Lost and Confused

[Casey102]

Hey everyone, I am new to this community. I have been through a lot of trauma, which has resulted in a decline in my mental health however I am trying to find ways to cope. How do you guys cope? At work I have had panic attacks consistently everyday and crying episodes. Growing up I was abused as a child, sexually assulted, went through a near-death car accident, and it all while time goes on continually seems to affect me from depression to extreme anxiety. I seem disconnected from people and cant trust in general. What should I do?

[Existing]

You happened to find a really good group here for support and safety.

What should you do? My first suggestion is a good experienced trauma therapist, and hopefully you already have one.

Your symptoms of disconnection and mistrust are classic symptoms of someone who has had serious childhood trauma as you have. There is so much to learn from what people share here. Take some time to explore posts and comments here. Little by little you will find yourself in others comments. That is really helpful to being able to recognize a lot of things that aren't "just you", and in fact are due to your trauma. The most important thing i will recommend is for you to be VERY patient with yourself, AND to do everything in your power NOT to blame or shame yourself, or talk to yourself in a critical judgmental way. Omg, the extra damage that can do!

Beyond that, I would just say to stick around in this group. Many of us post a lot for awhile, then we forget about it, or just don't check the site for a long time, but youre always welcome back whenever is right for you. There is not much you can't talk about here, as long as its not hurtful to others. Welcome!

[Existing]

First tip for panic: you might explore YouTube, searching for guided meditations or panic. Its a good practice to help you develop some good relaxing relief and even prevention. Its a good start.

[RupertBrown]

Hi and welcome. Everything Existing said is true and I wholeheartedly agree. If you haven't already read it I'd like to recommend a book. It's called "The Body Keeps the Score". It totally changed the way I view my past and it's ramifications. It's not a substitute for therapy, but could go a long way toward understanding how past trauma affects you today. Either way, nice to meet you and I hope you find the answers you're looking for. Sending peace and courage until you do!

[Daveacr1959]

We can only tell you what helps us. I have anxiety and not depression. So the 7-8 times I tried different antidepressants, they made me way worse. And I had to stop them . My whole life my go to was cardio exercise. Things like a daily 5 mile jog. Or cross country skiing 5-10 miles. Or hours of play hockey. Or weight lifting and then the treadmill or stair stepper afterwards. Now that I’m older, I swim laps and sauna. Or do you tube aerobics or jogging in place. I have found good breathing exercises free on you tube., and nothing can beat a cold shower. I know this sounds a bit harsh., but it’s what works for me. This stuff produces natural chemicals in the body. The gyms are full of people who exercise because they feel better, not because they care about their looks.

[designguy]

I suggest you find a therapist who specializes in treating trauma/c-ptsd. Mine used emdr therapy which has a proven record of success for helping those with trauma heal. My therapist made sure I was comfortable and felt safe to explore and process all of the repressed shame and emotions I had that were causing my anxiety/depression and allowed me to move on with my life. I tried emdr therapy previously with a regular therapist and it wasn't helpful, so I definitely recommend working with a trauma specialist.