again Heather and Anne Marie,
Thank you for replying. Heather, I totally understand what you mean when you say you feel as if you can't get past this thing. I feel like that too, and it makes me feel a bit better to know I'm not alone. I think that especially when you are suffering with depression too it is hard to see the bigger picture and day-to-day there never seems to be improvement.
Having said all that, I also think that although it feels worse at the moment it might mean it is getting better, because we are facing the things which haunt us. Imagine that as time goes by and it gets easier, it will be because you are finding peace, rather than hiding the past from yourself.
I think in both our situations, although we have been through vastly different things, the question of how to recover must be similar if not the same, and although the things we have seen and been through will never leave us, there must be a chance that we can come to some kind of terms.
I hope you start to find some peace soon, and I hope that you feel better reading this as I have made myself feel better writing it. Is that selfish? I hope it makes ense anyway.
Anne Marie, thank you for your welcome. I have been to other boards and I feel there is a really healing atmosphere here, as the emphasis is on making yourself do things rather than letting the depression beat you. It is hard, but I promise I will try to keep my spirits up while I am talking on here.
In answer to your question, my mom has thought of moving for my sake but I keep talking her out of it. You see the house is not just where they died. My brother and I were babies here, we grew up in this house. It might sound silly considering what I have talked about to want to stay here, but I keep thinking that one day it will be better and I will feel good here again.
I suppose I am saying that there are friendly ghosts here too. There are 24 years of good times here, christmas as kids, learning my bro to read, family parties and water fights in the garden... <<<smiles>>> The time they died was one week, and although it will never go away, it might one day get itself into perspective. Does that make any sense?
Pip
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| Anne-Marie, Site Director |
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07-03-2003 @ 1:56 PM |
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Moderator
Joined: Nov. 2000
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Attachment to your childhood home is understandable. It might be quite useful for you to discuss the whole issue seriously with your therapist. I can't tell you if it's a good idea or not to remain, but your therapist can help you sort that out. (Are you sure you mom does not want to move for her own sake though?)
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| hec
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07-03-2003 @ 5:59 PM |
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Member
Joined: May. 2003
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Hi Pip
Thanks for posting it really does help that
someone else is going through similar stuff and is
remaining hopeful.
I saw the therapist today and it really was a rough
go but things are starting to come out and we are
working through the feelings.
It was nice to hear from you on a bad day. I didn't
get any clear answers on how to not obsess over
stupid thoughts and get to the serious stuff that
really needs some thought. I still get the
nightmares also...I guess that is all part of it. I hope
the lack of sleep doesn't make me go nuts again
before I figure out stuff.
Be Well!
Heather
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| Kelly |
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08-26-2003 @ 3:38 PM |
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Member
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Heather,
I have both conditions and wake up almost every night from nightmares. My therapist also agrees that I must go through the memories to re-experience the traumas. Usually therapy (twice a week for 2 years now) sparks the nightmares I have. The worst are the ones with night sweats and shortness of breath.
I am currently taking Trazadone (for sleep) and Klonapin (for anxiety) before bed and if I take 200mg of Trazadone, I sleep without waking up. I am groggy the next day, so it is a tradeoff to what you are willing to put up with. 200 mg would normally put a normal person in a deep sleep for days, but I sleep about 7 hours (which is a miracle for me).
Maybe this information will help you and your doctors find what's best for you.
Take care,
Kelly
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| hopeful
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08-27-2003 @ 10:39 PM |
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Joined: Jul. 2003
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Hi Kelly
thanks for your post. Your story sounds like the
story of my life. I wake up from night terrors with
really bad sweats almost every night.
I am taking 150mg of effexor and 300mg of
wellbutrin for the depression. I am taking 300 mg
of trazodone which now allows me to sleep for
about 3-4 hours. this is an improvement because i
could only sleep two hours before. I also take
zyprexa and ativan that are supposed to help with
sleep but i dont think they do much.
My doctor says i have a high tolerance to
medication. yay for me lol.
I am seeing a therapist also so i know what you
mean about nightmares after. I guess it is from
talking out all of the bad memories.
Did your therapist tell you how long you will have to
be in therapy. I have been going once a week for 3
months now and am anxious to be done with it.
thanks
heather
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| Kelly |
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08-28-2003 @ 8:11 AM |
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Joined: Aug. 2003
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Heather,
I guess it is up to me if I keep going to therapy or not. I don't see any benefits (had a long life of trauma), but I am not using therapy like my friends think I should. Don't know what "using therapy" is exactly, so I keep going thinking it will help me at some point. At least I am comfortable with this therapist. I have had a few in the past that were awful for me (I took my hatred out on them and wouldn't talk to them.) I was between psychiatrists in January and had a really hard time with the medication adjustment, so my therapist still thinks I need her.
One suggestion I would make to you would be to talk to your therapist about taking a break to see if you are affected by the loss of treatment. You can always call or make an appointment if you really need to talk again.
Hope this helps, (unfortunately, I see myself in therapy until death)
Kelly
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Discussion Topic: Depression & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
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