Generally, true PTSD patients don't continue their meds anyway.
Why? Because they don't trust anyone, they are more likely to self-medicate.

You'll have to Reckon with the fact that this is part of you. Dealing with it is no different than brushing your teeth. You have to develop a routine and a way of handling it so that it becomes an auto response.

You fellas better start now.

I really suggest you learn a little about the matrix
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachypsychia

Its here you must control and use the force young Skywalkers.

It can be done but not by most of the head-shrinks

I work days, but my night are really bad sometimes, got a good wife who listens, but mostly I don't talk about anything with anyone who hasn't been there done that.

What worked for me may not work for anyone else.. but my therapy was an old wooden rowboat that was broken beyond repair. Kinda like me at the time. I spent a lot of nights in the shop with hand tools and a radio. No power tools, that would have been cheating. Think I replaced every damn board in that boat. I fixed it just like the guy that built it. Sanded it, varnished it, stripped it and started over more times than I care to count. Finaly gave it away 7 years later when the wood got so thin I was about to sand it thru.
Anyway, three boats, 14 handmade knives, 6 sets of baby furniture, and four classic cars - I'm still doing it. Just take me longer to complete a project because I sleep most nights. But then... it's about the journey

i think that's the hardest part for a lot of folks w/ptsd: they keep looking for the "end"...striving for a "cure." it's like the quest for the holy grail. it only leads to disappointment, disillusionment, and frustration. all of that just makes the ptsd worse. a happy person w/ptsd really ain't that bad. a miserable person w/ptsd is pretty wretched...and sometimes dangerous.

you're right. it's about the journey. the quest is the grail. it took me quite awhile to learn that the best way to avoid the demons of the past is to stay focused on the present moment. even anticipating the future causes one to look in the rearview mirror, for prediction and planning are functions of logic based upon information gleaned from past observations and experiences. and the only thing we actually have is right now. the past is already gone and the next minute might not come. so i try to enjoy the current one for what it is worth. a good sense of humor is one of the greatest assets any disabled person can have. and if you don't have one, GET ONE. there is humor, beauty, ugliness, and pain in almost everything. aside from the chemical imbalances, we choose what we focus on.

I try and stay as busy as I can on my days off, usually outside farting around doing anything.
I just try to go day to day.

All that therapy and stress reducers work great for depression, constant sorrow, human Boo-Hoo feelings, and conscious decisions. The problem comes in when the switch gets flipped and you have no regular conscious control and you are operating in the Matrix. Its there you need to be prepared for.

You might do well for years, but a time will come and that’s what “TRUE” PTSD is all about. I suggest you start working on an “off” switch now.

A journey to peace and happiness are only outside factors and have nothing to do with fixing the propensity for a PTSD episode

That's the ticket, keep doing it. I think the trick is not just doing any old thing but finding something you love to do or think you would love. Don't do it all the time, but mostly reserve it for when you need it. Basically you have to replace a bad experience with a good one. If you can't do it - read about it. I knew a guy whose thing was fly fishing. When he couldn't fish, he would tie flies and buy and fix old rods and reels. When he traveled, he always had a book about hunting or fishing with him. Last time we talked he had gotten bored with it and decided to learn Acient Greek. To each his own.

Anyway the road is winding, rocky, doubles back on itself, and leaves you thinking WTF? But it does get smoother the more you walk it. What's at the end? Dunno, let know know when I get there.

Very true !

johnny, why don't you dial down that "true ptsd" rhetoric about a thousand, bud? nobody is interested in "the only guy who really knows the truth"...cuz he's actually delusional or psychotic. and you don't have some sort of patent on post traumatic stress disorder. it comes in lots of different sizes and shapes and colors.

Why would I want to do "dial it down" Ken? My only agenda is to encourage folks to find comfort. Hopefully, not a broken marrige or family life, drugs, alcohol, or worse.

(deleted)

Ken, thanks for all you do but you really should consider your tone. It very well might be keeping away that "one" that needs help the most. Ken, I believe you are a good guy and I hope you can live with my rebutal.

Show me an "expert", I'll show you someone with an ego and super-ego problem.

