OT - PTSD stuff

I'm sure this is just happening because of all the stress I've been under lately, although nothing has been happening that really relates to my PTSD.  At least, I don't recognize a connection.  But I am having more trouble sleeping, more nightmares, and more problems with being afraid of the dark.  I go through times when I'm scared of the dark and times when the dark doesn't bother me at all.  Geez, a week ago I was going out and walking a mile or two in the middle of the night, in the dark, obviously, when I couldn't sleep.  Now, in the middle of the night, I sit in the living room with the lights on, having to pee but afraid to walk down the dark  hall into the dark bathroom.

I'm just complaining.  Thanks for listening.

Hope everything gets back under control. I go through phases, when I was younger (20's) I couldn't be alone over night, I needed someone in the house. When I'm stressed I have horrible insomnia and I jump and every little noise and see stuff in the shadows. To the point where I've gone outside to make sure there wasn't someone there. Don't ask me what I was going to do if there was, I'm not sure.

Cherie

I dont know what else you've been through, but with the dark, you're not alone. Sometimes I'm ok, othertimes I fall asleep holding a baseball bat. Even as a teenager, a very strong capable teenager and co-captain of tje varsity football team, my dad used to get pretty upset because he'd come in at 2 am and find me sitting on my bed with all the lights on, passed out holding my bat, he never understood. I have a droid phone and have found the flashlight app on that to be a Godsend, my son always wants to sleep in my bed, so if I have more light on than that it wakes him up. If you saw me today, you'd wonder why I would be afraid of anything, after surgery, I really got into body building. But even the strongest rock has a weakness, thank-you for sharing that, I needed that and know your not alone.

Do you have a dog?  If not, would it help? 

I do not currently have a dog and yes I think that would help.  I am actually planning to get a service dog that will be trained to perform tasks to assist me with my disability.  One of the tasks will be turning on lights in dark rooms for me.  I am currently waiting to hear from a program that trains and places service dogs; I spoke at length with the program director on the phone and she is supposed to be sending me some paperwork that I need to complete but I have not received it yet.  However, she indicated that I could receive a service dog from that program in a little under six months.

If things do not work out with that program, I am planning to adopt a rescue dog and train it, with a whole lot of assistance from a person trainer.  It would be cheaper and quicker to get a service dog from the program, though.  If I have to train a rescue dog, it could take a long time just to find a suitable candidate for a service dog, and then it would take more than a year to fully train the dog.

Right now I have cats.  Which I love, but they are not so protective.

I find that I really like having my "protective" four legged family member with me when I am home alone.   We have a lady in our Woman's Club that trains service dogs.  I love seeing her bring them to our Friday luncheon program.  She starts bringing them when they are young and it is amazing how fast they change into the perfect service dog.  I think they have all been labs.  I wanted to train my dog to make hospital visits but she is to nervous when there is a lot of people and doesn't want strangers touching her.  She doesn't warm up to men easily but loves my husband.  As soon as he gets home from work, they play catch.  We always go to our yearly Rescue the Animals Furr Ball.  She is the first dog that we've had that doesn't like to go.   John took her out for a potty break and she honestly sprawled out on all fours to keep from going back in so we don't subject her to these situations.  We have a new animal play park that I'd love to take her to but I know she will not get along with the other dogs.  She's the first dog we've had that acts this way so we started taking her to training at a year old and she was great in class but reverts back once out the door.  We kennel her when we have a party if it is to hot for her to stay in John's workshop.  She loves the kennel so we are lucky there.  Our last Shar Pei hated the kennel and wouldn't eat so he traveled with us or stayed with one of our grown kids (he grew up with them).  I'm glad you are open to having a dog.  I know you will love the company and quickly become attached.  Ours always are a part of the family.  I will be praying you get your new family member sooner than you think.

  Honey you have been through a lot lately.  If you need to leave some lights on for a while then by all means do it.  I think we all go through periods like this.  I wish I could help you.  Hopefully this will come to pass.  Have you changed living arrangements yet?

No, and I don't think living arrangements will be changing for a while.

 Times of change and upheaval are prime for setting of anxiety-type symptoms. I know u have shared on here some of the stressors in your life at present. Do u think that could be a trigger for these symptoms?  What has helped in the past to get these symptoms under control?  Any way of finding professional help at the moment (counselor, your PCP, support group)?

Im sorry you have this added burden to deal with. I hope things settle soon.

Andrea

I need to make an appointment with my therapist.  I will probably see her next week.  I also see a psychiatrist and am on medication.