topic Hi in Welcome and orientation

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TealRibbon — Fri, 11 May 2018 09:52:51 GMT

I’m new here. I posted in the PTSD & Trauma thread. I’m lost and confused and hope to find people who understand.

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Ggrand — Fri, 11 May 2018 10:25:39 GMT

Hello TealRibbon,

Welcome to the forums.

Im really sorry your feeling lost and confused..

Im really pleased that you found your way to your own thread as well as posting in the PTSD thread..

You are not alone I have as well as a lot of others here have PTSD. And I can relate to feeling lost and confused..

I was wondering if you are under professionals to help you manage your Mental Health...I tried to manage myself but it was to hard..then I got professionals to help me and I'm Ble to manage my mental health a bit better..

If you like to TealRibbon, there are a lot of threads on the forums, maybe you would like to look around, there are a few threads on PTSD. If you go to the search bar at The of this page and search PTSD.. I'm certain a few threads will come up..

This is your thread now, Please feel free to post anytime you want to..and to talk about what you want to..many gentle and caring people will pop in to talk to you and offer their insight and helpful suggestions to try to help you..

Kind thoughts,

Grandy...

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TealRibbon — Fri, 11 May 2018 10:43:10 GMT

Hello Grandy

thank you for your message and the information. I am a bit worried to search, as i saw in the PTSD & Trauma section some titles that scare me to open the thread.

I do have professional support, I wouldn’t be able to go on without it, but it’s really tough at the moment. I am glad you got help too. I think that is really important.

I am glad I am not alone, but also sad that there are so many suffering.

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Ggrand — Fri, 11 May 2018 11:01:18 GMT

Hello Teal,

Yes There are a lot struggling with depression, PTSD. anxiety and it really does break my heart..

Teal, yes some of the threads may trigger you..I also have to be careful what I read, There are a few staying well threads and social threads, coping threads, grounding threads, that can help you at times, and I'm not 100% sure because I don't know your triggers, but the staying well threads are usually fairly safe where triggers are concerned..

You are not alone Teal, as many more will join here and welcome you as well.. If you want to join in the conversation on any thread please feel free to do so..or not it's up to you..

Please Teal, be kind and gentle with yourself always..

Warm and kind thoughts, Grandy..

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TealRibbon — Fri, 11 May 2018 11:11:03 GMT

Thank you so much Grandy

for making me feel welcome here. I feel very isolated with my thoughts at the moment and it is nice that there are ‘lighter’ discussions here too, as I do need a break from my ever moving thoughts.

Good night Grandy, hope you will sleep well.

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Guest8901 — Fri, 11 May 2018 23:27:19 GMT

Hi Teal. I would like to add my welcome to that of Karen (Grandy).

I have read your other thread in the PTSD and Trauma section as well, but this seems to be your main support thread, so I chose here to post initially.

I too have experienced trauma, though as an adult, rather than as a child as was the case for you. I only recently started seeing a clinical psychologist and have been officially diagnosed with PTSD and C-PTSD (long story). Really only talking with my psych at this stage with no specific trauma therapy having been commenced. When she thinks I'm up to it I will start some therapy most likely and will be happy to compare notes with you then.

Yes there are many threads here which are light in content, and a bit of fun. Designed as a bit of fun and a distraction which we all need sometimes.

No you are certainly not alone Teal, as you can see there are a number of us regulars here who also suffer from PTSD. Each of our respective stories are very different, but the repercussions and ongoing effects on our lives are much the same for all of us.

I would be very happy to keep talking if you ever want to. You can of course post here any time you feel like it. Whether it is just to vent, or to ask questions of other members who may be able to offer you advice based on their own experiences. Alternatively you will always be made to feel very welcome if you choose to post on any other existing threads. So if there are any that you read which resonate with you, just post a reply.

I hope your weekend is an enjoyable one for you.

Kindest

Amanda 💜

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startingnew — Sat, 12 May 2018 00:32:54 GMT

Hi TealRibbon

i just wanted to pop in and welcome you to BB 🙂

take your time looking around and only click on the threads you feel comfortable in opening. your more than welcome to join in anywhere you choose. weve also got some social threads too like the BB cafe- feel free to pop in and say hi 🙂

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TealRibbon — Sat, 12 May 2018 05:05:55 GMT

Hello Amanda,

thank you for your message. It is nice to meet people here that are open and share some light hearted and some heavy conversations.

I understand about talking with the psych without starting trauma specific therapy. I did that for years until my therapist decided I was stable enough to start trauma therapy. Often I still don’t feel strong or stable enough, but I think it will be hard whether I wait longer or do it now.

