Do You Believe That PTSD Affects You Physically and Mentally? If so, How? [Archive]

Nam

03-07-2006, 06:55 AM

My symptoms usually start as the physical and then I realize that I am suffering mentally also. I believe that it is a combination of both in order to suffer from PTSD. I was surprised to find out that it is a mental disorder when most of my symptoms are physical. For example, the heart pounding, asthma attack feeling during panic attacks, the anemic-like fatigue, and the flu like symptoms like nausea, vomiting, irritable bowel, and headaches. I believe there are studies now being done about nervous system pathways. When a person goes through traumatic events, certain pathways are opened for survival. Unfortunetly, among us, those pathways do not close after the traumatic event passes and our nervous system travels those pathways during normal stress, hence our reaction to normal stress is the same as the reaction to the trauma itself. It really sucks, and it feels like you are not in control of your body or your mind.

anthony

03-07-2006, 12:24 PM

Well said Nam. What you can do though to actually reduce, or close off those nervous system events, is through relaxation techniques. The spine is the root of all nervous system entities basically, and relaxation can very much control pain sent through the nervous system recepticles, and how the brain responds to those senses. I have some very detailed information here from a leading pain specialist in the field of PTSD, which I will get online here when time permits me among everything else that goes on in my life...

carpediem2006

03-07-2006, 09:36 PM

In the year before I finally crashed and burned, I got pneumonia. I believe if you are mentally worn out it affects the body, both are intertwined.

It is also harder to look after the body and its needs if you are not fully mentally fit. Diet, exercise, self-care fall gradually by the wayside.

To treat the body and the mind as two entirely exclusive entities would be a nonsense.

Getting a terminal illness often affects the mindset of the patient, getting a bad bout of influenza can cause delirium- the reverse applies in my point of view.

Mental and physical health cannot be separated. That's my two bit opinion anyway.

Miander

21-07-2006, 05:38 PM

Even though I have basically come to terms with my PTSD, I still suffer the symptoms of it both physically and mentally. Physically, it is easier to look at the situation and know that it is a physical symptom that I am experiencing, i.e. I hear a loud noise and my startle reflex is exaggerated, my heart immediately races, I start instinctively looking for an escape route. Mentally is more difficult to pin for me...i.e. the depression I feel after I realize no one is shooting at me and it's just me over-reacting again - is that PTSD or is it simply depression? The extreme anxiety I will continue to carry with me as a result of being scared like that, I am pretty sure is the PTSD. All I know is that even though I consider myself functioning, I still suffer both mentally and physically and probably will the rest of my life :frown:

annafennutchi

22-07-2006, 02:20 AM

Funny, I have been discovering that my chronic knee pain is related to my traumas.
Every morning this last week I have woken up in pain. A couple of those days, I spoke about my "issues" with a close friend, and each time shortly after our discussion, I noticed the pain was gone.
Coincidence, I think not!

wildfirewildone

22-07-2006, 11:13 AM

There is no doubt in my mind that the mind/body is greatly connected!...Many years ago I took an Anatomy and Physiology course [two quarters--I and II] on my way to attempting to earn a degree in Rad.Tech. ....I have built upon that Basic knowledge in the past year and have learned even more to the connection...I also am learning through my present suffering...I do pick the mind of my psychodoc about the workings of the nervous system...I do know that once a person has been traumatized [in any way-from any experience] the memory of it is engraved [imprinted and etched in] in a separate area of the brain than other memories are stored...when there is a trigger from another trauma-like experience the nervous system response is initiatiated very much more from this area than the regular storage area of memories...the response feeds off of how the body responded in protecting itself from the previous trauma/traumas...those responses are repeated often in great intensity...body shaking...tremors...stay/flight feelings...These often lead to bodily fatigue...physical illnesses...unreal sensing of real pain in different areas of the body...No YOU ARE NOT GOING CRAZY!!! The body is programmed by nature to protect its existance...BALANCE is absolutely necessary for its survival....so physical and nervous system responses are in accord to "balance of the entire SYSTEM"...I would recommend that you beforehand write largely on whatever paper product you have these 2 statements:

1. I AM NOT GOING CRAZY!!!!
2. MY BODY IS WORKING ON PROTECTING ME!!!

Keep this very close to the area that you most often experience your PTSD-related symptoms...If you find that you have more areas than one major area....work on putting this "sign" near those areas also...I have found that as soon as I can be aware of my symptoms I can rapidly grab this sign and shove it before my eyes and thus this INFO is dramatically sent through the nervous system to my SURVIVAL CENTER....then the nervous system can transport responses more calming than alarming to the various body systems...I try then just to focus on my breathing...one cycle of inhale/exhale/////then another cycle of inhale/exhale...I continue this as long as I feel I need to to get back to a calmer state of reality...THIS A TOOL...I have found that I need many TOOLS...This can be one for you...

