So. I don't post a lot but I think this might be useful. I have suffered with depression and anxiety for the last 5 years. And recently diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a stressful and scary time with our son in the 1st few days of his life. My counsellor suggested a way to work through the PTSD in order for my brain to process it. It's about habituation. Like watching a scary film. The more you watch it the less scary it is. And that's basically what you have to do with PTSD. So she made me record this on my phone.
You have to sit down, close your eyes and imagine your there in whatever situation it is that is causing the PTSD. And you have to describe it in the now tense. All sights, smells, sounds, feelings, thoughts. Only the part that causes the anxiety. With no parts that cause reassurance. Once you have done that. I was in tears and felt 100% anxious. She then made me listen to it again. And again. And inbetween each time you update your memory to how the situation has improved. So for example "my son is fit and healthy now". And you keep listening to it until your anxiety had completely gone and it is stored in your brain as a past experience. I was there for about 1hour 15 and came out feeling less anxious and a bit lighter.
I hope this helps someone.
Thank you.
Great post. Glad you are working through your illness. There is someone on here who may probably take your advice many probably not, I do the same myself I look at everything then think that sounds good or nah that's not for me but that's my choice.
Kudos to you for putting it out there, it shows the type of person you are that despite your own troubles you have compassion for others.
I hope you continue posting.
@Morag is the person who inspired the creation of this thread along with Gary Speed folks.
I saw her go through what was eventually diagnosed as post-natal depression after our first child was born and it was only when help was sought, that she could even begin to feel better and see just how bad things had been.
It took its toll on me also, as when someone suffers any illness, the whole family suffers. I won't bore you all with the nitty gritty details.
Then as she points out our second child, our son was ill at first and it was terrifying. All good now though.
Ultimately however, I'm happy to report that while there's good days and bad days, I'm sure she won't mind when I speak for both of us and say things are much much better after seeking help.