sunbury
11-29-2008, 06:13 AM
i have ptsd and a fear of doctors and medical care
Sponsor
maybecrazy
11-29-2008, 08:08 PM
Hi Sunbury and welcome :)
You didnt give me much to go on so please excuse me if I say things you already know or are already doing.
PTSD is a hard road to travel - I know for me that things only started to get better when I went to see a psychologist - are you seeing one? if you can't bring yourself to go into their office then if you explained they may be able to do a phone session to get you started (although it is better if they can see you - but we do what we can when we can)
I hope you have family and friends to support you (we can offer support here too if you need it and can tell you what worked for us ) In the beginning I found talking about it the hardest thing to do - although it was constantly running like a tape in my head - my psychologist helped me work out a lot of things - I'm still working on it but there is hope.
I hope you will let us know how you are doing - take care MBC
p.s., a psychologist or counciller may also be able to help you with your fear of dr's.
You didnt give me much to go on so please excuse me if I say things you already know or are already doing.
PTSD is a hard road to travel - I know for me that things only started to get better when I went to see a psychologist - are you seeing one? if you can't bring yourself to go into their office then if you explained they may be able to do a phone session to get you started (although it is better if they can see you - but we do what we can when we can)
I hope you have family and friends to support you (we can offer support here too if you need it and can tell you what worked for us ) In the beginning I found talking about it the hardest thing to do - although it was constantly running like a tape in my head - my psychologist helped me work out a lot of things - I'm still working on it but there is hope.
I hope you will let us know how you are doing - take care MBC
p.s., a psychologist or counciller may also be able to help you with your fear of dr's.
sunbury
11-30-2008, 06:23 PM
Thanks for the reply.
I have had the symptoms of ptsd for a few years but didn't realize what was wrong until I was hit with a major depression in July. I managed to call a therapist after a month of total confusion. Because of my insurance, I wasn't able to get an appointment for another month. She diagnosed me with ptsd and depression. Again, because of my insurance, I can get an appointment to see her only once every three to six weeks. So far this hasn't been much help. She referred me to a psychiatrist to see if meds will help but I can't get an appointment until Feb. 2009, so right now I'm feeling pretty hopeless.
I have had the symptoms of ptsd for a few years but didn't realize what was wrong until I was hit with a major depression in July. I managed to call a therapist after a month of total confusion. Because of my insurance, I wasn't able to get an appointment for another month. She diagnosed me with ptsd and depression. Again, because of my insurance, I can get an appointment to see her only once every three to six weeks. So far this hasn't been much help. She referred me to a psychiatrist to see if meds will help but I can't get an appointment until Feb. 2009, so right now I'm feeling pretty hopeless.
isitme
12-01-2008, 05:41 AM
i have ptsd and a fear of doctors and medical care
Me too. (I always thought I had ptsd from the 90's, or then maybe 80's. Now I'm told I had it from the 70's). :o It's never to late to seek help. It's a case of overcoming that fear and going for it. I can't stress enough how useful seeking help has been for me. The key seems to be 'to talk - is to make sense and to make sense of it all - rids us of the confusion'.
Only then can pespective be found and the ability to move on. Posting here and unloading all the baggage frees the brain of that confusion and there always seems to be someone here who can relate to another.
Me too. (I always thought I had ptsd from the 90's, or then maybe 80's. Now I'm told I had it from the 70's). :o It's never to late to seek help. It's a case of overcoming that fear and going for it. I can't stress enough how useful seeking help has been for me. The key seems to be 'to talk - is to make sense and to make sense of it all - rids us of the confusion'.
Only then can pespective be found and the ability to move on. Posting here and unloading all the baggage frees the brain of that confusion and there always seems to be someone here who can relate to another.
sunbury
12-03-2008, 12:57 AM
Hi,
Thanks for your reply. I'm having a lot of trouble talking about myself to the therapist. I haven't really ever told anyone anything about my childhood, not even my husband of 28 years. How do I start talking? My therapist asks me what do I want to talk about today and I don't have any idea how to start so sometimes I can't talk at all. Any ideas?
