dave_81
05-10-2006, 05:37 PM
Hello everyone --
I went through a very traumatic event when I was 15 and have suffered badly from depersonalisation and depression (I currently have psychotic depression and depersonalisation disorder) ever since. I've used drink and drugs heavily in the past to try to numb the pain and find some relief (I guess I was self-medicating). Now I suspect that I may have undiagnosed PTSD, and wanted to ask the following: Is it common for people with PTSD to abuse street drugs and drink in order to try to find some relief?
Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated.
Best,
Dave_81
I went through a very traumatic event when I was 15 and have suffered badly from depersonalisation and depression (I currently have psychotic depression and depersonalisation disorder) ever since. I've used drink and drugs heavily in the past to try to numb the pain and find some relief (I guess I was self-medicating). Now I suspect that I may have undiagnosed PTSD, and wanted to ask the following: Is it common for people with PTSD to abuse street drugs and drink in order to try to find some relief?
Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated.
Best,
Dave_81
Sponsor
StephanieAnne
05-10-2006, 10:31 PM
Yes, Yes, and Yes :D
PTSD effected me so that I did activities that made me happy, and drugs and drinking made me happy, made me forget, made me maybe be a little more outgoing because who cares, everyone else is drinking too so this is fun. Then the next day you are back to your old problems and you get up and face the day being miserable, until after work, when you start all over again :bouncing: well that's how my life was.
It was fun while it lasted, then I found my future husband, stopped drinking but kept smoking pot, so I was just numb, and after a few years of that, I just got sick and tired of everything, and out came my trauma and I started therapy, quit pot cold turkey :eek: my therapist was amazed, but because of that addiction, I realized that I have an addictive personality, which brngs up another whole mess of issues.
Maybe that is what is happening to you dave, maybe you are sick and tired of all the crap and ready to face your issues ;) There is something to be said about the person who can face their demons, you have taken the 1st step, acknowledgement :D
ps dave, be nice to dave I never understood what that ment, do you know what that means?
PTSD effected me so that I did activities that made me happy, and drugs and drinking made me happy, made me forget, made me maybe be a little more outgoing because who cares, everyone else is drinking too so this is fun. Then the next day you are back to your old problems and you get up and face the day being miserable, until after work, when you start all over again :bouncing: well that's how my life was.
It was fun while it lasted, then I found my future husband, stopped drinking but kept smoking pot, so I was just numb, and after a few years of that, I just got sick and tired of everything, and out came my trauma and I started therapy, quit pot cold turkey :eek: my therapist was amazed, but because of that addiction, I realized that I have an addictive personality, which brngs up another whole mess of issues.
Maybe that is what is happening to you dave, maybe you are sick and tired of all the crap and ready to face your issues ;) There is something to be said about the person who can face their demons, you have taken the 1st step, acknowledgement :D
ps dave, be nice to dave I never understood what that ment, do you know what that means?
dave_81
05-11-2006, 10:45 AM
Yes, Yes, and Yes :D
PTSD effected me so that I did activities that made me happy, and drugs and drinking made me happy, made me forget, made me maybe be a little more outgoing because who cares, everyone else is drinking too so this is fun. Then the next day you are back to your old problems and you get up and face the day being miserable, until after work, when you start all over again :bouncing: well that's how my life was.
It was fun while it lasted, then I found my future husband, stopped drinking but kept smoking pot, so I was just numb, and after a few years of that, I just got sick and tired of everything, and out came my trauma and I started therapy, quit pot cold turkey :eek: my therapist was amazed, but because of that addiction, I realized that I have an addictive personality, which brngs up another whole mess of issues.
Maybe that is what is happening to you dave, maybe you are sick and tired of all the crap and ready to face your issues ;) There is something to be said about the person who can face their demons, you have taken the 1st step, acknowledgement :D
ps dave, be nice to dave I never understood what that ment, do you know what that means?
Thanks for the reply, StephanieAnn.
I recognised a lot of myself in what you wrote. I have been doing drugs and drinking heavily for years, in an attempt to befogg my mind and escape from my problems. But they are always there the morning after, usually worse than before -- so one has to drink even more the next time, etc, etc... You're dead right about one thing, Stephanie: I am feed up with all the crap and am ready squarely to face my issues. The problem is, I don't know if I've been given the correct diagnosis. As I've said before, I officially have psychotic depression and depresonalisation; but both of these things stem from a couple of traumatic events that happened to me when I was 15 -- which makes me suspect that I really have PTSD -- have had it for ther past 10 years or so. (I'm 24 now.) I'm gonna mention the possibility of PTSD to my psychiatrist next time I see him.
Again, thanks for the kind reply. Hope you're doing okay :)
Best,
Dave_81
P.S: I'm not sure what "be nice to Dave" means!
PTSD effected me so that I did activities that made me happy, and drugs and drinking made me happy, made me forget, made me maybe be a little more outgoing because who cares, everyone else is drinking too so this is fun. Then the next day you are back to your old problems and you get up and face the day being miserable, until after work, when you start all over again :bouncing: well that's how my life was.
It was fun while it lasted, then I found my future husband, stopped drinking but kept smoking pot, so I was just numb, and after a few years of that, I just got sick and tired of everything, and out came my trauma and I started therapy, quit pot cold turkey :eek: my therapist was amazed, but because of that addiction, I realized that I have an addictive personality, which brngs up another whole mess of issues.
Maybe that is what is happening to you dave, maybe you are sick and tired of all the crap and ready to face your issues ;) There is something to be said about the person who can face their demons, you have taken the 1st step, acknowledgement :D
ps dave, be nice to dave I never understood what that ment, do you know what that means?
Thanks for the reply, StephanieAnn.
