PTSD and Transition - Treatment Indicated?

[rhonda13000]

The connection of the two was mused upon, during the most recent TS induced severe trauma.

I have a splitting headache....

For me, it seems as though transition has been characterized by pinnacles of elation, joy and euphoria, interspersed with episodes of severe and extreme trauma - sometimes very dangerous trauma.

And it occurred to me that 'Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome' is actually possible, secondary to these severe traumas and really needs to be treated.

When I previously thought about co-morbid psycho-emotional conditions with TS, be they organic or non, it never occurred to me that PTSD could also be a secondary co-morbidity which is actually spawned by the process of transition itself.

I believe that I will mention this to my therapist, in our next session.

I think that it represents a real mental threat that needs to be addressed.

[melissa90299]

I suffer from Post Acute Withdrawal and maybe PTSD, as with any dual diagnosis, treatment for both or all is indicated.

In my case, my therapist encouraged me to complete SRS as soon as possible since I had already successfully transitioned in every other facet of life but that.

[rhonda13000]

I suffer from Post Acute Withdrawal and maybe PTSD, as with any dual diagnosis, treatment for both or all is indicated.

In my case, my therapist encouraged me to complete SRS as soon as possible since I had already successfully transitioned in every other facet of life but that.

......my mind.......spinning....

A good man was commiserating with me on Saturday at work. He knew what I have been having to sustain under and how that it has been ripping me apart.

He told me that he has been through some 'emotional firestorms' [my words] in his life and semi-dazed, staring vacantly across the hangar, I responded, fighting not to cry,

"My whole life has been an 'emotional firestorm'..."

and i'm crying again...oh LORD, WHY??and thats how its benn nominally. but i was referring to the extreme paroxysms of unprecedented.....stresses, which have essentiallyy been a secondary effect and result of ttransitional events...

or tremendously exacerbated a bad situation...

"no, i dont need any help. why in hell are you asking??" she said rhetoricallyy

i think that i had better call her 

[RebeccaFog]

Hi Rhonda,

   I have PTSD thanks to the wonderful circumstances of my life. I only learned recently to separate the PTSD from the GID. I've been doing quite well.
   Your suggestion is the first I've heard of a possible connection between transition and PTSD. It sounds interesting. I hope you find some answers.

   Is it possible that you've suffered some traumatic incident(s) in your life that may have made you highly vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and depression?

   Do you have any memories of really good and happy times in your life? Maybe you can find a way to recreate such moments & separate yourself from the sources of your angst.


Wishing you well & respite from your pain,

Rebecca

[rhonda13000]

Hi Rhonda,

   I have PTSD thanks to the wonderful circumstances of my life. I only learned recently to separate the PTSD from the GID. I've been doing quite well.
   Your suggestion is the first I've heard of a possible connection between transition and PTSD. It sounds interesting. I hope you find some answers.

   Is it possible that you've suffered some traumatic incident(s) in your life that may have made you highly vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and depression?

   Do you have any memories of really good and happy times in your life? Maybe you can find a way to recreate such moments & separate yourself from the sources of your angst.


Wishing you well & respite from your pain,

Rebecca

i reinstated my therapy appointment just now, Rebecca. this situation or condition at present is still dangerous, it would seem.

The tears which I just finished crying and have been crying over the past several days, are discernably different in etiology and character....

That's just incredibly beautiful,..."Hearts of Space - 'Haunted By Spirits'"...Native American Cedar Flute....

This crying is much different, of late. I am inclined to think that the character of it is indicative of a grievous present state of mind....i don't know for sure...

I have been hit by a series of high magnitude stressors, some concomitant, which I think have been having an additive, accruing  effect over the continuum.....

But the capacity of the human mind to sublimate or repress agonies and pain is nothing short of remarkable.

And it is also very dangerous, for the agonies and pains are not actually resolved; they are only buried and not very deeply, it would seem.

And these are additive.

These tears are very different, now.

[Renae.Lupini]

I suffer from Post Acute Withdrawal and maybe PTSD, as with any dual diagnosis, treatment for both or all is indicated.

In my case, my therapist encouraged me to complete SRS as soon as possible since I had already successfully transitioned in every other facet of life but that.

......my mind.......spinning....

A good man was commiserating with me on Saturday at work. He knew what I have been having to sustain under and how that it has been ripping me apart.

He told me that he has been through some 'emotional firestorms' [my words] in his life and semi-dazed, staring vacantly across the hangar, I responded, fighting not to cry,

"My whole life has been an 'emotional firestorm'..."

and i'm crying again...oh LORD, WHY??and thats how its benn nominally. but i was referring to the extreme paroxysms of unprecedented.....stresses, which have essentiallyy been a secondary effect and result of ttransitional events...

or tremendously exacerbated a bad situation...

"no, i dont need any help. why in hell are you asking??" she said rhetoricallyy

i think that i had better call her 

Crying is a good thing. It is natural to cry so maybe you shouldn't worry so much about why.

What has made your transition so terrifying that you are in such a severe state of depression?

I would suggest that you start writing a personal journal. writing your thoughts and ideas down helps get them in order and clears the mind. It doesn't have to be eloquent or grammatically correct at all. It would just be a way for you to get a mental release from all of the stuff that is going in your head.

No matter what happens around us, we are ultimately responsible for our own wellbeing. You have a lot of people here that care about you and who get very scared that you or may not harm yourself. None of us want to see anything bad to you. We only want to see you prevail through this entire episode. I know I think you can do it and will be one proud person when you turn this funk around and live happily ever after.

[rhonda13000]

I suffer from Post Acute Withdrawal and maybe PTSD, as with any dual diagnosis, treatment for both or all is indicated.