Thanks for your reply. I'm having a lot of trouble talking about myself to the therapist. I haven't really ever told anyone anything about my childhood, not even my husband of 28 years. How do I start talking? My therapist asks me what do I want to talk about today and I don't have any idea how to start so sometimes I can't talk at all. Any ideas?
isitme
12-03-2008, 05:34 AM
I could never put into words what I was feeling. The whole thing just resulted in tears. In the end all I felt was 'nothing'. It took a year of talking on here, just to identify, "yes, I do need professional help" and then a further year, (now), to pluck up the courage to see a therapist. My therapist started with my earliest childhood memories. It gave me something to think about. And it took me 3 weeks to trust her. She tells me how difficult it is to extract info from me! It isn't easy.
maybecrazy
12-03-2008, 09:16 PM
Hi Sunbury,
I used to take a peice of paper with what i would like to talk about with me - then if i lost my words and couldnt say anything he could start off on the topic - somtimes we would talk about other things to get my brain from being freezed up - I also had to close my eyes sometimes just for a second or two to get my head working again - i think that cut out all other input from my environment so i could try to find the words - I hoep you find a way - things can get better - take care MBC
ps - I also started writing and took in the stories i wrote - it wasa way for me to express what i wanted to say without actually saying it - which i fround really hard to do.
I used to take a peice of paper with what i would like to talk about with me - then if i lost my words and couldnt say anything he could start off on the topic - somtimes we would talk about other things to get my brain from being freezed up - I also had to close my eyes sometimes just for a second or two to get my head working again - i think that cut out all other input from my environment so i could try to find the words - I hoep you find a way - things can get better - take care MBC
ps - I also started writing and took in the stories i wrote - it wasa way for me to express what i wanted to say without actually saying it - which i fround really hard to do.
sunbury
12-03-2008, 11:28 PM
Hi,
I really appreciate having a place to get information and support. Does anyone know why it's so hard to talk?
Thanks
I really appreciate having a place to get information and support. Does anyone know why it's so hard to talk?
Thanks
maybecrazy
12-04-2008, 02:36 AM
Shame, guilt, the fear of looking weak or stupid or just that it's not the right time to say the words hidden inside - I wish I knew - then maybe it would be easier. MBC
isitme
12-04-2008, 05:57 AM
Double posted
isitme
12-04-2008, 05:58 AM
QUOTE=sunbury;3812035]Hi,
I really appreciate having a place to get information and support. Does anyone know why it's so hard to talk?
Thanks
1 - I didn't want the stigma of having a mental problem, that was the biggest fear...........reality now.;)
2 - I didn't want to admit defeat and in need of help. (That meant x had won in my eyes).
3 - I went through years of torment/confusion and still live it now, only mentally, not literally. The last thing I wanted to do was dredge it all up with a stranger.
4 - Lack of trust.
5 - Fear of not being believed.
[/QUOTE]
I really appreciate having a place to get information and support. Does anyone know why it's so hard to talk?
Thanks
1 - I didn't want the stigma of having a mental problem, that was the biggest fear...........reality now.;)
2 - I didn't want to admit defeat and in need of help. (That meant x had won in my eyes).
3 - I went through years of torment/confusion and still live it now, only mentally, not literally. The last thing I wanted to do was dredge it all up with a stranger.
4 - Lack of trust.
5 - Fear of not being believed.
[/QUOTE]
sunbury
12-06-2008, 05:38 PM
Hi,
How often should a person see their therapist? I worry that I will never feel any better and I don't know if seeing my therapist every six weeks will be helpful. I don't feel comfortable discussing this with her yet, not that I have any choice in how often I get to go.
Thanks for any feedback.
How often should a person see their therapist? I worry that I will never feel any better and I don't know if seeing my therapist every six weeks will be helpful. I don't feel comfortable discussing this with her yet, not that I have any choice in how often I get to go.
