PTSD

[Juwy]

I have ptsd and depression I'm 12 I need to talk to someone about it, my parents don't even know I have it so can I talk to someone online about it? Message me.

[Hidden]

Hi Juwy, and welcome!

I'm so sorry you're having to face PTSD and depression at your age, but glad that you're both aware of it, and that you are addressing it by reaching out. Yes, there will be people you can talk to about it on this forum.

Have you considered telling your parents? I might not in my own case at your age, since it was my Dad who was giving me the PTSD. But reaching out somewhere to a person locally who can help you might help a lot.

Be sure to also access the resources at HealMyPTSD.com. There is a lot of great information available on that site which can help you with getting a handle on PTSD and how it is impacting your life.

We're here, and there is great hope for healing what you're dealing with.

Warmly,

Dan

[Juwy in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, that btought a smile to my face

[Hidden in reply to Juwy]

You're very welcome. I'm glad it made you smile - you deserve that!

[johnsmith]

Back pre 1986 I worked in youth clubs and did courses in counselling of children, bereavement counselling and ordinary counselling. I also did the appropriate youth leader courses and studied various aspects of child psychology from those who had worked in that field. This was in the days when youth leaders could talk one to one with children in private.

It is very difficult to know what you mean by PTSD and depression. Depression is common for someone your age. You are in the process of developing into an adult. The brain is in the process of change. Your sleep regime is in the process of change. The way you think is in the process of change. Your ability not to be clumsy is partially lost as your limbs have changed in length without time for you to adapt to their new length. There are going to be times when you are going to be exhausted for what appears to be no apparent reason. The process of change can cause the brain to experience a lot of work which can be exhausting. When the brain has been working too hard it will on occasion shut down. This is normal. Unfortunately, the process of the brain being exhausted and demanding rest and refusing to do anything can be confused with depression. The two are different.

Do you know your local vicar. They can be quite helpful. They have some useful techniques for dealing with issues of fear.

I am an ex Catholic now a Buddhist. The doing of some of the religious practises when I was a child enable me to forget the violence I was exposed to at the time and be less effected by it.

I also learnt that physical movement changed the way the body felt and reacted. Playing badminton could change a mood of fear and dread (the local bully wanted to beat me up after school) to one of experiencing no fear what so ever.

A lot of things are a case of experiment. Try something and see what happens. Do something else and see what happens. This way you slowly build up knowledge of what works and what does not. This knowledge cannot be obtained from books because each person has to learn how their body will react and learn to identify the various feelings with it. Their is no common language to describe the various feelings.

"

Grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And Wisdom to know the difference.

Grant me the peace to live one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to wisdom

"

Hope this helps

[Juwy in reply to johnsmith]

Thank you for the advice! I can't talk to strangers I just can't I feel really awkward and it usually takes me over a week to get comfortable with them :/

[johnsmith]

Thanks for the reply. Your reactions to talking to strangers are perfectly okay. What do you know about the stranger other than nothing. Trying to determine if you are interesting and trying to find a topic of conversation that makes you interesting to them is difficult. It can produce mental overload. Which then makes you feel very awkward. Not a pleasant experience.

You need to develop strategies.

I used to play chess which gave me ample opportunities to talk to strangers about chess moves.

I used to engage in fencing and karate which gave ample opportunities to engage with strangers about the finer points of movement. Which then moved into areas where the martial art activity changed the way the body and mind responded to things. A large part of the fencing and martial art training I did was to learn how to predict movement and how thro movement change the way people responded to me. Moving in peaceful way caused others to respond in a peaceful way.

In the karate, I did, there was a lot of emphasis on breathing techniques. Breathing changes the way the mind and body feel. Which in turn changes the way I did things.

Asking questions about a common interest is a useful way of building up a skill base for engaging in conversation.

Bible study was a very interesting way of engaging with strangers.

Feeling awkward about conversations with strangers is a good ability to have. It stops you "from rushing in where angels fear to tread" to use the old saying. It allows you to monitor the strangers reaction so that you don't irritate and monitor the stranger to check if they are safe people to engage with. All things that many people have to learn by trial and error.

Hope this helps

[Palomineo Pioneer]

Hi juwy

I took Tae-Kwon-do for several years, starting when I was about 20, I wish I had started earlier! The world Tae Kwon do classes taught me breathing and respect and helped me to become confident, able to be less shy and stuff. The breathing exercises were very useful in helping me to relax and sleep at night, and calm myself when triggered!

I think most martial arts classes offer some help in these areas. I thought the higher belts in the Tae Kwon do classes were really good at looking after their students, advising and training them! Not allowing abuse in the class, and not allowing an attitude of meanness to develop. It's a way of life not a way to beat up on others!

T