I recognised a lot of myself in what you wrote. I have been doing drugs and drinking heavily for years, in an attempt to befogg my mind and escape from my problems. But they are always there the morning after, usually worse than before -- so one has to drink even more the next time, etc, etc... You're dead right about one thing, Stephanie: I am feed up with all the crap and am ready squarely to face my issues. The problem is, I don't know if I've been given the correct diagnosis. As I've said before, I officially have psychotic depression and depresonalisation; but both of these things stem from a couple of traumatic events that happened to me when I was 15 -- which makes me suspect that I really have PTSD -- have had it for ther past 10 years or so. (I'm 24 now.) I'm gonna mention the possibility of PTSD to my psychiatrist next time I see him.
Again, thanks for the kind reply. Hope you're doing okay :)
Best,
Dave_81
P.S: I'm not sure what "be nice to Dave" means!
StephanieAnne
05-11-2006, 02:43 PM
Dave
my therapist would say to me, be nice to Stephanie, and I would reply, I am she does what ever she wants, how much more nicer can I be :confused: then after more therapy, I was able to understand what she meant, I was being nice to Stephanie in a destrutive way, I would put myself down, settle for less, feel sorry for me. I needed to be nice to Stephanie in a positive way, ways that would expand me, not hedge me in, like being the martyr all the time, that was not necessary, but with PTSD you don't know how to feel so all you know is negative, thru therapy you start to realize positiveness,
gosh is that a word?
Mention it to your Psych that maybe you should go to a PTSD provider, they are trained in techniques to help you get thru and past all of the crap you are fed up with
You are in your way I wish you the best of luck ;)
my therapist would say to me, be nice to Stephanie, and I would reply, I am she does what ever she wants, how much more nicer can I be :confused: then after more therapy, I was able to understand what she meant, I was being nice to Stephanie in a destrutive way, I would put myself down, settle for less, feel sorry for me. I needed to be nice to Stephanie in a positive way, ways that would expand me, not hedge me in, like being the martyr all the time, that was not necessary, but with PTSD you don't know how to feel so all you know is negative, thru therapy you start to realize positiveness,
gosh is that a word?
Mention it to your Psych that maybe you should go to a PTSD provider, they are trained in techniques to help you get thru and past all of the crap you are fed up with
You are in your way I wish you the best of luck ;)
dave_81
05-11-2006, 06:52 PM
Thanks for the reply, Scott. I'm sorry to hear about the terrible things you saw in Bosnia (I read you other posts); it must have been awful... I know that drink and drugs are not the answer; that one should seek professional help, etc. I no longer do any hard drugs and have cut down on my drinking, as I find that it makes my depression worse in the long run (when I'm blind drunk I feel okay ;) ). I am currently receiving professional help -- for psychotic depression and depersonalisation. I'm gonna mention PTSD next time I see my shrink.
Take care,
Dave_81
Take care,
Dave_81
karllowe
06-19-2006, 02:11 PM
Thanks for the reply, Scott. I'm sorry to hear about the terrible things you saw in Bosnia (I read you other posts); it must have been awful... I know that drink and drugs are not the answer; that one should seek professional help, etc. I no longer do any hard drugs and have cut down on my drinking, as I find that it makes my depression worse in the long run (when I'm blind drunk I feel okay ;) ). I am currently receiving professional help -- for psychotic depression and depersonalisation. I'm gonna mention PTSD next time I see my shrink.
Take care,
Dave_81
ok dave there will be loads of squaddies that will sometimes try and pull the wool over doctors heads, to make belive they are sick or not fit for service. the reason for this is simpley when you are on uk posting and things are really good were it is a must in the army rule books that you must part take in out of work get togethers and like the mars ad "work rest and play" well thats the answer for people with PTSD recoverey. When i got back from bosnia in 1996 i was a nervous reck, not because what we got up to out there for the fact of what we seen. when we all got out of theater as its call we was ALL meant to have a shrink or company commander talk to us and to see if any one need any help. when you ask to put your hand up in front of alot of men its not easy and if you do prepare to get the piss took bullied and kiss your promotion good bye. i switched off after 1996. which leads me to what you have said about alcohol i have managed to stay away from drugs the only stuff i get is from the doctor however its not that good. the other thing i was going to add is it has took me 4years after the trigger of PTSD to get any real help and i still have the fight of legal bull to even get a war pension. and sadly most of the lads coming from the gulf will have the same problem. an help anyone needs contact: COMBAT STRESS they are independant of the armed force and the staff and the xsoldiers like myself will help if you need to chat if you dont that anit a problem....... regards
Take care,
Dave_81
ok dave there will be loads of squaddies that will sometimes try and pull the wool over doctors heads, to make belive they are sick or not fit for service. the reason for this is simpley when you are on uk posting and things are really good were it is a must in the army rule books that you must part take in out of work get togethers and like the mars ad "work rest and play" well thats the answer for people with PTSD recoverey. When i got back from bosnia in 1996 i was a nervous reck, not because what we got up to out there for the fact of what we seen. when we all got out of theater as its call we was ALL meant to have a shrink or company commander talk to us and to see if any one need any help. when you ask to put your hand up in front of alot of men its not easy and if you do prepare to get the piss took bullied and kiss your promotion good bye. i switched off after 1996. which leads me to what you have said about alcohol i have managed to stay away from drugs the only stuff i get is from the doctor however its not that good. the other thing i was going to add is it has took me 4years after the trigger of PTSD to get any real help and i still have the fight of legal bull to even get a war pension. and sadly most of the lads coming from the gulf will have the same problem. an help anyone needs contact: COMBAT STRESS they are independant of the armed force and the staff and the xsoldiers like myself will help if you need to chat if you dont that anit a problem....... regards