anthony

22-07-2006, 03:37 PM

Well said wildfire, well said. That is some very good solid information for us too all learn. Thanks.

darkskies

26-08-2006, 10:46 AM

ptsd for me is both mental and physical. The physical effects include uncontrolable shaking/trembling, increased heart rate, either fast shallow breathing or breath holding, nausa, vomiting, freezing on the spot, headaches, muscle tensing, restlessness, twitching, having to constanly move or tap feet/hands. also unfortunate side effects from medication to help control the anxiety from ptsd has landed me with the onset of diabetes so ptsd wins in screwing up lives all round!

it feels like my body betrays me and i have little control over the symptoms severity at times. This is not good when your body and mind seem to shut down while crossing the road as i can freeze on the spot and need someone to intervene so that i move out of the line of traffic. Hope this helps

Kells

14-09-2006, 03:46 AM

For me, it's sheer exhaustion, irritable bowel syndrome (drives me absolutely nuts!), nausea, and heartburn... I'm not on meds because I chickened out just as she was making an appointment with a psychiatrist. Meds scare me something awful.

cdunny

16-09-2006, 05:37 PM

yes. Headaches are the worst for me. I get tired and worn but my worst physical symptom are the headaches. I never got them before the trauma. I never really knew what one was. Now I get them all the time, especially when Im really feeling the psychological effects of PTSD.

16-09-2006, 05:44 PM

the tiredness that comes with depression, the anxiety causes shaking, muscles twitching, stomach pain, throat closing up, tight neck and shoulders, headaches, insomnia,that crazy startle thing--that's enough to make you crazy right there.

skinnycat

17-09-2006, 06:13 PM

I would say, as my doctors also would say, that most of my chronic health problems:angry-fla sorry, my dh just put that in there. As I was saying, my chronic healths problems relate to trauma and then the holding it in for so many years. I started having health problems early in my twenties, and they have progressed to the point that I applied for disability 3 years ago since I can only work part-time now, and couldn't work for several years because of PTSD.

I have suffered from IBS, Interstitial cystitis, GERD, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Ulcers, pain syndromes, and then of course suicidal depression, PTSD, disassociation, etc.

I am now able to work a few hours a week, as mentally I am in much better shape than I have been for 6-7 years. But physically I am going downhill, with other problems presenting themselves that are a result of genetics and age.

So with a resounding YES I would say that PTSD has affected my physical and emotional well-being from childhood.

:crazy-eye

GR-ass

19-09-2006, 03:32 PM

I get headaches often, have muscle spasms, panic atacks, I don't sleep well, my body aches at times and I feel too nauseated to eat.

I startle easly and will freeze, unable to move, while I try and get some control over the run run run going through my mine.

So, yes, I'd have to say PTSD does affect me physically and mentally.
Though it would be interesting to see how it affects people socio-economically too.

reallydown

19-09-2006, 04:27 PM

Oh it definitely affects me both ways--anxiety, depression, headaches, lack of sleep, problems concentrating etc...

goingonhope

04-10-2006, 01:28 AM

Abosolutely! I have symptoms from the past and present which differ in severity and type. Past being more severe, present symptoms more controlled.
Some present physical symptoms being:
Exaggerated and unexplained fatigue and weariness,
specific physical pain / body memories.
Sky-high anxiety, depression bouts, Inability to control mind and relaxation / hypervigilant,
Nasuea, headaches and……Past: sudden and severe onset of one or combo of physical symptoms:
Loss of appetite, shaking, choking sensation
hyperventilation, bodily numbeness,
uncontrollable and exaggerated jerking of arm,
nasuea, seizure activity, loss of muscle control,
amnesiac and/or fugue state of mind, periods of unreasonable adrenaline, physical need to vomit, ulcers.

Marlene

24-10-2006, 10:39 AM

I know that my anxiety is climbing when I feel my muscles begin to tense or hurt. Most of the time it starts around my bellybutton (don't ask me why) and spreads outwards. Sometimes I get random spots of muscle tension. I've finally realized that it's my body's way of trying to get my attention that I'm letting things get to me or that I need to pay attention to what's going on around me and work on getting my anxiety back down.

I've also noticed that I run out of energy so much sooner than I used to. After work, all I want to do is just sit and watch TV or read. Sometimes the energy it takes just to have a conversation feels like too much. When I have a good day with lots of energy (mostly weekends) I get as much done as I can because I know that I'm gonna crash sooner than usual. I exercise (yoga and fencing) but sometimes it takes all of my willpower just to get my butt out the front door.

christiey

26-10-2006, 07:52 AM

Physically I start trembling/shaking sometimes sevrely out of control, heart palpitations, my ankle starts to hurt, and I get headaches. I can't stand for too long because I feel faint due to exhaustion. Also, I get sick when the ptsd gets worse.

