can you get better from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Question

i have been diagnosed as having ptsd for 3 years, but the reason i have it is from abuse i had as a child (sexual)

so in effect i sppose i have had it for 20 years and never realised it

i am on medication and see a psychiatrist but if i stop these will there ever be a stage where i will be classed as better, and how will i know i have been poorly since childhood so i dont really know what i should be like

i also have depression, paranoia, ocd and panic attacks

thanks for your answers


xxx vici

Answer 1

Yes you can get over PTSD. It depends a lot on the psychiatrist you see. There's different types, some like to talk about what happened and help you get over it like that. Cognitive therpists help you change the way you approach the thoughts so that you are less affected by them. There are other types of therpy too, but I don't know what they are, sorry.

Best of luck and I really hope you feel better. Well done for being brave xxx

Answer 2

You can recover from PTSD. It can take a long time depending on the individual person. Do you receive any counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy? It helps to work through the traumas and the abuse you suffered as a child. They encourage you to talk about it and help you to accept what happened and that you are not to blame. It is a special type of therapy you need to help you get through it and put it all in the part of the brain where it gets stored as a memory and only gets recalled if you want to recall it.

They will also help you deal with depression, paranoia, ocd and panic attacks as these can be part of suffering from the PTSD.

I wish you luck

:-)))

Answer 3

Ok so you've got probs as me: history of sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, and a history of substance abuse. I have depression, with an anxiety disorder with panic attacks. I am a cutter as well and agoraphobic. I have been diagnosed with PTSD and clinical depression. I have been like this since i was 14 and am now 35. I'm a single mum of a 4 year old, with an ex whose just about to go to jail for a year at least and is a control freak! I've bin single 2 years now. I take celexa and diazepam in large doses and have done for 2 years. (I've just recently cut my dose of celexa without my docs knowledge-naughty but felt it was the right thing to do for me). I've done loads of research on the web and have contact with a lot of PTSD sufferers. I see a psychologist, a psychotherapist, a councillor and a doctor regularly. The only thing is that i don't have promiscuity problems, but the opposite (which is common, over/under eating; over promiscuious or not able to have sexual relationships etc) and that's ok. I have/am learning now how to try to deal with this, and one thing i can definately say is 'willpower' is very important. You have to deal with the here and now first and work your way back. Visualisation, meditation and positive thought patterns are the start.

Most PTSD sufferers have negative thought patterns that started from when the trauma stress began, they become a 'habit' the 'normal' and continue to allow the re-livng of that traumatic event in the concious and subconcious. It's sooooo difficult but you have to retrain your brain to change those negative thought patterns to more positive, less demanding and more accepting. When these thinking patterns are practiced and become the 'normal' thought pattern, then only, can you go back in your mind and relieve the past traumatic events by using the same tried and tested thought patterns. The memory of the event can never be taken away, but i do believe it is possible to recover from PTSD and not need meds or psychological help anymore, but it takes time and a lot of willpower and determination. If you want to chat more about this feel free to e-mail me. Good Luck. :))

Here's another answer i gave to a question on PTSD recently,

Inpatient treatment is not required and if anything could make you worse. I also have PTSD from childhood sexual abuse, and have done a lot of research on the treatment of it. No religion or 12 step is of any use and will not help i can assure you. It's impossible to 'block it' but you can learn to move on in your life. You have a future and however grim it may look right now this can be 'managed' to lessen it's grip over you. It's all to do with the circuits in your brain and how they have changed by / since the trauma. The brain has a self-defence mechaninsim that comes into force in order to prevent the trauma from reoccuring. In doing so it keeps the memory alive and fresh, which accounts for the flashbacks and nightmares. These memories can never be taken away, there is no magic wand and, it's not possible to remove these memories by surgical means! I have started to see a psychotherapist who practices The Rewind Technique and i am holding great hope in this for me. Granted, not everything works for everyone but have a look at The Human Givens Institute research here on the internet There is also EMDR, EFT, CBT and other recognised help techniques that are far more scientifically based than the 12 step!! The trick is to retrain the brain so as to make it able to open the neuro-transmitters that are required to allow this memory to be 'cataloged' as in the same way that you would a 'normal' bad memory.

Answer 4

vicpil,

You can definitely recover from PTSD. Are you currently seeing a therapist or counselor? I was a bit surprised when you did not say anything about a therapist (just a psychiatrist). A therapist can help you with the PTSD, depression, OCD, and panic attacks. It may take awhile (therapy does not work overnight), however, it it very worthwhile to try. I'm surprised you are not currently seeing someone (since a psychiatrist usually recommends a patient to see a therapist). Check with your PCP (Primary Care Physician or Insurance on how to start therapy (if you have to get a referral...). Good Luck

Answer 5

I have anxiety and depression and have been trying an alternative therapy called Emotional Freedom Technique and it has really worked for me and helped me a lot. Since using it I have been feeling a lot better. It's very good at getting rid of all kinds of negative emotions and dealing with all kinds of issues quickly. It does sound bizarre but does work. Might be something that can help you with you. If you type Post traumatic stress disorder, depression, paranoia, ocd and panic attacks in to the search engine of emofree.com you should find some arcticles about EFT being used on these problems.

Answer 6

Hi Krista; By all means, share what you think regarding PTSD with your therapist. I think she or he will recognize it for what it is and act accordingly. Since your problems are triggered around an outside trauma (as opposed to, say, a chemical imbalance leading to depression), I also would lean toward PTSD. That said, the PTSD symptoms lead to depression, don't they? Anxiety, self-doubt, despair - I've been there too, sweetie, and can tell you I have regained joy in my life. Therapy saved my humble life and returned it to me. I disagree about the success rate of treatment. Regardless of what the "numbers" are, we are concerned here with only one number - and that's you. You can be successful with the help of further insight into the ramifications of this very real trauma. You also have the very real advantage of being intelligent and willing to educate yourself to help yourself. There's no reason why you can't find and join a support group of others struggling against anxiety and depression. Call your county mental health center and ask if they can direct you to such a group. Good luck to you, and God bless you with a good therapist. I will keep you in my prayers. Lulu

Answer 7

Absolutely. There are disorders that are incurable.
(Such as epilepsy.) But PTSD and depression are
curable.
Your very best bet would be to find yourself a Ph.D:
a psychologist, NOT a psychaitrist; and find some-
one who knows about Buddhism and meditation.
There are a lot of authors out there who are experts
on the subject. And reading some of them would be
highly-beneficial.

Best of health & good luck!

Answer 8

I have been diagnosed with chronic very very severe complex PTSD, depression and psychosis. I am almost completely recovered. I have been in therapy and have been doing EMDR. It has been so effective - why don't you try EMDR and see if it works for you. I will be thinking of you, take care.

Answer 9

#1 Social Reprogramming Method - http://SocialAnxiety.uzaev.com/?Zpkp

Answer 10

Improvement comes incrementally, and it is possible.
Over a series of counseling therapies,
plus having current positive experiences,
as I age, there are less occurrences of my ptsd.
It is still with me, but not as strong, and not as often.
Having a supportive family, helping me to avoid triggers is very helpful too.

Hope you get into therapy for yourself.