I'm a newbie and I have a question...:) - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Message Board

vanessa2318 · 06-04-2008, 03:32 AM

Does stress tend to trigger anyone's PTSD. I was diagnosed 3 years ago when I left my second (and last) abusive relationship. In the begging I was extremely paranoid, had massive nightmares or being attacked and would have day time flashbacks. It was to the point where the real life surrounding would fade out and I would be back in time being attacked and it was so real I could feel my teeth jar inside my head. About after a year of therapy I got to the point where the nightmares were very few and far in between. The day time terrors weren't so real, more like a mental note. But recently I have crashed due to stress and anxiety and the nightmares are returning just as bad as they were in the beginning. My day time terrors are starting to get more intense and longer too. My therapist said I might be having a relapse due to stress but we haven't really discussed since I also have Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder, so we've been busy dealing with those. Any suggestions how to get through this relapse or techniques to relax? Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

casatonia 1 · 06-04-2008, 01:48 PM

Hi Vanessa, i dont know if this will be any good advice to you but here goes. I find that going for a walk, or out with friends that this can lift your mood, sort of make you forget about your disorder, i like to paint when im relapsing (most of the time thats when i make my best work), sex helps or even just a hug by releasing horemones, and it may sound strange but i make myself eblivious to the world, i lie on my bed with music on and just daydream-sometimes i may have flashbacks but im in such a trance they fly away.i get panic attacks as well and i have medication for them but they get so strong sometimes i just ride them out, wierd but it eases because i know it should be a while before the next one. take care. love cass. ps talking here is also a good thing to do.

specialk12378 · 06-05-2008, 05:48 AM

Hi Vanessa. Has your therapist told you of a technique called progressive muscle relaxation? I learned about it a good while back. If you have the ability to mentally focus for about 10 minutes then it may do you a lot of good. I sill have a hard time being able to concentrate for a while because I still have yet to figure out how to keep things from popping up in my head and distracting me.

To do the muscle relaxation technique I was taught, you just need a quiet and comfortable place. You sit upright and concentrate on a sqweeze & hold of a muscle group. You focus on the tension while you are squeezing the muscles (for about 10-15 seconds) and then you relax them and concentrate on how much more relaxed you feel when you release the tension. I was taught to start with the calves, then thighs, forearms, arms, stomach, chest, shoulders, neck and face.

When I didn't have any distractions and could focus on it, it made me fell a lot more relaxed.

Hope this helps some.