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Since being diagnosed in 2011, I have had a hard time with my PTSD. VA meds and counseling have done a lot to help control the instances, and how to identify my triggers and why they are triggers.
But how many of my brothers and sisters suffering PTSD/ "Chronic Adjustment Disorder" still get suddenly T-boned by an onset of symptoms and are unable to identify the trigger? When this happens without warning, are the calming techniques you've learned sufficient to get you through or does it have a longer lasting negative effect on you?
But how many of my brothers and sisters suffering PTSD/ "Chronic Adjustment Disorder" still get suddenly T-boned by an onset of symptoms and are unable to identify the trigger? When this happens without warning, are the calming techniques you've learned sufficient to get you through or does it have a longer lasting negative effect on you?
PTSD
SGT
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 36
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could be a car door...a pot hole...cannot avoid doing a terrain analysis, specifically for soil disruption....constant awareness of garbage or dead animal carcasses along the roadsides....pot hols, every pot hole is suspect....some days are really bad
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SGT (Join to see)
CSM, this is random, but I went to Sniper School with your son recently. Made a good friend.
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SGT (Join to see)
I can't sit with my back to a door or window or to people I don't know . I have to have a clear view out or inside the door way when entering or exiting a room or building.
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Sometimes, my wife warning me before she opens a biscuit container. The pop makes me get the dirt.
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SGT Josheua Cooke
At least you get the warning, The factory I work at has a siren for quitting time that sounds like the FOB IDF siren we had...
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SGT Bryon Sergent
My wife says that I have started yelling BOOMB in the middle of the night now. Maybe that is the reason she is sleeping in another room and not my snoring!
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I'm guilty as hell of this, but whatever you do, DON'T isolate. It makes things worse until you get "over" it, and while you're doing that, life is quickly passing you by. I try to stay out of public areas (Malls, stores, wherever there are a lot of people). And if I go, I have someone with me, and a timer. I'll give myself so much time to accomplish my task and get the hell out. And for the moments it hits with no warning, I ride it out. I've been on the road in my pick up and with a blink of my eye, I'm driving my Cougar talking to my TC and gunner back in the Stan. If I'm sleeping I also ride it out. NO ONE tries to wake me up. Usually I'll shake myself awake when they're bad. Ironic thing is, I'm looking at my profile pic and one would think I'm a complete asshole, and to an extent you're right, but I'm the nicest son of a bitch to anyone I meet, especially vets or AD folks. I'd give and move the world for anyone who needs it, and I'm always there to help others who are dealing with PTSD. I can always help them, and give pointers, just not good at doing them myself.
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SGT Josheua Cooke
I appreciate that, today is one of those days and it hit like a freight train. Still trying to recount my steps to see what triggered this nonsense.
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This still happens to me bro so you aren't alone. While I know most of my triggers there are a few that just as you said "t-bones" me.
When this happens, I normally just go back through the calming techniques that work for me and make a note of what I was doing, where I was, and my reaction so at my next visit I can talk to my doctor about it.
When this happens, I normally just go back through the calming techniques that work for me and make a note of what I was doing, where I was, and my reaction so at my next visit I can talk to my doctor about it.
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SGT Josheua Cooke
I appreciate the kind words and affirmation. One thing that does not seem to come up a lot in sessions is how to be prepared for unidentifiable triggers. I will have to try ALL of the calming techniques next time, usually I get stuck on trying to figure out what it was.
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SGT Ben Keen
SGT Josheua Cooke - My suggestion I have for you is that you try to focus on the why at the time of trigger and just focus on returning to 0 again. Then afterwards try to figure out the why. As SGT (Join to see) said, we are here for you. Feel free to send me a connection request.
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All of the time... Sometimes I can uncock, sometimes I can't... I've been fortunate to not have this happen where I cant "be alone" with me. Working with a bunch of Vets also helps tremendously as sometimes, they know me well enough that they see my trigger when I cant... They really are "My Brothers/Sisters Keeper"!
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SGT Josheua Cooke
I am really starting to see the benefits of organizations like the VFW and Legion. Hard to network with other vets in the area, unless you know where to look.
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
SGT Josheua Cooke - I'm actually a member of the VFW and the Legion... And yes, there are benefits.
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I had to start on a drug that inhibits REM sleep. I would wake up in different places in different moods. The last straw for me was when I woke up with my sidearm on the seat of my pickup. Medication helps most of the time but it takes a lot of help from my wife to contain this issue. I also had to disassemble all of my weapons and double lock them. Has anyone else had issues like this?
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SSG Warren Swan
I take MiniPress to stop dreaming. On it, when I do get sleep, if I dream, I couldn't tell you what it was, and no one in my house has said I do anything crazy. Before I was on it, I'd toss and turn and find out I was yelling in my sleep. I don't take my weapons apart, but at the same time, IF and WHEN I feel any kind of "off", I get them away from me. Not having my weapons is like not having my underwear on; it feels really weird. I used to give them to my neighbor who was a Marine. He knew my situation and when I came with them, we'd clear em, and he'd put them away until whatever was bothering me was done with. I live with family now, and they know the signs, and my father is a Nam Vet with it, and he tells my mother what to look for and what to do with me. It takes a full team effort to make it work, and I'm doing the damn thing. One day at a time. Funny thing is with a team effort a FEW of the things that used to destroy me mentally are mitigated. And shooting is a fun event for me.
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SSG Audwin Scott
I have been told I sometimes stop breathing in my sleep as well as wake up screaming.
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You're not alone I have the same problem. I know mostly what sets me off and I avoid it. But sometimes it sneaks up on you or is something out of the ordinary. I recently found a new trigger that pissed me off and made me feel pretty damn powerless. My son and I were watching Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown or No Reservations. I enjoy learning about the different cultures and I love food. This episode was filmed in Libya I think. Everything was fine while he was in a couple restaurants eating and talking to locals. But when he went out on the street the camera panned down it and it was danger deserted. Not a person on the once busy street and I had an instant panic attack. I had to walk away and put some cartoons on for my son. That was the worst most recent incident. After a while it gets second nature to pull over and find ways to calm down.
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SGT Josheua Cooke
I appreciate the example, and get that immediate alarming angst. I still have to fight the urges because someone "entered my convoy"/ cut me off switching lanes. The things that are identifiable are overcome-able, the things that trigger anxiety and anger that I cannot identify are the things that scare the piss outta me.
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SGT Cody Skinner
No matter what you do the triggers will always be there. Learning to live with them and finding ways to bring yourself back to reality is the hard part. Driving is a lot easier now for me, but if a piece of road debris I didn't see and/or a piece gets thrown into my vehicle that normally starts a panic attack.
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As crazy as it may sound, I cannot listen to the song Run away Train. That for me is a trigger.
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