How do I manage my PTSD Triggers, Anonymous 45

To begin with, I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) at the age of 35 and it has been 10 years from now. PTSD is a continuous challenge to live with if we don’t learn to cope with the triggers.

During the diagnosis and meetings, I got to know that my PTSD was triggered when I lost my wife due to cancer. After my personal loss, I was not into my senses and was never able to be the same after that attack. For me, she was everywhere, in the home, in the park, in the car.

After her demise, I experienced my first panic attack after three months. Since she was everywhere I stopped stepping out from my home and slept on the couch for years. Every time I tried to sleep or focus on something else, I saw her! In this way, after years I lost the ability to concentrate on anything. I completely disassociated myself from my friends, family members, everyone!

I kept on suffering alone and experienced various panic attacks. I thought this is the end of my world… my life has no meaning now. My family members tried to visit me, tried to talk to me… but I never showed up. And they never gave up on me. They continuously helped me with chores and stuff. They helped me with the work but at the same time they knew I am not ready to talk. So, they gave me time and continued helping me. After some time, the trigger didn’t stop and I got admitted to the hospice due to the weakness in my body. The doctors and the nurses gave me fluids and physically dissolved the weakness within. After the course treatment, my doctors from the hospital call for the psych consult.

I wasn’t ready to talk… or share and he assured me that no forces will be implied on me. I can take my time and he arranged weekly meetings for me. I attended the meetings for two weeks and in the third week, I finally spoke about my loss and shared my grief. The next day, I was diagnosed with PTSD. From that moment, I learned how to effectively cope with the PTSD triggers. Personally speaking, in the beginning, it is really hard to cope and manage the PTSD triggers. But with time, I learned to manage the triggers and learned how to live my life at the best.

I am following Calm Sage from the last 6 months and I am reading the blogs and helping myself to manage the triggers. My motive for writing on a platform like Calm Sage is clear and short. I want to help people going through worse. On a personal note, the below-mentioned are the key points I use to manage my triggers.

• Surround me with positive people
• Get help whenever I need
• Never isolate myself (isolation worsens the situation)
• Attend weekly meetings
• Read self-help blogs and books
• Meditation and exercise

Trust me; the above-mentioned points are for everyone. If I can do this, anyone can do this that is experiencing PTSD triggers. If you are having trouble doing it alone or with your family members, you can join group meetings and counseling meetings. Getting proper help is really necessary… if you will not get the help on time, it will only worsen the situation.

With this my story came to an end, I want to give you good news that my PTSD triggers are really in control and I am getting married again with the same happiness next month.

Thank you Calm Sage for helping!