Is it anxiety or PTSD

[terribleheadspace]

Hi

Has anyone experienced some extreme anxiety spells since leaving?
I just watched something in a drama and it triggered me, I’ve got a headache, feel like I’m on a verge of a panic attack, breathing erratic… is this normal for some?

I can get like it out shopping also.

What are symptoms of PTSD has anyone here experienced it? Or is it a natural phase to feel like this sometimes?

[Strongenough]

I am no expert and only have my own lived experience to go on. I suffered a lot of anxiety when I was in my abusive relationship and it got worse in the early days of me leaving. At times I struggled to leave the house and was frozen in fear if I ever witnessed a male raise his voice, even on TV.

For me it’s lessened as time has passed but I still get smaller episodes from time to time. I have better coping mechanisms now. If your worried contact your GP. I had anxiety medication for a short period but it wasn’t for me. I found counselling more helpful.

Take Care x

[Marmalade]

Hi terribleheadspace,
So sorry to hear this is affecting you like this.
I have been diagnosed with relatively severe PTSD and anxiety. I can tell you what I think from my own experience, but I am no expert and others may disagree with me or have reacted differently.
For me PTSD is terrible nightmares reliving events and also day nightmares where I can switch back into a remembered situation when triggered. The triggering produces an instant reaction like someone flicks a switch and I am back. It is not like remembering, because I am actually back there, I can smell the smells of the event, feel the things that were around me. It is very difficult to return to reality. Triggering can also produce extreme reactions. I can have an immediate panic attack and all I can think of is fight or flight. I can overreact to situations either bursting into tears and curling up or I can lose my temper in fight instinct. Aggressive men are a trigger for me. If a man behaves aggressively in the street I will instantly panic, cry and shake. My brain will go blank.
I panic attack and cry in supermarkets when faced with a choice of products, I have to immediately leave crowded shops as I would otherwise start panicking and risk becoming hysterical. Choice and crowds are triggers for me because of how my ex treated me.
My anxiety is also panic but at lower level. It’s also headaches with stress. I can fight back control by concentrating on an object and distracting myself, deep breathing, listening to some music. With PTSD episodes these tactics don’t work. I have to physically get away from the triggers and even then will take a long while to calm down and will not be right for a couple of days.
Others may have different experiences. Complex PTSD is awful and for me is almost impossible to control. If I had your symptoms and I could restore my equilibrium I would probably describe it as anxiety, but that’s me. Maybe others would call it something different, I can only describe my experience with my diagnoses.
So to help I would suggest focusing on an object and really concentrating on it so that all your attention is diverted. Breathe in through nose slowly and out through mouth as it calms you and find something, an object or some music which you find calming so you can turn to it at times of stress.
I so hope things improve. These men leave a trail of misery and torment behind them, even when they are long gone.

[terribleheadspace]

Thank you, sounds like anxiety then, its just strange how it comes on so strong so quickly but I guess it’s just a symptom of experience and learning to manage the feelings when triggered.

I can just be getting on fine then it just hits me out of nowhere, not experienced something like this before. I get the shakes aswell, it’s so bizarre but I can calm myself down in time and with distraction. I will talk to someone about it.

Thanks for your input and sharing.

[Footballfan1]

I’ve signed up for free therapy through the NHS.
It’s called (detail removed by Moderator).

I think by self diagnosing, I suffer with PTSD and disaccociation.

These are my symptoms-
Nightmares or dreams about ex.
Getting startled by loud noises or if something reminds me of ex, I feel dread.
Dry heaving which is a symptom of anxiety.
The disaccociation is odd, I feel spaced out , a bit trippy and like I’m in a dream.
I also feel tearful on and off throughout the day when I’m disaccociating.
Sometimes it lasts a few hours, sometimes all day until I fall asleep.
I’ve noticed a pattern. It happens on the weekends.
I think its because of the lack of routine.
During the week, I’m busy working and doing kids homework, etc..
At the weekend I think the lack of routine must make me feel anxious.
I think its also because when ex escalates, its always at the weekend.
I’m probably dreading something bad happening too.

I find the following things help-
-Exercise, I’ve been cycling to work and back and I’ve got a workout routine I do everyday.
This really helps my mentality.
-fresh air. Just going in the garden or for a walk with the kids wakes me up when I’m disaccociating.
– Nice smelling candles, the smell and watching the flame flicker relaxes me for some reason.

I think anything to do with your senses must put you in that state, but also use your senses to pull you out of it if that makes sense.

[Author]

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