What can I do for PTSD?

[CharlieDickens]

A few months ago I was violently assaulted by my ex-boyfriend - he tried to choke me. I remember nearly passing out and wondering if I was going to walk out of his apartment alive.

Anyway, I reported to the police, blocked on all platforms and started therapy straight away. My symptoms are getting better but I'm still triggered quite a lot, spend days feeling incapable of doing anything, suffer from insomnia and feel completely dissociated. I'm sure I have PTSD. My GP has been amazing. I have medication for the anxiety and insomnia.

I was thinking of asking for a diagnosis of PTSD but I'm not sure what difference it would make or if there is anything else he can do for me. Does anyone have any experience of this and what I can expect?

Have you looked at emdr? I've had this and although not resolved my problems (likely due to the complexity/length of time between incidents and therapy plus multiple reoccurrences) it has improved my life so much. My therapist said it does work better for individual events than multiple issues. I did this as a last resort and was very sceptical but amazed by the results.

Please find yourself a proper trauma specialist and get some EMDR or trauma based CBT, sending much love, sounds so hard and I'm so sorry this happened to you xx

My therapist specialises in this and I've had a few sessions using EMDR. It's working but over the past week, I've noticed it getting worse again.

I've worked with several people with trauma/PTSD. This is how I describe it.

When something traumatic happens a part of your subconscious mind is 'assigned' to figure out exactly what happened and why, simply because it was so terrible that it must be avoided at all costs in the future and that can only be done by understanding/analysing and reliving every aspect of the event(s).

If it's something you can rationalise then your mind can easily put it behind you; the road was icy/the other driver was texting, you tripped over a stair rod, etc. If, however, there's no explanation within your grasp - the events were simply completely random or the people involved are unable or unwilling to explain their part in the trauma (as is the case with you @CharlieDickens) - then your mind will keep on going over all the tiny details in order to try to find all those (unknowable) answers; hence the nightmares and flashbacks.

The key to resolving it is to let that part of the mind know that there is not, and never will be, an answer to what happened and why it happened and also the constant rumination is actively detracting from your happiness. Once the subconscious realises this is it will let it go. Yes, the memories will still be there but they will have no power or impact on your emotions.

Resurrecting this thread in the hope that there can be some advice on how to let that part of the mind know that there is not, and never will be, an answer to what happened and why it happened and also the constant rumination is actively detracting from your happiness."

I'm aware that I have PTSD. This is as a result of either being in an abusive relationship, leaving the relationship or both. I've had 3 seriously abusive relationships in my life and the most recent was the longest of these. I don't know how to cope tbh - I've had EMDR in the past for my (then) partners suicide and that helped me. However, all of the psychological abuse I had with the most recent ex is really pulling me down - the gaslighting, the emotional abuse (ping-ponging between me and OW), the minimising of what he did and no accountability. I find that I'm displaying symptoms such as really bad anxiety and can't leave the house, depression and am massively intolerant of people. when I used to be quite calm, detached really (a coping mechanism whilst we were together, I think).

I have tried to turn to some of my friends for support but having been with me throughout the last 5 years, their support has understandably run dry. I'm on meds, but they will need to be reviewed as they're not helping at present. I don't have any family to turn to.

How do I 'let my mind know' that there are no answers? I am really struggling these days.

I use a method known as remedial hypnosis (also called mind coaching) which uses hypnotic techniques but without the trance element, as it's the part of the process that most people feel uneasy about - and to be honest, it's not actually necessary. It allows me to talk directly to that part of the subconscious that is causing you distress in order to get it to stop, because it's not helping you.

There are a number of practitioners using this method, devised by Tim Box, very happy to send you the list.

Thank you, I would be grateful - I'm in the NW. I'm a little cynical as my GP tried to use hypnosis on me in the past without success, but I'll give anything a go at this point! Thanks again :)

I'm sorry this happened to you. EMDR therapy - I just had some and it was brilliant. Quite hard to get on NHS, I had to really fight for it. I don't have PTSD diagnosis from a Psychiatrist. I'm not sure who diagnoses PTSD, but it wasn't necessary to have one.