Fed up withPTSD

[Leiabug]

Morning All, hope you all ok? Well on the 11th of june it'll be 2 years since my son had his accident and sustained his TBI, he is doing fine , luckily tries to manage his fatigue. I was diagnosed with PTSD after his accident and have received no help, waiting list according to mental health nurse is 18 months!! Although I'm so grateful and blessed that my son is doing so well and with us, as his mum i find every day a struggle as my anxiety is through the roof!! I'm so grateful for this family on here as i feel so lonely at times with regards to my fears for my son and his future, its so hard living with TBI as no one can see inside our heads, sorry this is a bit of a rant and sometimes i find it so difficult, although my son is continuing his carpentry apprenticeship and driving, has optic nerve damage in left eye too, managing the little things is hard, he was so fatigued after a busy weekend . Just wanted to say a big Thank you to you all for your posts, as because of here i don't feel alone in this Sarah 🙏❤

[cat3]

I swear we would take on the issues of our kids if we could ; it couldn't be any more stressful.. I must admit I was horrified knowing how scared my son & daughter had been with the shock of my ABi and throughout the following months ; it was all I could think about. But we talked at length for weeks afterwards and helped one another to make sense of the whole bizarre event. A mother's natural instinct is to protect her children, whatever age, so with something beyond our control the helplessness is nigh-on torture.

But talking openly about your stress, and everything surrounding it, to a trusted confidant can be surprisingly therapeutic. After my brother died in 2013 I was heartbroken but my sister-in- law was inconsolable. She and I got together every week and talked for hours, quite analytically, about the massive challenge, mainly for her, of coping with life without him. She says to this day that it's what helped the most.

If you have a patient and willing 'sounding-board' you might find that you have the answers to your predicament ; you just need to hear yourself vocalise your fears out loud until they start to lose their sting.

If you're prepared to share those thoughts here there'll be someone to hear you m'love....

Take care Leia. x

[Leiabug in reply to cat3]

Thanks Cat, for your lovely reply!! I'm trying to deal with it on my own through meditation etc. But like you said it's best to talk about it, i suppose because it's been 2 years and Shaun is doing ok everyone thinks it's all fine, but I'm the one stuck in that trauma and fear Xx

[cat3 in reply to Leiabug]

Talk it out Leia. Message me if you think it might help ? .... x

[BeeYou22]

Hi Leiabug... Cat is on the money with her reply and for me talking really helps too. May I suggest you make use of the Mindline service which has and still continues to be a lifeline for me. If you find your local Mind website it will give you the phone number of their local helpline/listening service. The one in Somerset is a 24/7, 365 days a year service where you get a 30 minute call once a day and you can call every day or whenever you feel you need a chat. They ae brilliant! In fact they are so awesome that I now volunteer for Mind in Somerset. You will also find access to peer groups in your area either online and/or face-to-face. Of course there's always Headway and there's this awesome community here! If it helps to talk, then talk... something I still seem to be good at after my BI 🙂 x

[Leiabug in reply to BeeYou22]

Thanks for that, oh i didn't think to ring mind, yep this community here has helped me loads; just knowing I'm not alone with my fears and questions with regards to living with someone with a BI and Cat is right talking is best X😊

[skydivesurvivor]

hi, he’s lucky!! A to be able to work/ study B to have such a devoted mum!! People tend to see the same person, expect the same old character?!! A mothers love is the best!! He may not say it/ be aware of what y do for him? Experience has taught me that in time he will re devote his character, if like me he will be very grateful for your devotion!! Things will get easier for you!! Please come & rant to us all as and when y need too!! This is a very supportive site, I’ve learn to SMILE to spite the frustrations!!! May help him to do so too, has a long hard journey ahead. Early days may need a long hard sigh too!! That the corner of y mouth twitching yet? See!!! Good luck & come back whenever, we love to hear a good rant!!

[Leiabug in reply to skydivesurvivor]

Thank you so much for your lovely message and words i needed to hear, yes truly grateful for all you lovely ones on here and i would be lost without this site ❤❤🙏🙏

[Teazymaid]

hi Sarah it’s such a shame that NHS waiting is long and absolutely appalling . I haven’t had PTSD from my accident and TBI but I did suffer with it many years again from another event .... I have also worked as a mental health support worker pre accident and know just how bad the system is ... for me I have used private therapy which have helped so much . Some like relate is though the roof on there prices but there are some very reasonably priced one local to me .. if your in Cornwall I can pass on some detail .. if this still isn’t suitable for you please keep talk to all of us on here as we do understand how difficult life can be for family and patients .. keep talking about everything it is the best therapy to keep us all able to deal with the new lives we are know living with and we are definitely not alone .. this site has been amazing help for me and I think many other people Sue x

[Leiabug]

Thanks Sue for your lovely message, I'm actually from Cornwall, but now living in Shropshire, nearest headway support etc for me is just under an hour away!! And your right private help is so expensive! I really appreciate all you lovely people and i don't feel alone when i can talk on here Sarah X

[MessyStressy]

I have just left the mental health service due to inconsistancy. 13 years post TBI.struggle with usual ptsd and other impairments disorders associated . But to be able to process and remember what you have discussed you have to have repetition, not big gaps between appointments & Not the changing of people in the service continuously that you spend your appointments giving the new support an insight into your condition and history to justify why your in heed of the system. To Re live it over and over again leaves you coming away emotionally exhausted. I'm unlucky with my CMHT I'm on my 5th psychiatrist. 7th physiologist 5th neurologist . 6th support worker . 5th head mh nurse & on .

My advise to you is in the mean time use self help .so many pod cast etc. On the wide Web. More reliable to view over and over to get it! Because the medical system don't always get you!