PTSD

[45DAVID1]

Any of you been diagnosed with it?
I have more than a few concerns from experiences I would like real life ways to deal with it. My sleep is screwed up, I avoid most people and would rather walk through back doors going to work than walk through areas that contain large groups of people. I always seem to be on edge and have distanced myself from co-workers and family. I hate feeling like I do.

[BajaJames83]

Get help!
Go to the VA. You may also have anxiety issues

[navycorpsman]

How long since your decompression?
The biggest thing is knowing you have the help available to you and it works so dont be afraid to ask for it.
I was diagnosed in 2008 and went through many therapy sessions and group meetings. It takes times and patience but it is great now. PM me of you have any questions

[chris]

please seek help from your unit if you are still in. if not go to the VA and get help. there is no shame from me or anyone here if you go and seek help.

[jloffermann]

Have you thought about getting in contact with a Pastor from a local or back home Church?

[45DAVID1]

Have you thought about getting in contact with a Pastor from a local or back home Church?

Im not religious...

BTW... my co-worker right now is from Travis AFB

[joash]

Aside from the obvious professional help from the VA, you might find running, yoga or other exercise helpful.

[dalriaden]

I still suffer sleep issues from it. When I was diagnosed with it they gave me a ton of meds I hated taking. Working with the va on it right now but the biggest help for me has been talking with the guys I deployed with. I still hate crowds and loud environments

[OldShooter32]

Talking with your buds is critical. Stay in touch and stay social and positive. Sleep is critical, and the hardest thing to control. Stay away from drugs and alcohol (easy for me to say...) and find someone, anyone, to talk to. It doesn't heal itself.

[rero360]

Check out the Vet Center as well, its free, they are funded by the VA and unless you are a danger to yourself or others, its completely confidential. I made use of the Sherman Oaks office a few times back a few years ago, helped me a bunch.

[Flipper]

Talking with your buds is critical. Stay in touch and stay social and positive.

^This! I had some issues that took some time to work through and the biggest thing that helped me was talking with my friends that could relate with my experience. I had some issues with the wizard we had available at our post....

Also remember that your experience has changed you. You can do things to adjust any undesired affects that are a result of your experience. Just remember, there is nothing wrong with you, you are not broken, you are just changed and with work you can change yourself to a point where you are happy.

PM me if you ever want to talk

[bob7122]

getting a dog can help with your stress and anxiety.- i saw that on animal planet. just my .02 cents.

[SoCal_Sapper]

I'm diagnosed with PTSD but I'm not sure if it's PTSD or its depression. The best advice that I can give is to not drink and join some sort of club or activity involving other veterans. Civilians don't really understand but just being around other veterans and talking to them (doesn't have to be about PTSD) is therapeutic enough, for me anyways. If you ever want to talk PM me your number or email and we can have a chat about whatever.

[m1a1driver]

I have been diagnosed with PTSD. Definitely seek help, the VA is a great place to start, they have 1 on 1 counseling sessions and group therapy. Also be sure to claim it, you will receive a monthly check for it too. You've got it, might as well get paid for it.

[nickyrr]

A lot of good ideas here. All or a combination of some of the suggestion here could definitely help you. Try some if not all of them to see what works. Here is what I found out works best (not diagnosed professionally as I'm still getting the courage to get help seems to be the hardest part for me).
I know from academic research that combination of therapy a.d medications help depending on the severity of PTSD.
Keeping busy with positive activities could potentially help. Here are a few that I know worked from talking to some vets.
1. Exercise- Try different things Basketball, Jiu-jitsu, etc. Depending on how comfortable you are with the size of the group.
2. Volunteer VA if youre close enough or any vet center there is a positive co-relation with helping those that have or have had the same traumatic experience as you have.
3. Adopting a pet can be a tremendous therapy session by itself, just make sure find the right one personality wise and train him/ her accordingly. That alone will keep you busy.
4. Stay in touch with people that are close to you explain to them your situation. We tend to push away people closest to us in times like this. Atleast they will have some understanding as to what's going through you.
5. Go to school, get a job, join a club, all of which will keep you in touch with people hopefully positive people.

Obviously there a lot more out there. Here are a few that I remember this late at night.