Our stories
Hi @Appleblossom Yes, it is hard work getting on top of PTSD and having pain on top of it is a double whammy. Hugs to you. 
Is there anything that relieves the pain, stretches or anything? Or is it pain that just doesn't go away?
@Former-Member Really sorry to hear that you are still feeling awful, even after the nap.
I am just up from a nap myself, which I had after I got home from work around 2pm.
I do some pilates stretches too, but there are times I am unable to do even those without further aggravation, so I just need to be careful. Times like now I just tend to dose up a bit more on the anti-inflamatories which helps me get through. They do make me feel sick though, so I try not to be on the strong ones for very long. Shortest time possible.
I know what you mean about becoming more stressed and anxious during therapy. It happens to me like that also. Therapy just seems to keep everything so 'up front and centre' in our thinking, that it just keeps it all so fresh in our mind I guess. And the hard work and any progress as a result of therapy, is often not felt until it ceases for a time and allows everything to settle down again. Which is where I am currently at with my ongoing therapy. So far my break has been 7 weeks. Hopefully there is still some improvement to come.
And of course all the triggers you had over the weekend ......... well that never helps, does it? It just succeeds in keeping you on high alert and in a high state of anxiety all the time. All I can suggest is what I tried to do ... and that is to keep distracted as much as possible. Keep busy. For me work actually helps that side of things, even though its bad for my pain levels. But I also try to go walking and get some fresh air and get out there and do some mindfulness in nature, take Holly out for a walk. That often helps. Otherwise I try to find a decent movie on television to watch and take my mind of things for a bit. And I also like to do Sudoku puzzles and Crossword puzzles.
And thankyou so very much for the offer to chat here when hubby is away. That really means a lot. Although I am often up around the 2am to 3am mark, so I do hope that you arent up then too. 
Yes the doors and windows will all be locked. And I will have my little guard dog cuddled up alongside me. Ha ha. I dont like leaving any lights on though, as I have no chance of sleeping if I do.
Thanks Bridget.
When I get very low, I tend to write poetry. Here is my latest effort which I wrote yesterday about Anxiety.
Anxiety
Why is it that my anxious brain simply will not allow me to forget?
Some images and fears are still so vivid that I break into a cold sweat.
Therapy has helped me see that things are not always as they appear.
I've challenged my inner thoughts, and know there is nothing to fear.
Medication I take to reduce adrenalin which is needlessly produced.
Attempts to slow my heart and the hope that a restful sleep be induced.
But still this anxiety is a part of me, day and night, tearing me apart.
The shaking, inability to catch my breath, and madly beating heart.
It seems that anxiety will never leave me, so embrace it I must.
It is my body's natural alert system, and now I must learn to trust.
@Former-Member, sorry to hear you are not sleeping much. But glad to hear youa re getting by.
The project is to refresh some furniture and harmonise it all to the same colour for the bedroom - it's all different colours at the moment, black, cream, white. So they will all become a Honey Buff colour. The walls are white so it should warm the room up. Something to look forward to.
I like a 'project". I painted our kitchen retro '50's last year... took six weeks but I got there!