Mentally I change completely almost. I don't trust people, I don't feel safe, I isolate myself thinking that's the only way for me to stay safe, anxiety kicks in, and I'm just exhausted mentally.

sibemom

30-10-2006, 08:59 AM

I agree that the symptoms are both mental and physical. For me because I also have other issues that cause me pain, I am getting to the point of knowing WHICH problem is causing what. What I have noticed when I was on the pain killers, they might have taken the back pain away BUT did nothing for the pain from the PTSD. For my being physical is both a mental and physical challange and cause such great fatigue. I have to always be aware of what I am doing and watch my balance so closely. My house looks like a POST IT WAREHOUSE, so YOU BET CHA it is both.

Ann

batgirl

01-11-2006, 12:52 AM

My PTSD really effects my physical health. When I was first diagnosed I was suffering from really bad stomach ulcers and had lost a lot of weight. Everytime I feel upset or get triggered I lose my appetite, even now. The worst thing is that for a long time, I wouldn't go to the doctor when ill, until my illness got intolerably bad. So as a result I've had untreated pneumonia twice, and now I have quite severe asthma and have to see a pulmunologist regularly. The pulmonologist and my family doctor both say I am a "poor perceiver". They didn't really explain it, but I gather it means that I don't realize it when I'm sick, or I ignore it and carry on.

I can really relate to the whole mental exhaustion thing too... I feel like that everytime I have to go into a new situation, which is a lot now, as I am looking for a job.

IraqVet

06-11-2006, 04:24 AM

I might be the only one that says no. Maybe it does affect me both ways but I have been able to manage the physical symtoms. I have always been a health and fitness nut. I am a little obsessive about it. My whole life I have, almost obsesively, exercised, eaten healthy, and slept on a schedule. When I am depressed or upset, I do this even more so. I tell myself that something is wrong and I have to make myself better. I almost never get sick or hurt.
I definitely have nights where I don't sleep and I definitely have a racing heart beat when I see a report about Iraq. I have times where I am very tired but I can usually push through these times when they come. I would see these more as mental symptoms anyways.

juls

10-12-2006, 09:43 AM

It affects me both ways. Physically I become exhausted and mentally, too--can't organize thoughts and/or think clearly.

Borderline

14-12-2006, 05:58 AM

My physical symptoms, started with digestive problems, ulcers. Asthma, in the last few years ulticaria, excema. Palpitations, I have even passed out once. At present damage to my teeth due to grinding at night, botox injections into jaw muscles have helped, ongoing dental renavations by specialist. Exhaustion etc.
G

becvan

22-01-2007, 07:59 AM

There is not doubt that this affects me in every aspect of my life. I get horrid migraines from the stress, from jaw clenching, my jaw swells, I have IBS, my back goes out from being stressed out, I get muscle cramps. lose weight, have muscle spasms, stop sleeping, etc... I fall apart when I get stressed. Then my mind? Well, sometimes I wonder where it went. I have no memory, half the time can't talk or type or function in anyway, lose it emotionally if stressed etc.. then you have the mind playing tricks on you when your hypervigilant, having anxiety etc.. there is no doubt as to the connection with me. If one goes, the other follows.

bec

kers

26-01-2007, 12:33 PM

The mental aspects gives me physical symptoms. Thinking about the trauma gives me stomach problems. Getting tense at every little noise, especially when I'm tuned into my trauma ruminations, means that my muscles tense until I'm exhausted. And because I can't get a good night's sleep, I feel lousy, am not hungry and don't eat well, which all leads to a weakened immune system and I get sick. A vicious cycle.

New Mex Apex

04-02-2007, 04:19 PM

It starts with anxiety/tension and shaking, fatigue, elevated blood pressure, withdrawal from family/ friends, difficulty breathing, increased hip pain. Unchecked the symptoms worsen to severe outbreak of psoriasis, nausea, vomiting, irritable bowels, and vaginal bleeding. My body totally rebels and I am unable to function. I know the last sounds strange, not in your typical list of symptoms, but they ran thorough tests and that was what they said caused it. Other than my PTSD and a wickedly bad hip I am perfectly healthy.

Lisa

11-02-2007, 02:47 AM

I'm affected both ways, definitely. Physically I have IBS, migraines, tension headaches. The headaches and IBS are chronic in that I've had to see specialists for both in the past - and both diagnosed it entirely stress-related. I also suffer with nausea, cramps. When I'm triggered I shake, tremble, shiver, my jaw clamps shut. I get faint and dizzy, and general discomfort physically. Mentally, well the list is endless. My memory is affected, my concentration, my sleep, my moods. I space out, feel unsafe, get depressed, obsess, distract, avoid, can't think, and get exhausted.

sheree71

27-02-2007, 05:55 AM

Yes definately. I was hospitalised last month for two weeks with "fitting" that I couldn't control. I'm not epileptic, but my whole body would twitch. The first night it was for 4 hours. I eventually ended up on a walking frame. After being moved to a psychiatric hospital, it was found to be stress and panic. My doc had a term for why I couldn't walk and needed the frame. Plus I have had abdominal spasms for two years with no known cause. I can now stop them using breathing techniques. The doc thinks they were stress/panic as well. So yes there is a link.

