PTSD anger

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Jay Wilcox
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2013 6:53 pm
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by Jay Wilcox on Thu Oct 10, 2013 7:09 pm

PTSD anger

Hi ,
Sorry to bother you but i have PTSD and i am living in a flat the past 4 years where i am being harassed
and bullied by a neighbour . Its got so bad that these days i get so angry that i fear i will retaliate in the end .
I am scared of them and what i might do .
Now as PTSD is a complicated illness with many side effects i was wondering if/how i can control this .
I`ve done well up to now , but , i relive and go through many different scenarios in my head and speak
out loud . When i`m out and about i am often speaking out loud to my self . I`m also anger and tense all
the time and feel i could hurt myself or others any time .
Because of my PTSD i have hallucinations with very vivid death and murderous thoughts and that scares
me .
I have an appointment with my local mental health team in a week or so`s time . I dont feel they will believe me ,
Because even i dont believe how i feel . I wan to tell them but dont know how , easy to say not easy to do . I`ve
been through dozens of scenarios and still cant find a way to explain these feelings to the doctor in a week or so .
What do you call it when someone speaks out loud ? its got a name but i can never remember . NHS choice said CBT isnt always a good idea for someone with PTSD and i agree . I`ve spent so long living
the Scenarios that i am confused even thinking of the real reality now . Personally i dont want to relive it
ever . I do find Group helps . this bullying from my neighbours has made me a recluse and anti-social so
how do i get group .
Thanks for listen .............. long shot i know .

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Wendy Green
Posts: 159
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 11:27 am
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by Wendy Green on Thu Oct 10, 2013 9:15 pm

Re: PTSD anger

Hi Jay,

I'm sorry to hear how bad you've been feeling lately.

You don't mention the cause of your PTSD - I assume it's due to the bullying & harassment - nor how long you've suffered from it, or whether you've had any treatment for it in the past. However, I'll try to answer your questions as best I can.

My first thoughts are could you do something practical to resolve the bullying issue? No-one should have to live their lives being harassed by a neighbour. If you and your neighbour are living in rented property you make a complaint to the landlord. You could also keep a record of every incident over the next few weeks, including what, when and where it happened and then present it to your local police; also give details of any independent witnesses who are willing to provide evidence. You could also seek advice from a solicitor. As a very last resort you might even consider moving - though I feel that you shouldn't be the one having to move and I'd certainly try the steps I've just outlined first. Knowing that you're doing something constructive to improve your situation could help you to feel better.

Your local mental health team are trained to deal with all kinds of issues, so there's really no need to feel awkward about explaining how you feel; it might help if you write down how you feel on a piece of paper and take this with you to your appointment. Once you've been assessed by a mental health professional they will be able to refer you for the most appropriate treatment. There are two types of therapy that are often used for PTSD; one is a type of CBT called trauma-focused CBT, which uses various psychological techniques to help you deal with the traumatic event; e.g. by replacing the negative thoughts you associate with the traumatic event with more positive ones. The CBT counsellor will help you to work through the trauma and regain control of your emotions.

Another therapy that has been found to help PTSD is a fairly new one called eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR). With EMDR you move your eyes from side-to-side while recalling the traumatic event. It's thought to work by helping the brain to process your distressing memories and flashbacks so that they have less influence over your mind.

If neither of these treatments help you, or if they're deemed unsuitable for your needs, you may be prescribed anti-depressants.

There are several organisations that have self-help groups for people with mental health issues across the UK. These include:
Anxiety UK - http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk Mind - http://www.mind.org.uk Rethink - http://www.rethink.org.

I hope you manage to get the specialist help you clearly need and find the strength to take steps to resolve your situation and to join a self-help group.

I wish you well :)

Wendy

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