PTSD causes fatigue

[KIP.]

It also comes in cycles, like abuse. I read about this recently and it all makes sense. After I escaped I kept having these ‘cycles’. Euphoria, anxiety then exhaustion. Almost identical to the honeymoon phase, build up of anxiety, then the outburst, only this time it was fatigue. PTSD has also been linked to ME and fibromyalgia. Also, after giving evidence all afternoon I locked myself away for six days. Just couldn’t focus on anything. So exhausted. It all makes sense now. The good news is that with help and education we can minimise the effects. It helps to know its physiological too. Over productions of stress hormones takes time to replenish. Now I know why things like Yoga and relaxation tapes are so important. Hang in there x

[Ayanna]

I am just exhausted all the time … ever since.

[KIP.]

Hi Ayanna, sorry to hear that but not surprised. It also depletes seratonin levels and I know you can get medicines to combat that, especially for those suffering from seasonal affective disorder over the winter. I’m wondering if it will help with the fatigue? I really need to see a trauma specialist but since there are none on the NHS and I’m skint, I’m trying to research this myself meantime.

[Ayanna]

I take supplements that enable me to function.
I am scared of the side effects of those drugs they wanted me to take.
I would probably not be able to get out of bed anymore.
Someone I know developed MS after abuse, from the distress.
She was/is on medication in order to cope with the distress. This type of medication enhances the risk of developing MS.
Trauma therapy is the only way forward.
I fought for it for a long time and I have it now. They do not let me go anymore, since they realized what had happened to me. I was lucky in a way, as the therapist set themselves the goal to sort me out no matter how long it will take. They may get some personal benefits from it, adding to their research ….
I think my case shocked them profoundly.
Keep on fighting for therapy. Once you are on it they do not dump you anymore. They will support you for a long time.

[Serenity]

Yup. My chronic fatigue syndrome/ fibromyalgia apiesred towards the end of my relationship with him, and it has not yet disappeared, though I am out.

I have had to spend a lot of money, regulate my diet and daily routine and sleep and rest enough to ensure my health doesn’t go downhill.

The effects of abuse continue after you are out. I feel so angry that he could wrecked my body like he has, through his vile behaviour.

[indunn]

I am almost out, although he knows where I am, when I hear a car I am checking and my mobile and house keys are permanently with me, I have an escape route planned but as I have a health condition, I can’t run very far, so living on hope that I can get round the corner before he spots me. Do you think it is the stress that is causing my need for 12-14 hours sleep a day? I have mentioned it to the doctor but I’m not very good at making people listen, if I pick up “please go away” signals – I quietly go away, I guess when not picking up on signals results in anything from a bruise to breaking your teeth, you learn to become perceptive and quick to act. However, when it’s a health care professional whom you have told you are escaping DV, I expected a little more then a ‘yes and that has what to do with me/the situation’ attitude. I suppose I should go back and try again, but I have been living alone now for some months and whereas I did just about everything, and did it well, out of fear of the reaction if I didn’t, I now do very little. I don’t bother paying bills until I am put in a corner, a debt collecting agency just called and I hung up on them. I don’t do any of my hobbies, something I was really looking forward to, I am keeping the house clean and cook but mainly because my daughter checks up on the obvious things (in a good way) I also bother with make up when I know she’s coming, but otherwise I don’t bother with my hair or makeup. I can see that I am substituting other people as reasons or motivators to do anything aside from watch TV, is this a normal reaction that I will gradually come out of and return to my old efficient self? I have really tried to think about why I am not doing anything and I know I am going to put my self in the proverbial if I don’t sort out finances, but I just don’t. I think if I went back to work it might help, but I do not have a chronic condition so who would want to employ me and I also don’t want to ask anyone for a reference, again I don’t know why I don’t – I was in my last job for a long time and they didn’t want me to leave. I dreamed of being free from hours of lectures on how useless and stupid I was, to be followed later by how wonderful I was, how he didn’t mean it, I had made him angry, made him do it. Now I am free from physical violence and the constant threat which even when things are going ok, I knew could erupt at any time for reasons I rarely understood. Now I am free, I seem hell bent on wrecking my life. Sorry to go on but I really don’t know if I should get help or just maybe time will heal, I have had really great support, I am doing my best to pretend I am up now, they have listened to me all through the my finally leaving and the trouble that caused, I don’t feel I can start telling them this now – they feel they supported me in getting free it seems ungrateful in way, to start saying I am not coping with being free which is the truth of it I think. I also make no sense at all to myself so how can I expect help from family. Anyway if anyone can suggest help in anyway I’d be very grateful, having been through it, perhaps it now makes sense to you, is it PTSD

[IrisAtwood]

it seems ungrateful in way, to start saying I am not coping with being free which is the truth of it I think. I also make no sense at all to myself so how can I expect help

I am in a similar position. I know that I should be grateful to the person that helped me when I broke up with my ex…….but …….I feel resentful that he is not my ex (if that makes sense?) I miss what I hoped my ex was so much.

I am also very anxious again and having mini breakdowns despite being so many months out. I feel as if I can’t keep talking about my feelings and that I should be ‘over it’ by now….but I am not.

I honestly think that we underestimate how long it takes to recover, and while those around us are moving forward, we ar still dealing the longterm effects of abuse. That’s why this kind of support and other sources (if we can find them) are so needed. I have found the Samaritans really good. You don’t have to be suicidal to ring them and you can repeat yourself as often as you like because you are unlikely to speak to the same person twice!

[KIP.]

I remember after his arrest I had to deal with the police and I was more interested in watching their body language than anything they had to say. I was so tuned in and on high alert. Early days I set myself s target and did 3 things a day. That was my target so you could try that. Don’t make it difficult because you get despondent if you cannot doit. It could be just open a letter, put bin out and make a phone call. I could also sleep for 12 hours a night. Especially when I was with my abuser and after our child was born (the abuse went off the scale then). But I thought and I was told it was post natal depression. What a load of rubbish. Yes, it slowly gets better. I’m several years out and still have sleep problems but nothing like the early days. Still have PTSD and my huge trigger now is seeing my abuser. I’ve come such a long way and you will too but it takes patience and most of all, be kind to yourself x

[Author]

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