Thanks for any feedback.
maybecrazy
12-06-2008, 07:34 PM
Hi Sunbury,
an appointment every 6 weeks seems a big gap - does she give you homework? I know that sounds dumb but the therapist I finally found that helped me gave me homework - things to do and read for the time inbetween therapy sessions - that may help you - we then discussed the things I had for homework in my next session so that made sure i had done it - things like how to handle anger - different distraction techniques to take away and practice and find the ones that worked for me - discuss it with your T if its not working for you - you never know if they can help until you ask.
Take Care P7
an appointment every 6 weeks seems a big gap - does she give you homework? I know that sounds dumb but the therapist I finally found that helped me gave me homework - things to do and read for the time inbetween therapy sessions - that may help you - we then discussed the things I had for homework in my next session so that made sure i had done it - things like how to handle anger - different distraction techniques to take away and practice and find the ones that worked for me - discuss it with your T if its not working for you - you never know if they can help until you ask.
Take Care P7
sunbury
12-07-2008, 02:18 AM
Hi Maybecrazy,
Six weeks between appointments seem to be the average for my HMO, but when I found out how long it would be I went home and cried all night. I know it wasn't true but I kept thinking it was because they didn't like me or they thought I didn't deserve to get help. I really hate thinking like that. She did give me some homework. I'm supposed to write in a journal and then shred what I wrote, which I have been doing. I also think that joining this message board is a good thing. So many people are going through the same thing, it's so sad for us all.
Six weeks between appointments seem to be the average for my HMO, but when I found out how long it would be I went home and cried all night. I know it wasn't true but I kept thinking it was because they didn't like me or they thought I didn't deserve to get help. I really hate thinking like that. She did give me some homework. I'm supposed to write in a journal and then shred what I wrote, which I have been doing. I also think that joining this message board is a good thing. So many people are going through the same thing, it's so sad for us all.
maybecrazy
12-07-2008, 05:25 AM
Hi Sunbury,
Yes this is a great palce to talk about what you are going through because you can find people to give suggestions as to what they did in your situation or just support - which is sometimes what we need most - just someone to listen - I'm listening - you are not alone.
I guess we all get a buit paranoid because of the being on high alert thing - my psych said to ring him if I had a problem and when I did (the 3rd time! in 3 weeks - poor man) he was busy and so asked me to call him back in an hour - I imediately interpreted this as " you are wasting my time - dont bother me" - yes totally NOT what he said - but I was and still do often feel a bit fragile - I read things into what people say instead of listening just to what the words mean - I am not used to reaching out for help - I got used to there beign no help or being refused by thoses closest to me when I really needed their help - and thinking i was bad/dirty/evil and so didnt deserve help - getting sad now - changing subject. (but I hate feeling like that too - like one wrong word and i will shatter and being needy - I hate that!)
It's great that you are getting homwork and doing it :) stick with it - it can really help.
It can be a long journey but we are in it together - all of us and we are here to support and help each other - take care MBC
p.s., I would still ask the psyche if you could have closer appointments - its worth a try.
Yes this is a great palce to talk about what you are going through because you can find people to give suggestions as to what they did in your situation or just support - which is sometimes what we need most - just someone to listen - I'm listening - you are not alone.
I guess we all get a buit paranoid because of the being on high alert thing - my psych said to ring him if I had a problem and when I did (the 3rd time! in 3 weeks - poor man) he was busy and so asked me to call him back in an hour - I imediately interpreted this as " you are wasting my time - dont bother me" - yes totally NOT what he said - but I was and still do often feel a bit fragile - I read things into what people say instead of listening just to what the words mean - I am not used to reaching out for help - I got used to there beign no help or being refused by thoses closest to me when I really needed their help - and thinking i was bad/dirty/evil and so didnt deserve help - getting sad now - changing subject. (but I hate feeling like that too - like one wrong word and i will shatter and being needy - I hate that!)
It's great that you are getting homwork and doing it :) stick with it - it can really help.
It can be a long journey but we are in it together - all of us and we are here to support and help each other - take care MBC
p.s., I would still ask the psyche if you could have closer appointments - its worth a try.