In my case, my therapist encouraged me to complete SRS as soon as possible since I had already successfully transitioned in every other facet of life but that.

......my mind.......spinning....

A good man was commiserating with me on Saturday at work. He knew what I have been having to sustain under and how that it has been ripping me apart.

He told me that he has been through some 'emotional firestorms' [my words] in his life and semi-dazed, staring vacantly across the hangar, I responded, fighting not to cry,

"My whole life has been an 'emotional firestorm'..."

and i'm crying again...oh LORD, WHY??and thats how its benn nominally. but i was referring to the extreme paroxysms of unprecedented.....stresses, which have essentiallyy been a secondary effect and result of ttransitional events...

or tremendously exacerbated a bad situation...

"no, i dont need any help. why in hell are you asking??" she said rhetoricallyy

i think that i had better call her 

Crying is a good thing. It is natural to cry so maybe you shouldn't worry so much about why.

What has made your transition so terrifying that you are in such a severe state of depression?

I would suggest that you start writing a personal journal. writing your thoughts and ideas down helps get them in order and clears the mind. It doesn't have to be eloquent or grammatically correct at all. It would just be a way for you to get a mental release from all of the stuff that is going in your head.

No matter what happens around us, we are ultimately responsible for our own wellbeing. You have a lot of people here that care about you and who get very scared that you or may not harm yourself. None of us want to see anything bad to you. We only want to see you prevail through this entire episode. I know I think you can do it and will be one proud person when you turn this funk around and live happily ever after.

you really are pretty, Renae.

they claim that crying is cathartic, yet i have observed no cathartic effect from the copious amounts of tears which have been shed, during the course of my transition.

i don't know, honey.

but you are sweet for having said what you have said. you're ok, Renae.

[Renae.Lupini]

Regardless of our own individual struggles and accomplishments, we are all human beings. If we don't take care of ourselves, who will?

[rhonda13000]

Regardless of our own individual struggles and accomplishments, we are all human beings. If we don't take care of ourselves, who will?

Oh, you want to fight, do you girlie?? 

No dispute exists between us relative to your assertion.

There was indeed a time long ago, where a discontinuity in perception over this would have existed between us.

That is history.

[Renae.Lupini]

i wasn't inferring there was a dispute between "us" at all. It was a general statement about people in general.

[rhonda13000]

i wasn't inferring there was a dispute between "us" at all. It was a general statement about people in general.

Just being playful, Renae.   

[Renae.Lupini]

ah ok. lol

I didn't want to sound like i was being confrontational.

[Ms.Behavin]

As jimmy buffet has said, "I've had good days and bad days and going half mad days"  Well Ok I've been really much further toward the opposite end of not mad some days.  It is difficult to sometime adapt our current world view to that of the past. It's just as hard on those that once loved us and sometimes still do.

The past memories wanting to assert themselfs from time to time, yet without cause or justification.  After 7 months I still have well lots of trouble with having to give up to release the woman I dearly loved so much.  Only now is the pain lessening to a point that I most of the time can bare it. 

Does it get better.  Some but oh so slowly and somedays it's one step forward, three back.

Hang in there dear girl.

Beni

[rhonda13000]

As jimmy buffet has said, "I've had good days and bad days and going half mad days"  Well Ok I've been really much further toward the opposite end of not mad some days.  It is difficult to sometime adapt our current world view to that of the past. It's just as hard on those that once loved us and sometimes still do.

The past memories wanting to assert themselfs from time to time, yet without cause or justification.  After 7 months I still have well lots of trouble with having to give up to release the woman I dearly loved so much.  Only now is the pain lessening to a point that I most of the time can bare it. 

Does it get better.  Some but oh so slowly and somedays it's one step forward, three back.

Hang in there dear girl.

Beni

Thank you, Beni.   

"Shell-shocked" - That was the term that I used to describe my state of mind to my therapist, yesterday.

One emotional cataclysm after another, during and secondary to transition and its effects. I am not ideating at present, but I wonder how many of us actually do elect to take that final exit after having been repeatedly beaten down by stresses like these.

I barely survived it all, myself. 

[Renae.Lupini]

"Shell-shocked" - That was the term that I used to describe my state of mind to my therapist, yesterday.

One emotional cataclysm after another, during and secondary to transition and its effects. I am not ideating at present, but I wonder how many of us actually do elect to take that final exit after having been repeatedly beaten down by stresses like these.

I barely survived it all, myself. 

Something that we need to keep in mind is that the stresses we face are in our lives only because we allow them to be. If irrational fear manifests itself we let that simple little thing evolve into a giant monster, in our minds. In reality, it is nothing more than a perceived fear of what *might* happen. Recognizing what is real and what is perceived is what can make the biggest difference in seeing the world around us.

The biggest contributing factor to this process is mind reading. We instantaneously assume that we either know what someone is thinking or how they will react to certain choices we make. The reality of it is that we cannot predict the future nor read each other's minds. Well over 98% of our fears that lead us to stress out are founded in the realm of perception and not in reality.

I will use the example of a diving board. When going up the ladder we feel anxious and scared as we do not know what may or may not happen. We may fall and splatter on the pool's edge. We might hit the water wrong and get hurt. The board may break or come loose and fall on top of us in the water. Lightning may strike us while we are up so high. People might laugh at us if we don't dive in a cool way. Our sun tan may not be as good as other's so we will be laughed at while standing there.

Those are based in perception of the unknown.

We are going up the ladder. that is the only thing we know at this exact point in time when going up to the diving board. This is reality. This is what we know. Focusing on what is and not not what *might* be makes room in our mind to focus on the tasks at hand. Our stress levels go down and we are generally more at ease with the world at large at this point.

Just a few words of wisdom based on my experiences over the last five years.