Does PTSD last forever?

[scrambled86]

I was wondering if anyone had PTSD before and got over it?

Like, will I have it forever or will it get better?

In fact, I guess the same goes for social anxiety and depression, will they ever go away?

I know I'm stuck with the ADHD for life but not sure about the rest

[tudorose]

It's a long hard road of gradual recovery.

[Phoenix Ash]

Just my non-doctor opinion, in a very broad, general sense:

PTSD: recoverable. With treatment.

Anxiety and depression: maybe. I think a lot depends on what is causing them. Is it just an imbalance in brain chemistry? Is it environmental or trauma-induced? Both?

Brain chemistry is more inherent in the way one is wired, which makes it more difficult to reach a permanent, no-longer-need-treatment sort of state. Hence being pretty stuck with ADHD.

But if a condition is caused by environmental factors (a la PTSD), that allows for the possibility of recovery in a more permanent sense.

Either way, I believe treatment can do a lot to bring about healing and healthy coping methods. All of these conditions can be improved -- sometimes to the point of complete symptom management, if not total recovery.

Best wishes!!!

[Fuzzy12]

scrambled i really don't know. I ask myself the same question. I guess it might come back when you are vulnerable. But even if it never completely goes away i think it can get a lot better and the instances when it returns Will be fewer and last for shorter periods. and maybe you'll be able to deal with them better. I guess cbt can really help here.

[tudorose]

CBT helps.

Watch for the physical effects too like adrenal fatigue. If I had realised the physical damage this causes I would have gone to the naturopath sooner.

[SquarePeg]

It doesn´t have to last forever but it does need working through with therapy or therapy and meds.

I know something of PTSD regarding soldiers. During operations when going through periods of stress they are unable to process events properly. For example, a comrade gets killed, they have around 24 hours to deal with it then it´s back to normal, all systems go. Most things experienced during combat are just pushed down and shut away, they have a job to do, it´s the body´s way of being able to carry on, ignore it and continue until such time as it perceives "safe".

Once the period of stress is over that´s when the events experienced can start to surface, may be immediately afterwards but may be many years after the event (they will not be buried forever that´s for certain, they will find a way to surface one way or another.) Ideally counselling should be given to all returning soldiers (joke) to talk about experiences and process them. If the experiences are not processed they can surface as panic attacks, nightmares, phobias, depression, anxiety, apathy, trouble sleeping, staying awake, substance abuse, anger and lot of other stuff. Certain sounds, smells, situations can trigger attacks.

So it´s important to work through the buried feelings and process the events properly. PTSD sufferers also have chemical changes (can´t remember exactly) but these differ from depression.


I don´t believe it can be dealt with by meds alone. Feelings have to be given a "voice".

[scrambled86]

Thanks all.

I'm about to start a long road of treatment...fortnightly appt's with a psychologist & appt's with a psychiatrist in between so I guess it's all got to come out.

I'm kind of thinking that talking about things is going to bring them all to the surface and then I'll feel worse for a while.

But I can't keep on living the way I am now so I'm going to do it even though it will be tough.

I hope things will improve over time for me and the others of you also suffering with these things

[ginniebean]

PTSD is very treatable.

[SquarePeg]

Whilst it can be tough (it was for me) it was honestly one of the best things I have ever done for myself, it saved me from suicide. Well done for taking this step, you should be very proud of yourself. I had over 700 hours of psychotherapy. At times I talked non stop, others I said nothing for a whole hour and other times I cried.

It helps if you have a supportive partner/family member friend to be there for you over the coming months.

It will bring things to the surface but once on the surface they lose their power to harm you, keeping them in causes you suffering and pain. It´s only ourselves that give our feelings power of us.

Sending you hugs and well done x

[scrambled86]

Thanks SquarePeg :-)

[Abi]

I think a big part of it is WHEN it happened. I think the prognosis is worse for someone who experienced trauma in early childhood than one who experienced it in adulthood.

Also, the severity of the trauma is a factor... was the victim beaten and raped in front of their kids, or were they held at gunpoint for 1/2 an hour while being robbed but not physically harmed?

The innate "emotional sensitivity/volatility" of the victim is also a key issue.

Avoidance of "triggers" is critical, not just for PTSD victims but for people like me with clinical anxiety and mood disorders.

SSRI's , benzodiazepines , and certain mood stabilisers and antipsychs like Depakene [valproic acid] and Risperdal [Risperidone] are useful for symptom management. Whether these meds need to be taken life long or phased out would be determined on a case-to-case basis.

[tudorose]

Exercise. This helps. At the time I was doing karate which was really helpful coz I was learning how to defend myself which made me feel safer and I was feeling like I was achieving things coz of the gradings.

Also there's a certain amount of satisfaction in beating people up

[tudorose]

This is one of my threads from 9 years ago. Maybe there is something in here that can help you too.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2404

[scrambled86]

Thanks for the link, I read through most of it and will read it again when I can focus better.

I guess the answer I was looking for is not really there...it's not going to go away quickly or easily.

I've been bottling things up all my life and now I have to let them all out.

I'm kind of alone too, no one around to support me. But things can only get better hey!

[Plognark]

Yeah, it's a long, ongoing process.

It can be managed. A combination of medication and therapy helps me keep everything working ok.

So yes, it can get better. Lots better, in fact. But I don't know that it will ever fully go away.