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Looking after ourselves

Re: CPTSD resolution

Thanks @utopia.
Yes sometimes they really don't get it - although I really would (fairly) expect a trauma specialist psych to understand.

Unfortunately I had to put so much physical & emotional effort into obtaining this most recent job - very soon after my dad's death.

It's still only a year since he died, & I haven't been able to grieve much because of the on going stresses.

So gaining more suitable employment is taking time. I did not want to have to find a new job again so soon - but will when able.

Adge

Re: CPTSD resolution

@Adge. I'm dprry to hear about your dads passing. That sounds like a really hard time to get through.
I understand. It's a catch 22 at times. Stressed at work - but too emotionally drained to do much about it.
It does take a lot of energy - more than our families know - to keep pushing ourselves.
My gp is now a really good advocate for me and my mental health. Sticking up for me and what's best for my long term health - against workcover.
Here's to us both finding the right job for us in the near future.

Re: CPTSD resolution

Hi @Adge

 

I agree with @utopia that it would be better to get out of a stressful work situation - and as Utopia had her Mum go along and explain how ill she was - she really - that is Utopia - has first hand experience with getting it over to the therapist that the situation is important and getting out of the stressful situation is therapeutic

 

Sometimes in life we get mixed messages - and part of life-developing is learning to have confidence in our own situation - but it's not at all easy - uh ha

 

Dec

Re: CPTSD resolution

Hi @Adge

 

I didn't realise that it is only a year since your Dad died - that is so hard - yes - getting life back on track so soon after that would be hard without other stuff happening

 

And you have a new job - I didn't know that either - and of course you don't want to start looking again

 

So - I did read back on the thread - which is a good idea sometimes

 

I understand - I can see where your therapist is coming from - so it is not that easy -

 

But it depends on how traumatic working is - or how beneficial

 

I wish you the best

 

Dec

Re: CPTSD resolution

@utopiaThanks, yes catch 22, I couldn't have said it better myself. It sounds like you've been through a lot & understand very well.

@OwlunarThanks, it's been good to hear your experiences & insights.

Well I've been 9 months in this job now, so it's not new new  - but all the immediate job-searching, & then this new job had to happen very soon after Dad died.

That's because I had been seriously under-employed for about 12 months, with only 12 hours work in some weeks.

My difficulty in finding (& getting) a more suitable job is probably mostly due to my low physical & emotional energy levels.

A more suitable (less stressful) job for me requires -

1) A short distance to travel to work (this one is a long way, & requires 100kms per day driving).

2) Fixed hours of work - this one changes on a daily basis.

3) A work roster that is kept to (mostly) - this job only tells us our client & working hours at 4pm (each day) for the next day. Then they often change it by the next morning (or even 3 times in one day).

@utopiaHere's to us both finding something more suitable (better)!

Adge

Re: CPTSD resolution

Hi @Adge

 

Thanks for telling us all of those work details - they must be tough - it would be so hard to organise your life around chops-and-changes like that

 

I am other the other side of such a system - I am a client for people who do domestic work and take me shopping - I have chronic spinal pain

 

Shifts change constantly - and not just for me but for the workers as well - but as far as I know they mostly live reasonably locally

 

So you went through all the job-seeking etc not long after your Dad died - and it does take time to grieve and everyone does it differently - and there are people who have an idea there is a formula - but having grieved myself I know that formula is not for everyone - we are all different

 

But I do wish you the best

 

Dec

Re: CPTSD resolution

Thanks @Owlunar Much appreciated.
Adge

Re: CPTSD resolution

 @janedoe2 It's so encouraging to hear that you persisted and found treatment helpful!

 

How did you manage to find a psychiatrist that specialised in PTSD? 

Also, if you are ok to share, how did you first know you were improving?

Re: CPTSD resolution

Hi @Cara_in_Yellow

I went to a few GP's until one made the effort to diagnose me correctly and searched for a PTSD specialist for me and areanged an appointment. Luckily he was located a suburb away from where I lived at the time.

 

I knew I was improving when I could start to prevent a panic attack by breathing deeply. This technique I learnt from an anxiety speciality he sent me to. My persistant nightmares started to drop off. I started to experience the present moment. It took years but I started to wake up without memories/thoughts/tears facing me first thing. I could start my day just being in the present moment.

 

I'm still in the process of improving but the active PTSD is no longer taking over my life.

Re: CPTSD resolution

@janedoe2 Thank you, that was really helpful to hear. I feel like it's so easy to feel like I'm not making progress, but when you shared what you noticed as you started to heal, it helped me recognise some of the ways I am doing better than I was too, which made me feel a whole lot more hopeful. I honestly can't thank you enough for that. 😊

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