PTSD- Am I alone??

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Im a long time reader who decided to finally post. This site is a major support for me!!

I was wondering, are there any nurses out there that struggle with ptsd due to child abuse??? If so, how does that impact your work, and how do you manage your symptoms???? Have you ever told anyone at work?? Any support groups you know of???

I really would appreciate your feedback here!!!

Thanks.

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My heart goes out to you, and know you are NOT alone. You're taking a very brave step by seeking help and talking about your PTSD. I also encourage you to find a therapist you trust, if you have not already.

I know several people with PTSD who lead healthy and productive lives -- personally and professionally. I'm also support person for someone with PTSD. My significant other has chronic and acute PTSD from childhood/adult abuse and military experiences.)

I can't offer any "on the job" suggestions, so I'm posting a few links that you might find helpful (from a quick google search and my own files). If you do a google search, you can find many more resources and online bulletin boards.

Here are a few:

Sirdan Institute has a lot of resources, for those with PTSD, clinicians and friends and loved ones. You can e-mail the organization for a list of specialized treatment programs.

http://www.sidran.org/

The Women's Institute for Incorporation Therapy is in Hollywood, FL (near Ft. Lauderdale). The program offers inpatient and intensive outpatient services for women with severe trauma and dissociative disorders. If you click on the "links" tab, you will find a ton of resources as well.

http://www.wiit.com

http://www.patiencepress.com/

http://www.giftfromwithin.org/

May you find peace and healing.

Namaste_71

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Specializes in oncology, trauma, home health.
Im a long time reader who decided to finally post. This site is a major support for me!!

I was wondering, are there any nurses out there that struggle with ptsd due to child abuse??? If so, how does that impact your work, and how do you manage your symptoms???? Have you ever told anyone at work?? Any support groups you know of???

I really would appreciate your feedback here!!!

Thanks.

Hey! No, you are not alone...I don't have ptsd from child abuse but from spousal abuse. It is a weird thing to have. One day everything can be fine and the next, stressors from life can feel so overwhelming that I spend the day (or 2) in the safety of my home. I believe that nearly dying (saw the light, had no pain) has helped me to be a great nurse for my patients on the trauma floor. But at the same time little triggers can give me a weird flashback, like just the other night, hanging blood. I sat there and looked at it and realized that they had to hang 5 of those bags just to stabilize me. I shook it off but it still caused that old familiar horror to sneak back up. I have told people at work. They are all very supportive. It is one of those deep in the night shift talks that we all got into.

I go to a therapist but I am so sick of digging it all back up. I have a prescription for xanax and when I feel panic creeping up, I take one. Some weeks are worse than others. Of course I do not take it when I am going to work or of course not when I am at work. Anxiety is just a way of life for us with ptsd. I hate it.

I hope that you find some peace. If you want to email me, please feel free.

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What kind of symptoms do you have?

Nursing itself is so stressful I think nursing can give one PTSD.

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I should add that, in the case of my significant other, cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication have helped. There will always be anxiety and flashbacks, but he has tools to manage them. The therapy wasn't so much about rehashing past abuse, but more on living with the effects and living a happy/productive life in spite of PTSD.

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What kind of symptoms do you have?

Nursing itself is so stressful I think nursing can give one PTSD.

I don't think listing out symptoms will help the OP. What he/she has asked for is input (e.g., "how do you personally deal with it?") and resources.

I pray you or someone you love never experiences PTSD. These folks can suffer from heightened anxiety, low thresholds for triggers, flashbacks, always being "on guard," mood swings, depression -- and the awful list goes on.

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Specializes in med-surg.

I do not have an answer.

I only have a cup of tea

:smiletea2: and a big HUG for you!

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I don't think listing out symptoms will help the OP. What he/she has asked for is input (e.g., "how do you personally deal with it?") and resources.

I pray you or someone you love never experiences PTSD. These folks can suffer from heightened anxiety, low thresholds for triggers, flashbacks, always being "on guard," mood swings, depression -- and the awful list goes on.

First of all, I wasn't asking you the question, and second, since the OP's question was "how do you manage your symptoms????", I see nothing wrong with asking what the symptoms are. I understood the original post, and you know nothing at all about me, thank you very much.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
i don't think listing out symptoms will help the op. what he/she has asked for is input (e.g., "how do you personally deal with it?") and resources.

i pray you or someone you love never experiences ptsd. these folks can suffer from heightened anxiety, low thresholds for triggers, flashbacks, always being "on guard," mood swings, depression -- and the awful list goes on.

i don't think mulan is asking to be nosey, more likely mulan wants to know and perhaps is experiencing nursing burnout? let's give mulan a break ;)

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i don't think mulan is asking to be nosey, more likely mulan wants to know and perhaps is experiencing nursing burnout? let's give mulan a break ;)

i take back the question ... i'm a little hyper-sensitive about this topic and jumped the gun. so, i apologize to mulan and the rest of the folks reading this thread. with that, let's close this off-shoot. it's really about the op and his/her needs. i never meant to hijack the thread.

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Im a long time reader who decided to finally post. This site is a major support for me!!

I was wondering, are there any nurses out there that struggle with ptsd due to child abuse??? If so, how does that impact your work, and how do you manage your symptoms???? Have you ever told anyone at work?? Any support groups you know of???

I really would appreciate your feedback here!!!

Thanks.

i think it's important to understand what ptsd entails and manage it realistically.

one needs to be aware of all triggers, sometimes even the most benign.

anniversaries also, are times that are more difficult to manage.

often, survivors do not have any relations w/their families.

whether it is nsg or any other profession, it's tough to hang on during times of crisis.

something happened to me a few wks ago at work, that set me back big time.

it's all about balance and moving forward, bit by bit.

i truly understand.

feel free to pm me anytime.

leslie

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I have fading PTSD from a one-time incident so I'm sure it isn't as bad as from a long-term thing like child abuse. But there are triggers in the hospital setting. I try to approach my triggers kind of sideways and gradually, so I get desensitized. Some people know and just that they care about me and asked how I was doing helped.

I've gone to both local and online support groups. Online you can post any time day or night and get a response and support within minutes or hours. But seeing people in the flesh who've lived through what you've lived through - knowing that there's someone who knows what it's like - is a Godsend.

I hope things get better for you and you find healing. (((hugs)))

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