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| | Notices | Welcome to PTSD Forum. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a life threatening, debilitating disorder that can break down a sufferer’s body through anxiety and stress. Further it poses a significant suicide risk resulting from the brains neurological imbalance and chemical depression. Sufferers often live in denial, thus this community is aimed at helping PTSD sufferers help themselves through others experiences, guidance and education. We are here for the sufferer, spouse and families surrounding PTSD. Spouses and family are too often forgotten in this equation, and often they receive all the worst that PTSD has to offer. If you're involved in any way with PTSD, get registered and help yourself now. Non-active members will eventually be deleted. If you are not a sufferer, carer or someone within the mental health industry, and active, then there is little reason for you to be a member of this forum. Non-active members with zero posts are deleted periodically during the year. |  | | 
31-12-2007, 06:51 AM
| | | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: hollidasyburg pa
Posts: 35
| |  I Did It- Fought Panic Going to the Mailbox
 hi it's sally
This may not seem like a mile stone to some but today I WALKED TO THE MAIL BOX, by myself. my driveway is around 1/2 mile long . It used to take only a few minutes but it took me but this time it was around 30/45 minutes. I had to stop and work through my panic attacks. Lord knows I wanted to turn and run back to the safety of the couch. BUT I DID IT!
next step is to try to clean my house, any fast movment scare my right back to the couch.does any one has a suggestions? I washed dishes twice in a year crying every time, I'm so afraid I'll break something. I could use alittle advice. sally |
31-12-2007, 07:18 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ma
Posts: 2,022
| |
Sally,
I would suggest small baby steps, and the same way you managed to get to the mail box. Sometimes we just have to push ourselves past our comfort zone to do things.
Great job on getting the mail. |
01-01-2008, 01:34 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Newfoundland & Labrador
Posts: 2,303
| |
That's great Sally, congratulations! Going out alone can be really scary, it's a big accomplishment if you have anxiety about going out. I can relate as I have a difficult time going anywhere alone. I am getting better but I definitely know what you're talking about.
I don't have anxiety with cleaning myself. But I would imagine giving yourself small goals rather than one large goal, would help. So, if dishes bother you, try for 5 minutes of washing dishes, then stop. Then try for 10 minutes the next time, and so on, until you don't feel as nervous anymore. You don't have to do it all in one day either. That's what I've done with my agoraphobia (fear of going outside). I started out really small, I went out into the courtyard by myself. Then I started going for walks alone, then driving my car alone. Now I can drive to town by myself and get groceries. But it's taken me several months to reach that point. Anyways good luck, and congratulations again! |
02-01-2008, 06:59 PM
|  | Moderator Carers Forums | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Melbourne
Posts: 825
| |
Good work with the mailbox Sally & good luck with the dishes. |
04-01-2008, 06:06 AM
| | | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada
Posts: 72
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Good for you ! Congrats ! Batgirl said it best, you don't have to finish it all in one "take" one step at the time, one dish at the time. Try this approach with the things that are troubling you. A bit at the time, it will seem less threatening ! |
07-01-2008, 07:19 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Earth (most of the time)
Posts: 616
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That's great Sally. I trust I will see more success stories from you soon.
Tammy |
07-01-2008, 07:24 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newfoundland & Labrador
Posts: 1,830
| |
Quote:
Originally Posted by sally  This may not seem like a mile stone to some but today I WALKED TO THE MAIL BOX, by myself. my driveway is around 1/2 mile long . | Actually Sally, 1/2 mile is a fair distance, you should be very proud of yourself. No accomplishment is too small in my opinion. |
13-02-2008, 04:20 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 22
| |
Sally, congratulations!
I have had the same thing , now, for no rhyme or reason except the ptsd [I think I fear the neighbors LQQKING at me?...], and a few years ago fearful of BILLS I would find there...
Not to make light of or lessen your great accomplishment, and I certainly hope you don't find this offensive, but funny : D - I thought I would share with you all a couple of funny words my husband and I made up for the condition of not being able to go to you own mailbox -
I came up with: postaphobia and he came up with: antici-parcelation. ; ]
I think he wins. But I pointed out it is not always parcels that come in the mail [that's usually a good thing!], so he said antici-postalation, lol.
Keep up the good work! I wish I could just walk a half mile!! |
14-02-2008, 07:54 AM
|  | Administrative Editor PTSD | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,128
| |
Well done Sally.... congratulations and your right.... baby steps and you must acknowledge those. Baby steps addup to leaps and bounds. |
15-02-2008, 09:28 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Northern California
Posts: 295
| |
Good job Sally. I know what it's like to accomplish these little goals we set for ourselves. Just take it one thing at a time and you'll get there. I'm very proud of you.
Take care, Morgan | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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