Just saying "hello" as I came across this site looking for people's experience dealing with PTSD. I'm a 51 man from the UK and have been off work for the best part of 12 months with work related PTSD (lots of work around guns and dangerous situations). Main manifestation is a shaking right leg which starts around the slightest anxiety, it can be something as insignificant as spreading butter on toast. I'm trying to deal with it with a mix of medication (tried Sertraline- no effect, currrently on 100mg of Pregabalin), therapy, meditation, CBD (vaped and drops). Have also tried TRE for 6 weeks with no great benefit (although sometimes go back to trying it after exercise) and also tried EMDR (no great effect). I really want to get back into work so probably in danger of battling rather than accepting. Really don't feel any better after 12 months. Looking forward to (virtually) meeting others in a similar situation!
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Brandt9
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For me it took a long time to find a med combination that actually worked for me. Keep trying.
Therapy has really helped me but it can be triggering. I work a half day which is helpful to me. Work does not have to be 8 hour. I know it would be nice to get a full paycheck but I always have hope that if I as I feel better that I can add more hours later. I suffer from chronic fatigue and CPTSD so I always have hope that I will find out what is causing it.
Everyone is different though. I hope you will find something here. The people here are so kind and accepting. They are from all over the world so please be patient with the replies because some people are sleeping during your posts.
I shoot photographs as a way to calm myself and get centered and they have tolerated my uploading of photos. Everyone has been so nice to me. I think you will find them nice to.
Thanks everyone, I'm feeling very welcome already. I'm just annoyed I didn't find this place earlier. There's a real stigma in mental health, and it's hard to even discuss it with friends. Sometimes the balance of treatments seems to be right, but often that's a fleeting moment. Hope this place can be another part of my recovery. Take care all.
Hi Brandt9. You don’t have to say but if your PTSD is from military then you may be able to get support through veteran services. Also I think some UK nhs run community mental health teams ( CMHTs) have specialist services for people with military trauma.
I have PTSD ( complex PTSD ) from childhood abuse but my PTSD only really started the last few years. I’ve had two lengthy episodes off work with it but am now back ( in same job). The job can be triggering as sometimes we have safeguarding issues so I can relate somehow to work being a trigger point for you. Is your job still open?
There’s an organisation called Remploy in Uk. I’ve found them really helpful. They supported me when I was off sick and now my Remploy worker checks in on me from time to time. Remploy also applied for me to have a work coach through the DWP and that got accepted so it’s all very positive and I’ve started with work coach.
An employer has to make reasonable adjustments for employees with a long term condition ( ptsd is classed as that ) I have some adjustments- some of which are - my desk area has been altered so people can’t come up behind me, I’m allowed time off for appointments ( ie, emdr and work coaching). I have flexibility with start and finish times. And I can do safeguarding courses online at home rather than face to face.
Are you under a CMHT? I’m sorry to hear emdr didn’t help. It’s different for everyone. I have multiple trauma and my experience of emdr is that it takes about 8 or more sessions to work through just one traumatic memory.
I tried sertraline and then got switched to a combination of mirtazapine and Venlafaxine. This has really helped me and the mirtazapine helps my sleep. Again we all respond differently to treatments.
Work wise - I think Remploy has two departments- one for people needing support to remain in work ( or to return to their job after sickness) and the other department I believe can help people with long term conditions find suitable work. I’ve found them great. May be worth googling them.
I’ve said to myself now that if I have another episode off sick with this I’ll look for an easier job that is better for my condition. If your job is still open to you they may consider redeployment to an are there is less triggering?
Yes - there can be a bit of a stigma and often it’s harder for men to talk about their mental health ( I’m female and it’s bad enough!). I’m aware that in some areas Mind run groups - there may be a men’s group where you are?
I hope things look up for you soon. I know it can be a long journey. I am definitely getting there. Takes time though
Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to reply. Remploy does sound like a really good organisation and will give it a call. Unfortunately I'm a freelance journalist/film maker and I tend to go from contract to contract with different companies. I have some friends who know about my condition who are looking into stress free (freer) versions of what I used to do and will see if that bears fruit. Sometimes though being in the office where the films are being made can be a trigger. Will see what Remploy say.
I've always been interested in the brain and still find it amazing the something quite similar for so many people can have so many different (often partial) fixes. Learning to be patient...
You mentioned trembling and that makes me think of the way trauma is memorized in the body. Some people get a lot of somatic symptoms associated with trauma as the fight/flight/freeze response lasting for so long creates a chain reaction in the nervous system that can affect parts of your body.
I can suggest looking into somatic experiencing method online and Peter Levine's resources to see if you can get something out of this.
Understanding the mechanism and where the symptoms come from helps empower you.
I'm sorry you have been off work so long. It's very tough to come back, particularly if it's triggering environment.
It is important that you find something that resonates with you as we are all different and need to find our unique ways of recovery. What works for one person doesn't always work for another.
Thanks so much for your advice. I've had a brief look into it an already I can tell it's something I need to explore further. It reminds me of a book someone suggested to me once, I think it's called "The Body Keeps the Score". Amazing after so long I can find an approach that really seems to echo my problem.
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