Are you learning grounding techniques with your psych? I like wiggling my toes and trying to breathe, but I often struggle with the breathing.

I have nothing planned for the weekend. I might do some painting. How about you?

Take care

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TealRibbon — Sat, 12 May 2018 05:07:20 GMT

Thank you startingnew 🙂

Nice to meet you. I will have a look around!

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Guest8901 — Sat, 12 May 2018 05:17:37 GMT

Hi Teal and thanks for your response. Yes my psych has been working on grounding techniques and breathing techniques as well, which is designed to help with nightmares and flashbacks as they occur. I'm starting to get the hang of it, and definitely find that it helps. There is a thread here on grounding, written by Karen. The name of which eludes me for the moment. Perhaps Karen can provide that? My psych had initially spoken about commencing some trauma therapy, but then I had a bit of a setback and needed a short hospital stay. So everything has been pushed back somewhat as she doesnt feel I'm stable enough as yet. But perhaps as you say, is there ever a 'good' time to start something as difficult as trauma therapy? I doubt there is.

Yes its ridiculous isnt it that something which is so natural to survival (breathing) can be so damned hard sometimes!

Are you an artist? I have recently started doing some sketching myself. Something very new to me, not even having done it at school. But I'm really enjoying it actually, becoming totally engrossed at times. Which is good. Although at the present time I'm doing some sudoku puzzles and watching some sport on TV with my ill husband.

You too take care Teal, and its nice chatting.

Amanda

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TealRibbon — Sat, 12 May 2018 05:40:05 GMT

Hi Amanda

it is great that grounding and breathing helps you with flashbacks and nightmares. I can do it a little bit, but I have to take meds to be able to sleep and some other meds to keep me more stable throughout the day.

I needed to go to hospital a few times and I think the extra support helps when things get rough. That’s where I started art therapy. I’m not an artist I only started painting and drawing and sometimes working with clay since I had art therapy in a hospital. It gives my mind a break, not sure if that makes sense but it does. I often don’t know what I will do and just start and see what happens. It’s stuff for me, and sometimes my therapist, and not for an art collection. How did you start sketching? I can’t really draw anything three dimensional or use shading often my art doesn’t look like anything.

I might actually go and do some art now. I haven’t done anything in a while, it’s not even that I don’t feel like it at times, it’s more like I forget it even exists - similar to all self care that I know.

Take care

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Ggrand — Sun, 13 May 2018 22:21:47 GMT

Hello TealRibbon,

I hope you are doing ok, I'm just checking in to see how you are doing.

Its good that you can do art as a therapy, I tried art, I have pencils charcoal, different shade of skin tones etc...all used a few times...you should see my stick figures. or my trees I think a 3 year could do better...

II picked up a few cheap sketching and drawing books, a few years ago, if I use my eraser and heaps of tries my fruit can look not to bad...I think on the internet now, there are learn to draw pages, some free ones.

Teal, there is a thread here on grounding, I have a thread called...... "Grounding what is it and how do you do it"" if you just search it in the search bar you're sure to find it... it's has a lot of information that I hope you can benifit from.

I hope your day today is a good day..

kind and caring thoughts,

Grandy..

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TealRibbon — Mon, 14 May 2018 00:06:04 GMT

Good morning Grandy

thank you for checking in. How are you?

I’m low today, not sleeping well and generally upset and confused. I’ve had some changes to my daily plan and I don’t deal well with changes 😞

I will have a look at your thread now, grounding is definitely something I need to practice more.

Take care x

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Guest8901 — Mon, 14 May 2018 00:56:16 GMT

Hi Teal,

Thanks for your reply. Yes the breathing and grounding exercises do help, but it takes persistence. I am also on ADs, plus a medication to help specifically with nightmares and sleep issues. Nonetheless there are still times I feel as though nothing helps. But we must persist, because I know life can get better.

Your art therapy sounds good. I wish I had that here. But I'm in a rural / regional area and there isnt much around like that on offer. I started sketching after a relative gave me an art book on sketching. So I read it and started to try to put the different techniques into practice. This was about a year ago now. So far I have done some plants, still life, portraits, etc. I must say that I am by no means an artist! But it doesnt really matter, I enjoy it and I find it calming, and thats what counts. So did you get to do any of your art yesterday as planned?

Sorry you're feeling low today. I'm with you actually, no sleep, very upset and confused about something last night, and generally highly anxious and feeling unwell today. So I might join you with a read through that grounding thread of Karens. May bump into you there. Thanks Karen for providing the name for Teal.

Amanda 💜