Here is the cure for "True" PTSD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ0epRjfGLw

I find it awesome when a person finds peace and relief through self discovery and education. I'm glad some of you fellas are finding that peace. I personally feel the more folks with "credentials" a PTSD sufferer can keep out of the process the better off they’ll be.

May the peace of the Lord, be with you all.

Please don’t consider this preaching, my only purpose is to possibly assist in a greater understanding of PTSD and to share my knowledge. I am not making any recommendations, just providing information. What you do with it is completely up to you.

PTSD is considered and anxiety “disorder”. I put the term “disorder” in quotes because it is actually a learned/conditioned response, which is NORMAL. Remember learning about Pavlov’s experiment with ringing a bell and then giving the dogs food? Eventually the dogs would begin to salivate expecting food. However, after repeated trials of ringing the bell and not feeding the dogs, they stopped salivating (a process called extinction) This classical conditioning is the same learning model through which PTSD forms. Take for example, large crowds. A common theme among combat Vets is that large crowds are dangerous and unpredictable, which is true while serving in a combat zone. Therefore, they often avoid crowds or smaller areas even after they return as they have been conditioned to do this. This could also be swerving around potholes on the freeway to avoid “pressure plates” as this is what they have become conditioned to do while in combat areas. Whatever situation it may be, the initial, classical conditioning is the same. However, with PTSD the event is so significant that it does not take repeated trials, only one is needed.

So how is this response maintained across the life span? Negative reinforcement. This is best explained through this scenario. A man is driving his car to the bank, he get in an accident at a busy intersection and is sent to the hospital with severe injuries. After he recovers, he is driving to the bank again. As he approaches the same intersection, his anxiety begins to increase to the point of a panic attack (negative reinforcement), he turns off the road, AVOIDS the intersection, and takes the back streets to the bank. Once he turned away from the intersection his anxiety decreased. Now just thinking about that intersection and his accident causes his anxiety to increase (negative reinforcement) so he AVOIDS all intersections and takes the back streets to the bank, grocery store, and to pick up his kids. Eventually the thought of even getting in the car produces anxiety and he stops driving, limiting his life experiences, no social interactions with friends, family, and everybody that cares for him.

To cope with PTSD the natural and easiest method is avoidance. Avoiding situations that cause anxiety works, that is why people do it. However, as one gets older, they begin avoiding more and more. They don’t go to movies, football games, or dinner with the wife. Maybe they drink/use drugs so they can sleep or “numb out” leading to a life of addiction. There life gets smaller and smaller because it’s “just easier” to stay away. There is less risk for an angry outburst, tearfulness, or in an environment where they can be “triggered”. While this method is somewhat effective it has a significant negative impact on the person’s quality of life and those around them. Whether it is through isolation or a lifetime of drug/alcohol abuse.

The point I am trying to get across is that PTSD will be with a person for the rest of their life and often times; it will increase in severity as they get older. You cannot take away the memories. It may decrease in severity in the middle years as one becomes busier with their life, kids, or job. But that it can come back with a vengeance in the retirement years. They live a productive busy life but when they retire, have more time on their hands, reflect upon their lives, and the PTSD comes back ten fold.

So what is the solution? It is necessary to understand that PTSD will be with you for the rest of your life. Like I stated before, you cannot take away the memories, but one can learn to cope with the symptoms more effectively. Additionally, the anger, hypervigilance, and avoidance can be significantly minimized with the proper treatment. Meds only treat the symptoms, not the cause or foundation of the problem. Trazadone for sleep, Ativan for the panic attack, Lexapro for depression, Depakote to control the mood swings. On and on, there is an endless supply and doctors that are more than willing to prescribe. Once again, only treating the symptoms, not the root of the problem.

For some, the best way to get through this and treat the root of the problem is in therapy with someone who specifically treats and has been trained in PTSD. This isn’t going to the Psychiatrist for meds but usually with a Psychologist (Ph.D) and sometimes a Social worker. There are people who have been extensively trained at the VA for PTSD and can help improve your quality of life. There is a significant amount of empirical evidence for certain therapeutic techniques for the treatment of PTSD. Unfortunately these people may not be available at the CBOC’s, but at the major medical centers. It may be a long drive for some of you guys, but if you’re SC then the government will pay for your travel.