Loathe

06-03-2007, 05:39 AM

The mental is obvious.

As for the physical, well I thnk my stomach problems have only gotten worse from the worry and all the drugs I have to take. Also, I guess sleep would be a part of the physical. I can't sleep. I mean, I've taken over the counter sleeping pills, anti-histomeans (sp?) anything that I think will help me sleep and nothign works. Everytime I ask a doctor for a sleeping pill they give me something thats not a sleeping pill, but is for something else and doesn't help at all.

oh well.

Thornbird

10-03-2007, 07:18 AM

I find it affects me both mentally and physically. I am forever drained. I have no energy physically and mentally, my brain just doesn't want to work.

starshine

14-03-2007, 05:36 AM

Yes, all the way.

I am anxious all the time, constantly scanning my environment for threats. I can get confused about what is in the past, and what's going on now. [I am working lots with this in therapy.] I miss out on enjoying life because I am so scared all the time, scared of people, scared of getting hurt.

My anxiety and panic attacks can make me dizzy. I landed up in A and E last Autumn because I was so dizzy from anxiety I couldn't stand up never mind walk.

I get a lot of constipation, I used to get urine infections, because of held in distress, but with therapy that's eased a lot. I still need to go to the loo a lot though, and have done since I was a child, with anxiety. It increases the toxins and I feel the need to expel them as fast as possible.

I can't handle unknown people close to me, I can't bear unknown people looking at me on public transport.

slhlilbit

18-03-2007, 03:45 AM

the stress and supressed emotions and out right anger has affected my health. I vomited when i was stressed and that distroyed my teeth. i have had ulcers . stress headachs, and so on and so on..

doobie

19-03-2007, 01:52 AM

this doesn't require thought cause its a definant yes with out a doubt.....we are the proof....

responsiblek9

03-06-2007, 11:39 AM

I am reminded everytime I take a step with my left foot how disabled I am by the past. My stress tolerance is low and when stressed my physical endurance and ability to concentrate drops. . Hypervigilance makes doing everyday things harder and mentally and physically I get tired rather rapidly.

ClancyBoy

08-06-2007, 04:43 PM

Can't say it affects me physically, unless you count the adrenaline rush and the damage done to my knuckes from punching concrete :D

Snoozer

21-07-2007, 06:43 AM

Complex PTSD effects my life daily in that I am continuously questioning

mightsurvive

24-01-2008, 07:41 AM

I obviously sufer from the mental health problems associated with ptsd. I aslo am sick or gag, shake, get headaches, ache in my back, neck and legs. screw my forehead up (if that counts) and much paler in colour (people haev commented without them knowing that i have any personal problems), have lost weight and gained weight depending on meds. Hmmm cant think of any more at the moment but wil add more if i do later.

sunnydaze

24-01-2008, 11:40 PM

I have suffered from chronic pain for 40 years. Recently, I found something non-drug that helps with the pain and now I see more mental problems arising. I think the pain overshadowed the mental problems that I face now. I blamed the mental problems on the pain but now I can see I had the problems all along but thought it was due to the pain.
sunnydaze

TaraJ

01-02-2008, 02:12 AM

I have not been formally diagnosed for PTSD, but I feel very strongly that this is what I have. It negatively impacts my daily activities, and my bedroom is a direct reflection of that. I cannot make myself move during the day, because I feel like I'm dreaming. I noticed that I only feel alive when I put on makeup and fix my hair. Otherwise, I feel as though I'm stuck in some kind of stillness..where time does not exist. I have wasted many days because of it. Days when I had solid plans of accomplishing tasks on my house. I know that my boyfriend was annoyed with me. He always asks me what I did in the house, cause he feels like I'm just lazy. I just can't bring myself to try to tell him how completely unreal I feel each day, and wait for him to tell me how ridiculous that sounds. There's no way he could ever understand.I often feel unreal or as if I've just pulled back inside of a memory which pains me. It's not as if I'm thinking about the events, it's as if I'm there again. I'm crying because of how someone made me feel, and the pain is deep in my chest. That has happened many times at work, and my boss was startled when I froze in place and did not move for several minutes.
She came over and began rubbing my shoulder, to try to 'wake me up' from whatever was happening to me. Something could remind me of some painful time in my life, and suddenly I'm frozen in time. When I 'come to' I find that I'm either hyperventilating, or slumped over and not breathing. Sometimes my face is wet from tears. So yes, this really does affect me greatly. Not only emotionally, but physically as well.