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Topic: ~SPIRITUAL NOT RELIGIOUS~ A DAY AT A TIME
09/29 REFLECTION FOR THE DAY
In our first weeks or months in The Program, our shaky emotional condition sometimes affects our feelings toward old friends and family. For many of us, these relationships heal quickly in the intial stages of our recovery. For others, a time of "touchiness" seems to persist; now that we're no longer drinking or using other chemicals, we have to sort out our feelings about spouse, children, relatives, employer, fellow workers, and even neighbors. Experience in The Program over the years has taught that we should avoid making important decisions early in our recovery -- especially emotion-charged decisions about people. AM I BECOMING BETTER EQUIPPED TO RELATE MATURELY TO OTHER PEOPLE?
TODAY I PRAY
May God help me through the edginess, the confusion of re-feeling and re-thinking my relationships, the "getting-it-all-together" stages of my recovery. May I not rush into new relationships or new situations that demand an investment of my emotions -- not yet.
TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
No entangling alliances too soon.
In our first weeks or months in The Program, our shaky emotional condition sometimes affects our feelings toward old friends and family. For many of us, these relationships heal quickly in the intial stages of our recovery. For others, a time of "touchiness" seems to persist; now that we're no longer drinking or using other chemicals, we have to sort out our feelings about spouse, children, relatives, employer, fellow workers, and even neighbors. Experience in The Program over the years has taught that we should avoid making important decisions early in our recovery -- especially emotion-charged decisions about people. AM I BECOMING BETTER EQUIPPED TO RELATE MATURELY TO OTHER PEOPLE?
TODAY I PRAY
May God help me through the edginess, the confusion of re-feeling and re-thinking my relationships, the "getting-it-all-together" stages of my recovery. May I not rush into new relationships or new situations that demand an investment of my emotions -- not yet.
TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
No entangling alliances too soon.
It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end. ~Ursula K. LeGuin
Topic: RE: PTSD anxiety and agoraphobia
I too suffer from PTSD, generalized anxiety, and am bi-polar. (I have not been diagnosed w/ agoraphobia, but I have it due to the PTSD.)
You are probably at the point that you need to get w/ your psych and discuss playing w/ your medications. I have had to change mind several times of the past 5 years. And YES - you do need to be on the meds. CBT is great, but for most of us w/ PTSD - we need the meds.
You are probably at the point that you need to get w/ your psych and discuss playing w/ your medications. I have had to change mind several times of the past 5 years. And YES - you do need to be on the meds. CBT is great, but for most of us w/ PTSD - we need the meds.
"Patriots always talk of dying for their country but never of killing for their country." - Bertrand Russell
Topic: RE: Hello and need info on depression/anxiety
Your story sounds like mine. About 1 year out I was happy and then it felt as if it all hit the fan. I too was back in school, separated from husband and on and on. Be careful with certain meds. I really feel that was the start of my weight gain. Intense hunger is a side effect to a few of these meds. Good luck to you!
Jenna
Why the bed you ask. I rather be sleeping!
Why the bed you ask. I rather be sleeping! 
Topic: PTSD anxiety and agoraphobia
so i had all of these things before my surgery, i was actually hospitalized for a suicide attempt in 08 for 3 months... I thought i was doing ok, was driving occasionally and not needing meds but dealing with my anxiety like i was taught in CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) since surgery its gotten worse, i dont like leaving home without my boyfriend, wont drive and hate being around people. it seems like everyone and their mother has figured out ive had surgery and harp on me about wether im complying, what im eating, how much ive lost and all of that, all i wanna do is stay in the safe areas where i know i wont run into people and have to deal with it, im feeling worse and worse but i dont know if i should go back on meds because they cause weight gain and im only 6 weeks out and have most of my weight to lose... ugg sorry im just frustrated and wanted to vent
Topic: RE: ECHO echo echo....
I know for my husband - it was a hard thing to understand. He could not understand why we would be riding in the car and i would suddenly start screaming or freaking out. He could not understand why I cannot ride in a car in the rain ****il recently). He would get so pissed off and would tell me to "Grow up."
I finally got him some info on PTSD and asked him to meet w/ my therapist and me. It really helped him to understand that the behaviors were out of my control and what had caused them.
Couple of other suggestions:
1) Be sure to give the meds time to work. And sometimes you have to try different combinations. Xanax works for me. Valium does not. Effexor works for me - 4 other meds did not.
2) Don't laugh - but you might try yoga. (Yeah - I know - suggesting to a big, huge, mean looking biker guy to do yoga is probably an insane idea!) Meditation worked for me for a while.
3) You stated the stressor lives in your home - if you feel an attack coming on - go for a walk, go for a run (Do not ride your bike!), etc.
Hang in there!
Anne
I finally got him some info on PTSD and asked him to meet w/ my therapist and me. It really helped him to understand that the behaviors were out of my control and what had caused them.
Couple of other suggestions:
1) Be sure to give the meds time to work. And sometimes you have to try different combinations. Xanax works for me. Valium does not. Effexor works for me - 4 other meds did not.
2) Don't laugh - but you might try yoga. (Yeah - I know - suggesting to a big, huge, mean looking biker guy to do yoga is probably an insane idea!) Meditation worked for me for a while.
