Bulletin Board Post

Feelings

PTSD

<div class="ExternalClassDA078767861D44279E10FCFC7B7CC933">I've been having a lot of anxiety with my PTSD from my car accident because my 3 best friends died in my arms I'm active with a therapist and psychiatrist but sometimes I don't know what to do. I get panic attacks. My little sister gets scared when she sees me like this. Please write back. </div>

<div class="ExternalClassEB855599264F4E66A096EDDB06AEF43F"><div><div class="ExternalClassDA078767861D44279E10FCFC7B7CC933">Good to hear from you. There is no doubt that something like this is going be on your mind, but knowing what works for you when it comes to calming yourself or redirecting your thoughts can make difficult times a bit easier to get through. Your little sister loves you and wants you be ok. It scares her when she sees you hurting, and at times she probably feels helpless. So, what might help both of you is to give her a list of ways she can help you when one of these panic attacks come on strong. We are all different, and different things work for different people, but maybe she can hug you, or get you a glass of water, or bring you your earbuds so you can listen to music, or even just go get your mom. Give her a job, so that she feels a little more control over the situation, and it just might help you too. Another idea would be to write out what you feel and what your body looks like while having a panic attack. If you can list out several things, then you have identified the very things you can take control of and try to reverse. It could be that your palms start sweating or you feel dizzy, or your jaw clenches up, or your heart starts beating fast. You can find a place to sit down, put your head down, rub your jaw in circles to relax it, or close one nostril and your mouth and force yourself to take in very slow deep breaths to slow down your heart rate. When you reverse how your body is physically reacting to the anxiety, it then allows you more clear focus to process through what you are thinking. Be sure to keep working with your therapist too. You probably talk through some pretty tough things, but your therapist is there to keep you on track taking good care of yourself too. When one strategy is not working, he/she can adapt it or give you new suggestions to try. You need an objective person who can help you heal from one session to the next. If you need support in between sessions certainly feel free to email, text, or chat in ok. Laura, Crisis Counselor </div></div> </div>

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