I've had an odd couple of days....

My wife has been battling PTSD for close to 3 years now. It stems from multiple traumas from years ago, which started coming back to her as I mentioned, close to 3 years ago. She is actively pursuing therapy and has been making great leaps forward. However, something disturbing has happened over the past couple of days.

She has had experience with vivid, disassociating flashbacks, which have calmed down a lot in the past few months. But two days ago, something new happened. As she was sitting on the couch (as she put it, her mind was going, thinking about things) suddenly she heard what sounded like a voice screaming in her ear. It happened a second time a few hours later. I saw that one. Then once more in the car coming home last night. My first thought is that this was a kind of flashback, it had some of he same characteristics, she went rigid for a few moments, it affected her left ear, and for a few seconds afterwards she seemed to be a bit out of things. Usually her flashbacks that I am used to seeing last longer, and have physical effects (she can feel things) this however, is the first time that she has ever experienced auditory hallucinations.

From some of the research I have been trying to do, I have only one possible correlation.....of her many medications, one that she takes is Respiredone, which I have read is commonly prescribed for treating hallucinations. Recently, she and her doctor have been attempting to wean her off of this. She dropped her doseage again a couple of weeks ago (this is the second drop).

Has any one else had any experience like this? I'm not sure what to think, she was doing extraordinarily well for the past few weeks, getting back some confidence, getting out, and her mood has come back amazingly, and then out of the blue she is hit with this, which is completely new for her, the physical flashbacks she has had before, but never auditory. From what I have read here, it seems that auditory hallucinations can definitely be a part of PTSD, but can they start like that? INdependant of other symptoms, just appearing? It's got her scared, and I must admit, I am a bit myself.

I appreciate anyones thoughts on this.

Hi Bradinn Welcome to the forum.

Yes new symptoms can come and go, and symptoms can change whenever they please.

I am a sufferer and I have massive auditory flashbacks. They are rather unnerving at first. With time and work, we learn to recognize them and work through them. They can be caused from simple exhaustion, too much stress all the way to being triggered.

There is nothing to fear. They can and do start like that. I'm glad you both recognize what they are, that gives you the ability to deal with them as a team!

Welcome aboard.

bec

Welcome to the forum Bradinn, lovely to have you. As Bec says, a change of symptoms is expected. My daughter with PTSD has gone through massive changes in her symptoms in the last few months, including very vivid hallucinations. As Bec says this can be due to stress, exhaustion, or other factors in life. You mentioned your wife weaning off Risperidone; this could definitely be a factor as well. In any event, there really is nothing to fear, so please do not be overly concerned. Welcome once again, I do hope you enjoy your time here.

Thank you both. You have helped to confirm what I had believed from my reading so far. Now all I have to do is to try and convince her that she's not going completely crazy. This has her pretty scared.

My suggestion is to try and get her to read on the forum. It's amazing how reading that others feel and experience the same symptoms as you, can make us feel "not crazy." Joining the forum has made a huge difference in my ability to cope and deal with my PTSD.

Anyways, that's my suggestion.

bec

I second Bec's suggestion. Simply reading upon this forum would be most helpful for her. Good luck to you both.

I hope that someday she will be able to read and participate in the forums, I think it would be beneficial to her to read some of the accounts from other people in the same situation. She was able to talk to both her therapist and her psychiatrist today, both of whom assured her she was not going crazy, and that this was a part of PTSD. Her psychiatrist believes that the onset is due to the decreasing of her meds, so he is bumping one back up, and hopefully that will alleviate this new issue.

It's so hard sometimes to see this happen. Especially after a period of such improvement. I'm sure that everyone else who is in the same position can attest, it's frustrating and scary to be so helpless to do anything to take away the pain that your loved one is feeling.

Very true Bradinn! I would dearly love to take away their pain! I suppose though we wouldn't be here (and neither would they) in that event.