Hello @pendragonart

I appreciate your post in our PTSD discussion group. I see that you are a relatively new member to Mayo Connect, so let me welcome you!

I see that have experienced lifelong PTSD from childhood. Would you feel comfortable sharing with us some of the ways you have dealt with this problem? Have therapy, medications, lifestyle changes been beneficial to you?

Teresa

i think no matter how you approach the debilitating problems associated with any type of ptsd it is painfull. it is done over and again repeatedly. the mind must be handled with care, over and over and over again and gain. sometimes you can make srides sometimes you cannot. it is very painful. many times you lose, sometimes you win for the moment. keeping very busy is one way to override the moment. your mind goes in circles. you straiten out the flow and then another memory jumps in place. i think one of the things that helped me was keeping very, very busy. having and taking care of three children (one born with a birth defect inherited from the fathers side) which required 19 operations, speech therapy and etc., etc. orthodontry, prostodontry, bone grafting, etc. which did not (i think) affect the ptsd because it was not a persnal attack against me. i looked at it this way: god gave me this child because he knew i would love and take care of him in the very best way no matter how many years it took. and it did take over 20 years. the main and basic reason for my ptsd is because never having love, never been hugged or kissed. always being beaten with a belt buckle part, broom sticks, he wooden handle, being told constantly i was stupid, crazy, etc., etc. this from both parents who also alowed my 3 sisters to do the same, beat on me, talk down to me. etc., etc. on and on. and then i grew up having other people treat me the samw. the story goes on from there. i could write 3 books on my horror of a life. now i am 80 years of age and still suffer. at this point in my life i am lucky to have a psychiatrist that i see once a month. because of all the old age illnesses (amy) i take so many medications so i cannot take meds for the ptsd besides a small dose .05 pill of lorazepam at night and sometimes in the morning which does help. all the other meds for my bipolar gives me the shakes so bad it it dangerous. so therefore no meds for the bipoar and the ptsd except the lorazapam. i could go on about the sexual harrassment at work (he the big shot never got what he wanted but he put me in very dangerous places and towards the end he was trying to discredit me and get me fired because iwas creating an embarrasment toward him because of his treatment of me. however, got enough time in and retired. on and on. so many more incidents, overand over again and again. would like to write a book or 2 but would need a ghost writer to help me as i flow all over the place.there are still some nights my mind runs like a jet plane all over the place and cannot sleep. but life is still good. so far, still alive. will talk more and questions are ok. love, peachbarb

@peach414144

Barb, it's not enough to say how sorry I am for the abuse you suffered over so many years at the hands and voices of others. That's beyond evil, and beyond sad. It's also beyond sad that such evil continues to exist.

We look forward to the day when there will be peace on this old earth and Satan will be bound. .

Sadie has been stretched out over my lap, doing her therapy on me for an hour or so, but now it's time to take her out to do her business before bedtime. I hate to end the therapy session.

I hope you find a time of pleasure in your week.

Jim

Hi @peach414144 -- I, too, am terribly sorry for the abuse you've suffered over your lifetime and its effects on you. Though it is horribly painful, you somehow seem to rise above all this and have great strength.

PTSD is a tough thing. I have many triggers and so dislike when I get blind sided. I was married to a man for 14 yrs. diagnosed w/ NPD. Just could not stick it out. Too much like listening to recantations from the past. Totally understand the jet plane mind. So awful and I have a hard time getting the zoom-zoom mind to quiet itself. Also having difficulties w/ several old age chronic illnesses. PTSD doth take its toll. Being in nearly constant fight or flight mode only causes the pain to be worse. I sometimes can find peace w/ my paint brushes.

dear lisa thank you for your comfort and concern. it was either to be strong or die. so here i am. bye the way, my son is doing well, working on a job with a pension and owning his own home, etc. in a way, he helped me as well as i did him. outlook in life is important. peach barbara

only have a minute to reply but I am 65 and many chronic painful issues physically, daily severe pain, all I believe have developed due to my severe lifetime ptsd from years of flight or freeze facing threat of sadism and even death from people who were also alternately very loving...never knew when my DID mother would turn on me. triggers now still torment me each day. art and animals have been my way out....thank you for your post.

Hi, @pendragonart -- just wanted to point you to a couple other places on Mayo Clinic Connect you may want to check out:

Our group on chronic pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/pain/

A discussion on the role of pets in our health:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-pets-can-do-health-and-healing/?pg=5#comment-78841