In a nutshell, PTSD is a NORMAL/ conditioned response to a traumatic stressor. If left untreated it can increase in severity as one gets older. It will never fully go away. Medications only treat the symptoms not the root cause. There are people who have been specifically trained in the treatment of PTSD and who are available to Veteran’s with this condition. These services are available, while they may be difficult to utilize due to distance issues or scheduling around a work schedule.

If you have any questions, want tell me I’m an idiot, or anything else, please feel free to PM me.

All good info, folks one person's info is something that may have worked for them so it works FOR THEM, no need for any bad words or name calling !
Like I said what works for you may not work for others, but it is info to be taken in and as Quack said used how you want.
For me being outdoors and helping FOF has helped a lot, but being outdoors may not be what works for others.

I was mainly addressing the propensity to go into a subconscious episode usually bourne from hyper-vigilance as mentioned by Mr. Smokingquack. Usually not in a routine or familiar setting.

I would hate for anyone to be fooled into thinking they were ok just because they found Sinatra music, and Pottery class.

You need an off switch before, or if, it ever gets turned on.

Whatever you folks decide to do, I hope you seek help and keep actively involved in the process.

Godspeed

excellent post, smokingquack.

and a much better post from you, too, johnny. i only took issue with the "real ptsd" phrase you've been using lately.

had a doc explain it like this" using the drugs is like using a gas mask while standing in a pile of crap." it hides the symptoms but when removed you are still in the pile." not saying not to use the drugs by no means, they help just try not to depend on them.
i like the way he looked at it.

I'm not trying to offend anyone.

the problem for me a lot of days is getting motivated or having the initiative to do anything then I feel even crappier for not spending enough time or doing anything with my boys.

My friend, try to live for those who can't.

I am not a doctor, just sharing my personal experience as I have had depressions and anxiety for sometime. The best way to get over anxiety and depression is to take a break from your regular schedule, go out, and take good sleep. This helps in clearing the mind and try consulting a specialist who can suggest you as how you can get over your problem. There are various prescription drugs to get over anxiety and depression, but these should only be used in accordance with the instruction of a physician. Rather than going on drugs, one should look for the reason behind there problem . Keeping your self busy and changing the schedule also helps sometimes to get over stress and depression.

ptsd has a whole lot to do with our emotions...how we "feel" about things. fear is an emotion. depression, anxiety, and agitation, and anger are all emotional states heavily associated with ptsd. if you allow your actions to be dictated by how you feel you are losing the battle. i suggest you work on breaking this negative cycle by acting before feeling...or in spite of feeling. the cool thing you will discover about this is that when you act 1st, the feeling you were lacking usually results from the action. so instead of "i don't feel like taking a walk," you take the walk and after the first 100 steps or so you're really enjoying it. after the walk, your spirits are completely lifted and you feel like you do on 1 of your "good days." so you go on to have 1 of those "good days."

+1

Basic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Yes, it is. But it's also the Nike marketing motto: "Just Do It!" LOL

Hello and I am new to the forums here. I deal with PTSD daily and am on edge alot of times. I get short tempered and shoot my mouth off at my family sometimes. I have thrown things when I get so frustrated I do not know whate else to do and just release my tension. Sleeping I understand as I take sleeping pills and still know how to wake up in sweats. Dreams suck! Like it was said I have been to some counseling however the VA near me is overloaded and I am a waiting list for group counselling and I work for the VA so no getting around the list.

Yes I feel like staying in a small habitat and avoiding alot of people is good. I am not happy about being this way and I need to find more hobbies. Currently I fish with family and a couple of friends. Hunting is one thing I love to do but am recovering from my 2nd surgery to correct leg, ankle and foot damage now with a third on the way. Life sucks laying on the couch and doing nothing all day. I doze on and off and do not sleep well at night.

Thank the family and friends in your life who assist and support you, talk to those who you feel really comfortable with. Talking is hard and thinking about some things is harder, I know and I keep it inside. Hang in there and time better heal all wounds.