3) You stated the stressor lives in your home - if you feel an attack coming on - go for a walk, go for a run (Do not ride your bike!), etc.
Hang in there!
Anne
"Patriots always talk of dying for their country but never of killing for their country." - Bertrand Russell
Topic: RE: ECHO echo echo....
Thanks, I appreciate the advice... I have the ball rolling and only recently discovered I had this problem. Big, huge mean looking biker guy with a don't screw with me attitude look plastered to his face, turns into a little eight year old boy terrified for his life.
it has NOT been a pleasant experience! The part that really sucks, is I am living with the "Stresser" in my home... 24/7 No relief unless I leave... Hard situation to explain... but yeah... no drugs working yet...
on edge... Breathing techniques all the anger management techniques I have learned, they are either not working at all, or working just enough so I don't have a complete nervous break down.
Of course I have the most wonderful wife in the world... She is amazing...
So one minute at a time... I live in Michigan by the way.
Thank you again
Tim
it has NOT been a pleasant experience! The part that really sucks, is I am living with the "Stresser" in my home... 24/7 No relief unless I leave... Hard situation to explain... but yeah... no drugs working yet...
on edge... Breathing techniques all the anger management techniques I have learned, they are either not working at all, or working just enough so I don't have a complete nervous break down.
Of course I have the most wonderful wife in the world... She is amazing...
So one minute at a time... I live in Michigan by the way.
Thank you again
Tim
"Check out my High School Diaries 1
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"The road to hell is paved with adverbs." - Stephen King
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"The road to hell is paved with adverbs." - Stephen King
Topic: RE: ECHO echo echo....
I suffer from PTSD too. It is such a hard mental illness to really understand. I can go for weeks without any flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety attacks, and then suddenly BAM - and all of them kick back in and my stress level goes back up through the roof.
Not sure what part of the nation you live in, but I would encourage you to see if there are any doctors who have done recent training in PTSD - it took me awhile to find my pscyh, but she is helping me - it is a long road, but the periods between the flashbacks, etc. are growing longer.
Anne
Not sure what part of the nation you live in, but I would encourage you to see if there are any doctors who have done recent training in PTSD - it took me awhile to find my pscyh, but she is helping me - it is a long road, but the periods between the flashbacks, etc. are growing longer.
Anne
"Patriots always talk of dying for their country but never of killing for their country." - Bertrand Russell
Topic: ~SPIRITUAL NOT RELIGIOUS~ A DAY AT A TIME
09/22 REFLECTION FOR THE DAY
For a considerable period of time after I reached The Program, I let things I couldn't do keep me from doing the things I could. If I was bothered by what a speaker or other people said, I retreated, sulking, into my shell. Now, instead of being annoyed or defensive when someone strikes a raw nerve, I try to welcome it -- because it allows me to work on my attitudes and perceptions of God, self, other people, and my life situation. We may no longer have active addicitions, but we all certainly have an active thinking problem. AM I WILLING TO GROW -- AND GROW UP?
TODAY I PRAY
May God give me courage to test my new wings -- even a feather at a time. May I not wait to be entirely whole before I re-enter the world of everyday opportunity, for recovery is ongoing and growth comes through challenges. May I no longer make desperate stabs at perfection, but keep my aims in sight and develop as I live -- a day at a time.
TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Things I can't do should not get in the way of things I can.
For a considerable period of time after I reached The Program, I let things I couldn't do keep me from doing the things I could. If I was bothered by what a speaker or other people said, I retreated, sulking, into my shell. Now, instead of being annoyed or defensive when someone strikes a raw nerve, I try to welcome it -- because it allows me to work on my attitudes and perceptions of God, self, other people, and my life situation. We may no longer have active addicitions, but we all certainly have an active thinking problem. AM I WILLING TO GROW -- AND GROW UP?
TODAY I PRAY
May God give me courage to test my new wings -- even a feather at a time. May I not wait to be entirely whole before I re-enter the world of everyday opportunity, for recovery is ongoing and growth comes through challenges. May I no longer make desperate stabs at perfection, but keep my aims in sight and develop as I live -- a day at a time.
TODAY I WILL REMEMBER
Things I can't do should not get in the way of things I can.
It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end. ~Ursula K. LeGuin
Topic: RE: ECHO echo echo....
okay... you actually made me google.. PTSD
Sorry you are stressing... I'm most fortunate that I don't suffer that disease. I think I can count on one hand how many times that I've lost sleep from stress, but usually with good reason. Getting fired... getting divorced.. that kind of stuff!
anywho...
practice some destressing exercises... maybe your beautiful wife can help you out with that
as soon as you apologize to her for snapping at her.
BREATH IN... BREATH OUT.. BREATH IN... BREATH OUT..
okay... you actually made me google.. PTSD
Sorry you are stressing... I'm most fortunate that I don't suffer that disease. I think I can count on one hand how many times that I've lost sleep from stress, but usually with good reason. Getting fired... getting divorced.. that kind of stuff!
anywho...
practice some destressing exercises... maybe your beautiful wife can help you out with that
as soon as you apologize to her for snapping at her.BREATH IN... BREATH OUT.. BREATH IN... BREATH OUT..
It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end. ~Ursula K. LeGuin
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