PTSD and Me

[Furyan66]

Hi Fury,
I must say that everything that you have stated applies directly to me, as well. I suffer from PTSD, in part due to my experiences in childhood (ritual sexual abuse/corporal punishment), my experiences in the military and the fact that I was nearly killed at work by a client whom I was counseling (with a 14 inch "Rambo" knife"). My panic disorder grew out of my PTSD and was at one point so severe that I could not even stop my car at a red light. I would have to creep up the light so that it would be green by time I got there. I couldn't wait in supermarket lines. I would complete my shopping and then circle the store for any hour, just waiting for a cashier who had nobody waiting. It was hell. I am a recently retired licensed psychotherapist who counseled for 30 years. Some people think that those of us on the other side do not suffer with these issues. They could not be more wrong. What I can tell you for certain is this...it is possible to render the mind incapable of having a panic attack. I did not believe this at first. I thought that they would have to put me completely out in order to prevent or stop one of my attacks. True panic disorder is a seizure disorder. The mind is overwhelmed with racing and spiraling thoughts and begins to misfire, leading to a meltdown. Many times it's the misfiring that happens first, and that brings on the attack. Just like they can prevent seizures, they can prevent episodes of panic. Here is what helped me and countless others while I was practicing.

1.Obtain both a long acting and short acting benzo. (ALP and C-Pam are what I used). Titrate up on both meds until you reach an amount that takes away your urge to panic, as you place yourself in situations that usually induce an attack. It takes time, but you will eventually reach a point where you are panic-proof. (We used to call it being "bulletproof"). At first, you will attribute it to the self confidence that you are gaining by conquering one old fear after another. While it is true that confidence is part of it, the primary factor in your lack of panic is the medication.

2.Taper down to a more reasonable amount of the meds. Use the long actor (C-Pam) as your foundational drug. Use the short actor (ALP) only as needed, as your remedy for breakthrough anxiety.

3.You will come to find that knowing that you have the cure for any potential panic attack right at your disposal will, in itself, keep the PA's away. The mind if much less apt to spiral if it knows that you can stop it cold. You will also have the confidence of knowing that you can always go back up to the dose at which you were bulletproof.

AD's for panic? Never. At least that is how I feel about it. It is true that a mind that is happy has less propensity toward panic. But all SSRI's, and particularly, the SNRI's, have an excitatory effect on communication within the brain. SNRI's increase dopamine level's (which is the primary precursor to norepinephrine) and high norepinephrine levels have been known to cause PA's in predisposed individuals.

There is so much more, but I just wanted to throw that at you for now. If any of this sounds like it may be of value, PM me or post and I will flesh it out some more.  Peace.  RM

Hey Rafterman..

All this advice is of value and I do appreciate it..

I really don't think a lot of people realize how destructive PTSD can be to ones life. I try to stay away from Benzo's as much as I can (to but the 2 that you mentioned are the same 2 I have found work for me. Alpz only as needed when I need immediate relief and c-pam to keep things "in balance" as best I can.

I use a lot on meditation to also help control my anxiety.

It's been a learning curve with me to see what helps and what does not and in the correct dosages. I think everyone's body is different so pretty much everyone with PTSD neds to figure out what works best for them.

When I was diagnosed with this back in 2010 I really thought PTSD was just a terrible condition soldiers get after experiencing the horrors of war.

Goes to show you how uneducated I was as ANY traumatic incident in ANYONE'S life can trigger it.

With what soldiers see and experience I almost feel bad about even saying anything about my PTSD because I know they have had to been through so much more and seen such horrors how can my problems compare.

Peace All..

Fury