PTSD

[southernbelle125]

Any advice on PTSD? Following the trauma of my dad's death I've just been diagnosed. Therapist says I'm stuck in fight or flight mode. Feel sickly most days most days, relive everything, bad headaches, anxiety attacks, issues eating and sleeping. It's been two months now. I never expected this.

Was your Dad's death unexpected? Grief hits in many different ways and, sadly, it is early days. Trying to 'fast forward' though the process can rebound (sometimes).

I haven't read it myself but I've heard good things about this book - diptitait.com/welcome/good-grief/

Have a read of the book called The Body Keeps the Score. Have they talked about trying EMDR?

@Eyesopenwideawake

Thanks for replying. Dad was clinically frail and very vulnerable following two significant strokes. He could no longer walk, talk, feed himself etc. He had numerous infections and hospitalisations in the last six months of his life but always bounced back. In the end when he got his final infection the drs said they could not treat him and we sat for four days until he passed which was horrific.
No I haven't seen it but I'll have a look thank you

@MurderSheWrote2025

My therapy isn't very good to be honest - it's arranged through my work and is meant to be about setting goals for moving forward which is hard when you're stuck. It's through my employer. I've literally just had a text to say I can start CBT through the NHS on Tuesday though which I hope will offer more.
I'll give it a look - thanks for your reply

I have ptsd, CBT really helped me. It’s exhausting and debilitating being stuck in that fight or flight state all the time isn’t it.

edit: you can’t just will yourself to get ‘unstuck’, ptsd needs specialist targeted treatment. Your work therapy sounds counterproductive tbh and I would stop it. Maybe after CBT it might be worth thinking about again.

@ByPearlSnail

I'm sorry you're going through this too. You're so right it is exhausting. I'm literally sat here trying to sort out some car insurance and because i felt a bit stressed I feel so sick like the sick you'd feel if you were being chased by pack of dogs. It's like my body can no longer recognise what's a real fear and what's not.
I'm going to stop the work therapy when I start the CBT - last session I got told not to acknowledge my anxiety. It's not that easy, if I knew how to not acknowledge it I wouldn't do it.
Thanks for getting back to me.

I understand, I felt like I’d lost control of my brain, it wouldn’t work the way I wanted it to, it sort of did its own thing and no amount of trying to rationalise things or stay calm made a difference.
you’ve suffered a neurological injury, it’s understandable your brain just wants to keep you safe right now.
i wish you luck with the CBT, it’s tough but can really work.

I also heard good things about CBT but haven't done it myself. I think in a very traumatised state it can be hard work!
I think that in addition to traditional therapy, just being outdoors and taking a good long break from work to just do nothing apart from absorbing whatever sunshine you can find, can really work.
Time heals too, so just getting through each day at the moment is a good thing.

@StrongerThanYouTh1nk

Thank you. I've had some time off work and have to say an finding being back hasn't gone as badly as I expected. I have a very understanding manager who allows me to dictate my own hours and days depending on how I feel. I'm very lucky in that respect.
I know what you mean about being outdoors in the sun. Yesterday was a beautiful day, blue sky and sun so I took myself off for a walk around a local lake. I felt a bit of peace for a little while.