Connect
← Return to Anyone Else With PTSD?
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
My neighbors are not close enough to be of any help, The man does not have a house key,My son also moved out before I had a problem with his friend. My son came and ask him to leave so they are both gone now. I love having my home back to myself if it weren't for feeling so vulnerable right now. What I lack in physical strength I make up for in the ability to stay calm in emergency situations and to think on my feet. I carry my cell phone with me always and won't hesitate to call 911 if needed. My concern is that the initial crisis has past but I am being left with all the PTSD symptoms as though the threat were actually still there even though it is not. As I write this I have to ask myself what I have gained from posting on this site. My answer would be a lot. I feel so much better than I did before I posted last night. I think we all know that verbalizing a problem will often give it less power and lessens its importance and in turn we feel better. I actually feel I am once again on the road to recovery thanks to this site giving me a place to express myself. Once I feel secure with my recovery, I will want to post again with hopes of helping someone else. Thank you so much for replying to my post and for the opportunity to find awareness in my own situation. It's extremely important to me that I help others and this site is going to enable me to do that. Thank you again.& until then, have a blessed day. Jeanie
Replies to "My neighbors are not close enough to be of any help, The man does not have..."
Hi @jeanie26, I'm so glad that you shared your story with all of us here. It does help to share with others who "have been there" and who get it. I'm sorry that this new situation has caused you to be fearful again and to experience PTSD. I'm not a counselor, but part of me thinks your reaction IS your strength, not a weakness. Your intelligence and your entire body reaction helped you make the right decision 1) to ask the man to leave and 2) to get help from your son when the man returned and 3) to reach out to talk to someone like the members of this community.
It won't take you 20 years to get back to the place where you feel safe and to have control again. It may not even take 20 days. You know the path to get there and you will walk it again. There are fewer obstacles to overcome this time and we're beside you.
But, as others have suggested, you need to put things in place for your security and for potential setbacks which may happen at any time of day. In those times, it is good to have a list of numbers to call for any type of emergency or crisis, whether you are afraid for your safety or if you need to talk with someone.
To talk with a trained counselor:
The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET.
1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Or you can text NAMI to 741-741 https://www.crisistextline.org/
Connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message
See this webpage by NAMI that lists a variety of help lines https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-HelpLine#crisis
Create a list on paper. Have the numbers in your phone for quick dial. Whatever works best for you.
Here's a list I might recommend:
- 911
- NAMI 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
- NAMI text
- Your son's contact info
- Your closest neighbor
- A friend
- National Domestic Violence Hotline – Call 800-799-SAFE (7233)
What other things would you like to have around you to help you regain your control and feel safe? What would you add to the list?
Connect
@jeanie26 You do make a difference here, posting your own history and showing others that it can be a different outcome, when we seem to be stuck in a vicious cycle. I am pleased to read that posting here helped you feel better. I know for me, writing things down, and helping to get it "out of my system" lets me see the thought process, and lessens the negative power a situation may have over me. Come back and let us know how the next few days go for you.
Ginger