PTSD

[Reggie123]

Trigger warning!

ok, my story is hard to hear and really hard to move on from! 
last March I was walking my dog, as I do every morning. At 5:15 am, so pretty dark. I was walking through my basement and near my car I found a man was attempting to take his own life. I screamed for help, another man turn up and we tried to help him. We called 000 and we performed CPR. Once the ambulance turned up they took over. As this was happening his wife walked up. The ambo and cops were horrible to her!! I sat with her and held her as her husband was pronounced dead. 
I can no longer go in dark areas or undercover car parks. I’m constantly feeling like something bad is going to happen. 
the panic attacks don’t happen as often, but the mood swings do. 

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

Thankyou for sharing this event and your post symptoms. I do understand the effect on you as I've performed CPR twice myself and thankfully had a positive result from them. Such events likely caused problems for you that a GP would best be consulted about like PTSD, anxiety and so on. 

As a human being with compassion, you did a great deed that day and comforting her was extraordinary- well done. I dont know why the ambo's and police treated her that way but walking in their shoes isnt something we all can do (they could have had more information you werent privy to), as it was out of your control it is less relevant now. What is important is how you can develop methods to cope with memories of that event and eventually overcome the ongoing issues like dark areas and so on. 

As a former prison officer that witness stressful events I believe I likely had PTSD for many years after I resigned. Them days it wasnt a "thing" were just had to go on living whereas now medical authorities are well aware of the illness and it can be treated effectively. I wouldnt under estimate the problem and a first step is a GP visit.

Therapy could be helpful as your fear of dark places is now an unrealistic fear as this was a one off event. Go to a basement again a thousand times and its unlikely it would repeat. I've been treated for unrealistic thoughts as part of my major anxiety issue back in 1987. At the time I had a workplace injury (psychological) and was dreaming up all sorts of "possibles" and was trained then on how to discount them and continue on. This needs professional guidance and is very effective.

IMO your greatest risk is that your symptoms could manifest into other more harmful problems long term. To reduce this from happening your first step to discuss it all with your GP is crucial  to your future.

Good luck, we are here for you and thanks for posting

TonyWK

[mmMekitty]

Hello reggie123

I am sorry that, for whatever reason, the man chose to end his life. Sorry, too, that all your efforts, & the efforts from the man who came when you screamed, & the ambos, too, still his life was lost.

That must have been a shocking moment when you realised what the man was doing there. & then, you don't have time to figure out much except for what to do about it.

But your mind is storing important details, maybe even some unimportant details too, all in one big box. Everything gets mixed up in the box, so now it's easy to associate dark places with shock & fear, like panic - the emotions which were strongest at the time.

You also have emotions about how the police & ambos treated his wife.

& what did you feel towards the man who came to help when you screamed?

There is a lot to sift through & deal with. So, I think TonyWK has given sound advice, to see your GP & take it from there. 

I have learned from my Psychiatrist that some controlled breathing exercises can help to calm the panic & anxiety, just because, with deep breathing, in a controlled way, will have an actual effect on pulse & heart rate, which makes us feel calmer. 

I want to add:

Well done, Reggie123, for having the presence of mind & for all your attempts to save the man's life. You did so very well, dealing with the difficult situation you were faced with, you & the man who came to help, too, & remembering the CPR you'd learned. You did everything you could, as best as you could. Also, thank you for giving your comfort & support to his wife.

Hugzies

mmMekitty

[Earth Girl]

Hi Reggie,

Thank you and the other person who was there so much for trying to help this person and for comforting his wife! If it wasn't for you, his wife would be struggling even more and you also did everything you could to try to keep the man alive. I'm sure she really appreciated your kindness!

I haven't experienced anything like this so I can't imagine how hard it must have been (and how hard it continues to be). It would be really good to see a professional about this so they can give you advice on how you can slowly get use to walking in these sort of areas again. You may also need some type of therapy to deal with this extremely stressful situation.

I'm not sure why the cops and ambulance people were so mean to this woman. It's possible that there could have been something that happened that we don't know about maybe. I hope they didn't blame her for everything if it didn't really have anything to do with her.

[tranzcrybe]

You would have provided a witness statement to police or ambulance?

If so, I think you can approach them to seek counseling as a direct consequence - you are technically a 'victim of crime' and they should be offering such services if requested (or even if not).

If things don't work out that way, please visit your GP to arrange something similar - sometimes you just need to express yourself to clear your mind of the association.

[mmMekitty]

I'm sorry, Reggie,  Tranzcribe & everyone, I'm not sure Reggie would qualify as a victim of crime, as attempting or actually committing suicide is not a crime in Australia. Under the circumstances, I suggest that you still try to see if any victims of crime services are available to you, Reggie.

I still think seeing your GP & arranging for some counselling or therapy to help with your anxieties & other possible symptoms of PTSD is worth doing.

&, if there is some waiting period involved, please feel free to chat here, or call BB's own counselling service on 1300 224 636 anytime.

Hugzies

mmMekitty

[tranzcrybe]

I believe I am permitted to post links to free counseling services?

This is the Victoria Police initiative offering referral:

https://griefline.org.au/about/policeline/

"VPeR is a consent-based, non-crisis, non-family violence referral system that provides referral options for police officers to offer when civilians they speak to have been impacted by death."

"Through our Policeline initiative, Griefline and SEMPHN, supports 6 counselling sessions, to witnesses of non-suspicious deaths, who are referred by Victoria Police Victims Advisory Unit"

True, including 'crime' was an oversight on my part although it does carry the same inference for anyone exposed to such trauma (hence my qualifying with 'technically').