ptsd Ptsd And Uncontroled Symptoms?

[BoonDoc]

I have been on Hadit.com long enough now to ask a question that I'm ashamed to ask, but I understand that most of you have more experience in dealing with the symptoms of PTSD, as well as so many other mental diabilities, than I do.

I was raised by a dad who is now 73 years old, and an Army SGT. who is as hard as "woodpecker lips" and I was raised as a boy to never show my emotions in front of anyone.

Well, I was wondering if some of you who have, or have worked with those who have PTSD, have times when you have outburst in to "weeping" for no apparent reason. I'm not talking about just crying a little...I'm talking weeping that you can't stop. I am so embarresed to even be telling this it make me sick at my stomach feeling guilty since I'm not supposed to cry as a man or was taught this.

I often have no reason for the weeping, it can hit when I'm actually laughing at a movie, or just by myself, and then out of no where I get "hit" with these episodes of weeping, then it stops as quick as soon as it started, and I'm left wondering what the Hell just happened and why? I have taught my son at home that crying is a normal human reaction/emotion and not to hold it back when you have to...that's part of being human, and that it doesn't make you less of a man...just maybe try not to cry whwen it's not appropiate, like loosing the basketball game wouldn't be a good time to brreak out crying at 12 years old, etc! But, don't feel guilty about crying either.

I have had it happen in Wal-mart, and I "freaked" and ran to the restroom until i could get my composure back.

I am back on Xanax again, and it doesn't happen in public as often, but then again I don't go in public if I have a choice!

If you have any input please let me know since this is such an embarressing event that I don't really want to talk about it, but want to find out what is happening to me....and there has to be somebody else out there who has simular symptoms as I am having.

It may not have anything to do with PTSD, but I have assumed that it does.

Going out on a "limb" here...

Boondoc

[BoonDoc]

Xanax is the only med that helps stop my panic attacks. I have been taking up to 4 mgs a day since 1991. Everytime I see a 20 something Intern they try to stop my Xanax. Yes I know I am addicted to it but I don't drink and I don't take more than is prescribed.

Pete,

I wanted to ask you a question.

At my last appt. my psych. doctor said that he was going to put me on 1 mg Xanax 4 times a day, he wanted to add one 1mg at bedtime, but I needed my wife to see if I snore or make weird noises while sleeping, snorting gasping and such before he would add the bedtime dose.

What do you think would snoring have to do with taking Xanax at bedtime?

Boondoc

[huskerfanfl]

BoonDoc,

Those are all symptoms or signs of sleep apnea. A quick trip to the xanax site revealed this:

Sleep apnea (temporary suspension of breathing during sleep) - Xanax may worsen this condition. Individuals with sleep apnea should not generally use sedatives as sleep aids.

Tim

[Pete53]

I have sleep apnea and I use a CPAP machine to help me sleep. Xanax does make some people sleepy but I am not one of them.

Like I already said I usually do not have to worry about a panic attack when I am sleeping so if it were a problem I would skip the bedtime dose.

I did not understand if you were saying that you would take 4 mgs a day plus 1 at bedtime? A long time ago my shrink at the VA told me that he would continue to raise my dose of xanax up to 12 mgs a day to stop panic attacks and than drop back. To make a long story short my dosage has remained the same for almost 16 years.

[BoonDoc]

BoonDoc,

Those are all symptoms or signs of sleep apnea. A quick trip to the xanax site revealed this:

Sleep apnea (temporary suspension of breathing during sleep) - Xanax may worsen this condition. Individuals with sleep apnea should not generally use sedatives as sleep aids.

Tim

Thanks Tim...I didn't think of going to the "source", not rying to be lazy...ha

Pete I didn't understand the relationship with Xanax and snoring/snorting during sleep

Pete you said that you have sleep apnea, do you take a bedtime dose of Xanax?

My wife says thatI snore some, but I would have to have a sleep study to confirm anything more.

I don't think the Xanax will help with sleep, it hasn't yet...but I wake up in a state of panic from re-living the past, and then a migraine usually follows and theres a whole chain of events that keep me in bed for anywhere form 1 to 3 days, so I think it's to try and stop the panic attacks while sleeping.

Boondoc

[BoonDoc]

Thanks Tim...I didn't think of going to the "source", not rying to be lazy...ha

Pete I didn't understand the relationship with Xanax and snoring/snorting during sleep

Pete you said that you have sleep apnea, do you take a bedtime dose of Xanax?

My wife says thatI snore some, but I would have to have a sleep study to confirm anything more.

I don't think the Xanax will help with sleep, it hasn't yet...but I wake up in a state of panic from re-living the past, and then a migraine usually follows and theres a whole chain of events that keep me in bed for anywhere form 1 to 3 days, so I think it's to try and stop the panic attacks while sleeping.

Boondoc

[Speaking Out]

Hang in there and don't be ashamed of how you feel. Feeling makes you human. PTSD and depression can rule your life if you let them. It is hard, but every day you have to say to yourself that what ever you feel you can get through it. One thing I have learned in therapy is about what we say to ourselves in our own minds when we are alone. PTSD and depression make us feel weak and unimportant, but we have to tell ourselves differently. Focus on the good stuff you've done and be proud that you have made it through your trauma. If you cry in public, don't be ashamed. I know if I saw a man or woman crying in public I would stop and ask if there was anything that I could do. I see people all the time who wear their military gear with pride, but I know behind their eyes is alot of sadness, but I always speak to them and say thank you for your service. I am working on being proud of my service again after being raped in the military and now having a horrible experience with the VA. I, like you, feel angry at myself for feeling this way and having PTSD and depression, but I am working to not feel that way and one of the things I tell myself to keep my inner dialogue positive is that I have to forgive myself for feeling this way because I am human and that I have to give up the hope that the past can be anything different than what it is. That is a big part of PTSD, reliving the trauma and no matter how many times we think about it or have those conversations in our head that if I would have only...we can't change the past, but we can control our future. I wish you luck and always talk about how you feel. I am 35 years old and most of the people my age and younger have no idea what war can do to a person. Don't be ashamed of living through things that others can't even imagine.