ptsd & depression & Anxiety

[AmberDanielle]

what and how are some good ways to cope with PTSD & depression & anxiety and how to deal with it on a day to day basis of life

[Nathalie99 Partner]

Hi AmberDanielle,

I'm sorry that you are struggling with ptsd, anxiety and depression.

It is extremely tough and I just want to acknowledge that. It can take a lot to just survive.

There isn't one thing that works for everyone. It is more specialised. Each person is unique and so their coping strategies that help them, will be different.

At some point the coping strategies might not be enough and the only way through might be trauma therapy.

For some, medication can help reduce the symptoms.

Many list breathing techniques as a very important tool.

Other things might include music, art, time spent in nature or in your favourite place, writing/poetry.

The most important thing is finding people you can trust and know they will be your support network.

For me it was about never losing hope.

There are Topics like Coping, Hope, Therapy Experiences and many more to read.

The topics are found under the post, if you scroll down (if you are on a mobile). They are not in alphabetical order anymore so you would need to look through all of them.

There are also pinned posts there. These posts contain hopeful information about healing from ptsd.

[SavingGrace Administrator]

HI AmberDanielle.

I'd like to echo absolutely everything Nathalie99 has shared as advice.

And it's oddly how the very simple, straight forward things can help us to stay sane throughout the PTSD healing and recovery journey. That's what I have found anyway

For me, it has helped being out in Nature.... but the breathing also has become more and more important. Eating healthily, continuing doing activities/connecting to people. I've just taken up tennis again, once a week, and it is helping my mental health beyond measure.

Being very compassionate with oneself is so, so important in the overall process.... Knowing that it's ok and you will be ok and, learning to rely on this inner belief .... (And if like me, this bit is hard to muster or sustain, then it's worthwhile putting in place some additional targets to set for yourself, to ensure you don't forget some time for TLC).

Keeping routines is so important.... for just a basic self care. It's so tempting to 'give up' and think it doesn't matter, but self care is so important. Whatever that means for you: doing your hair, or - for me, it's about hoovering. Darn hoovering and housework. I dislike so much that I have allowed my home to become an unloved tip.

If I had my time again with depression in the early days, I honestly would have tried to do more of the above. Looking back, these are what sustain me today - many years on - through ups and downs. During those downs, it's just all about stop and take care of yourself. Do something nice and lovely to treat and be good to yourself. Let the worries come back another day. In the meantime, the realisation that there are peaceful opportune moments in this journey of chaos, can really help to reassure the soul - and heal it overall in the long term.

There are 5 ways to well-being which the NHS outline here: nhs.uk/mental-health/self-h...

If you can't access this UK link, then it's well worthwhile doing a web search for 5 ways to wellbeing

Sending best wishes,

Saving Grace.

[Mamamichl]

the “I am” app is helpful for me.

[BrainIsFull]

Wonderful advice here from some very wise women!

I am not doing well right now but I have had moments in my life when things were going really well

The things that stick out to me from the ideas here are having a routine, exercise, some sort of breathing/meditation/affirmations/mindfulness app. And psychotherapy. And medication.

And the fact that there is no one way or right or wrong. This means a lot of trial and error and to keep on going bc the next thing you try could mean a big breakthrough! (Mine happened at age 50 but I started this process way later in life).

The important thing is that there is hope!💚💚💚