Im the person that started this thread and I have been told that I have post tramatic stress syndrome. I was on a motorcycle when I had my heartattack. That was a weird feeling. Whats funny is I went thru a war and never sufferd any PSTD but it took a heart attack and nearly dying to trigger it. I had gotten better but since losing my kidney and almost dying it has restarted again. Im getting help guys. Thanks. Im still a loner though. Untill I can fix this problem Im gonna stay away from people as much as possible. Ill get better in time.
Wildone,
You're doing the right thing by getting medical assistance :thumbup: When I read your post, it reminded me of myself, as many have commented. I've had PTSS/D and have used anti-depressants on and off for the past decade. My brief story is similar to yours:
- had a traumatic brain injury at 20 years old, spent days in a coma and woke up to a new, horrible reality.
- gradually worked out of that, my brain came back to health, and I started moving forward again.
- my first year back in school at 23 years old, my leg and foot were crushed by a boulder falling off a short cliff I'd just stepped off of. I saw my death falling at me and went completely numb, knowing I could die in a couple moments. It was a simple, cold reality. Instead of dying, my leg and foot were completely crushed and it's been 6 years of near-continuous pain.
- a couple years after the leg crushing, I flipped my Jeep Cherokee when out with some friends. We flew upside-down, crashing onto the roof at 40 mph. We all knew that death had just passed us by.
- a couple years after that, I was held up at gunpoint while in the post office parking lot. I saw my potential death and it was the same cold, detached realization.
All these things occurred within the space of eight years. I detached from friends and close relationships for a long time. I was learning the extent of my own fragility. I was depressed. However... :thumbup:
Getting onto an anti-depressant helped me tremendously. Vigorous exercise helps tremendously. Being aware of my own social hesitance gives me the rationality to pursue relationships as warranted. And... think of a wounded animal, perhaps a wolf or coyote. The injured animal will retreat to his cave, lick his wounds, and snarl at intruders. While injured and recovering, the coyote doesn't want socialization. He wants time away to heal. Then, once he's healed, he's able to start living fully again.
That's what these things in life strike me as. An anti-depressant/anxiety medication will function as a cave of healing for your brain, which is the production center of the emotions. Time will help. Talking with other survivors and knowledgeable professionals is a useful tool. And, you'll get better.
As the Bible says, "This, too, shall pass." And, as my great-grandpa would say, "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on."
We're here for you, bro :thumbup:
Feel free to shoot me a message if you're needing to vent :thumbup:
