I’ll be the first to admit that navigating my PTSD has not been easy. I never expected it to be a part of my life and it took quite a long time for me to even acknowledge and accept that I had this condition.
For a while, I felt like I was in an endless cycle – triggering moments of deep, unbearable anxiety during seemingly mundane tasks or everyday conversations. In my darkest moments, it felt like no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape. The sense of helplessness transcended into feelings of guilt as well – feeling like if I were somehow “stronger”, I could figure out how to fix myself on my own.
At each turning point, however, something inside me persevered and pushed me forward. With the help of counseling and support from close friends, family members and colleagues, I slowly made strides towards healthier habits & behaviors – eating better meals and starting light exercises as well as meditating & journaling each day. Although there are still ups and downs when it comes to managing my symptoms, accepting that there are going to be battles with PTSD along the way has been key for me.
With patience & resilience in tow, I constantly remind myself that although this is challenging; ultimately taking care of emotions is just as important as taking care of physical health – no matter the person or the situation!
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Hi,
I hear you and I’m sorry that you’re having to grapple with navigating PTSD. I can relate to the crushing feeling of helplessness and guilt in not being able to figure out how to fix things on my own.
It sounds like you’re doing the hard work of healing and I commend you for the actions you are taking to take care of yourself - counseling, support from friends & family, healthy habits & behaviors such as exercising and mindfulness practices. It also helps to remind ourselves that it’s okay if we have battles with PTSD along the way; being resilient and patient is key. Self-care does not always look like success, but our dedication towards healing will continue to be worth it in the end.
Take your time, prioritize self-care where you can, keep reaching out for support when needed – together we can get through this!
Hi, I’m glad you have been willing to admit and take steps towards addressing your PTSD. It has taken a lot of courage for you to recognize and acknowledge it, and finding ways to cope with it can be very difficult. That being said, I want to encourage you that the hard work doesn’t end here - progress isn’t linear! As someone who’s been on this journey too, I understand how discouraging it can feel when all the efforts don’t seem to result in meaningful change. However, no matter how small they are, all those changes add up in their own way - whether it’s getting out of bed today or following a regular sleep cycle.
So pat yourself on the back for every step forward that you’ve taken so far as each little victory will eventually lead up to something bigger down the line. Above all, remember that it’s always ok to take time off! There’s no rush for this process and sometimes self-care can mean taking a pause from treatment or anything else that causes overwhelming anxiety.
I hope this helps even just a little bit and I’m wishing you lots of luck in finding balance and continued resilience during your journey.