Acute stress disorder
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Acute stress disorder
| Tue, 01-24-2006 - 10:14pm |
HI, I went to my psychiatrist today who said that the reason I have dreams every night about my relationship breakup is because I have acute stress disorder. I dream about our relationship, like a movie, as soon as I fall asleep and feel like I have no control over it. I am angry because I am going through this and he is fine. I am the one dealing with all of this anxiety and he is just happy as anything, unaware of how much the breakup devastated me. I can't believe I am having this happen. Has anyone had a similar experience, and if so what did you do to get through it? I also have a meeting tomorrow that I am dreading. I have a big fear of meetings now, and I'm not sure why, other than I have to speak in front of people and it scares me, I feel so threatened. Any advice about either issues would be great. Thanks. Susan

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(((Susan))) I'm so sorry you are going through this.
Sheri Ann
Oh I totally feel for you.
Jennifer
"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi
Hi Mysilly,
The reasons you are having dreams about your ex is that your subconscious is working your through things that you are having a hard time processing. It is only natural to have dreams while going through a loss or a breakup. Over ten years ago I lost of boyfriend of 5 years after he passed away I started having extreme panic attacks and was totally devastated at the age of 23 wondering what I would do with my life. The biggest help for me I would have to say was the Lucinda Bassett Anxiety tapes and the Claire Weekes books. I also went to therapy. I have never taken medicine because I had a huge phobia of having a reaction on medicine and was diagnosed from my regular Dr. of suffering from atypical depression. I decided to work through the feelings and I allowed myself to be depressed and knew that this too shall pass. It was very scary. I imagined myself locked up and a host of other horrible things. One of my cousins has anxiety which has lessoned but we were able to bounce things back and forth when we got nervous....Like what if I cannot breath and stuff like that.
You are upset and hurt that you relationship broke up. You are probably very vunerable and your dreams however sad will become insightful later...Also, another thing I did which helped was journal my feelings and processed them this way. I have so many books about my feelings. When I was younger I used to carry around alot of guilt and felt responsible for so many things. When I let go of that behavior things change alot. When I start to get anxious because it occasionally creeps up on me. I just know in my heart that I will be ok. I am my safe person.
You will be fine! I am just getting out of a 3 year relationship. I am depressed over it and things are started to get better. I know it is natural and ok.
Goodluck with your meeting, things will be ok. You could always snap a rubberband of your wrist before you go in.
Also, one last thing when I was younger and in therapy my therapist would say. Don't you see how creative you are. The anxiety would come in and protect you when you did not want to deal with all of your abandonment or other painful childhood stuff. Once I faced that, the anxiety lessoned.
Be well,
Paula
Hi there Susan,
My panic disorder really got bad after a break-up. I had experienced the rare attack before that but after a particular break-up, I started to have them more regularly and then they got more severe until I finally had to seek medical help for them. It makes sense - our lives are really shaken up so much when we break-up with someone that we have been close to. I also tended to use the men in my life to make me feel safe and taken care of. So, when the relationship ended, I felt like there was nobody to take care of me and it was really scary. I still wish that I had someone but I have gotten better about keeping my sense of safety within myself and knowing that I can take care of myself.
It was also very difficult for me because I was having these terrible panic attacks and I couldn't eat so I was getting too skinny and looking unhealthy and I was just an emotional wreck. While our break-up was not fun for him, he seemed to get on with life just fine. It really made me kind of angry with him and really angrey with myself. I can really relate to how you feel.
I am a natural public speaker and I really enjoy the spotlight but I had trouble with it when I was going through the worst of it all. I just avoided public speaking if I could. It got better when I got better. That doesn't help you much, I know. Wish I had some better advice.
Jules
Hi Jan,
Nice to meet you! Thanks for the welcome. I have been lurking on this board every so often for years. I have probably read everybook on anxiety when it started to happen to me about the time I graduated high school at 18 now I am 34, so I truly understand what everyone is going through. Every so often it will get worse because of a tragedy or a life change I am adjusting to and than I get through it. I looked on the board on Monday because I was going to get my 2nd round of allergy tests and I was nervous. One because I have an extreme fear of having an allergic reaction and pretty much avoided certain things for years foods/medicines. I figured I would look online and give my self my anxiety refresher. I went through with the test or as I put it I just had to "suck it up" and deal with it!! Now, I feel a lot better because I know that the avoidance behavior I can have at times is basically from the fact that I do not want to be in a position where I feel out of control. So I have to tell myself and understand that sometimes you are going to feel this way and it is life everyone feels this way from time to time. I truly do recommend Lucinda Bassett, she is the best! Now, I am feeling a lot better after taking the test and I have learned to listen to my body. This week I was PMSing and this has to be the time when occasionally I get a little more anxious so I expect it. I also know when I am doing something new like in November I flew on my own to visit a friend. I was scared, I told everyone if I flip on the plane to tell the news that I warned you and to just say the anxiety thing, LOL. It was like a running joke up until I got in the plane and I was fine. The weeks before the trip I did not sleep and than after I did it I was like. Wow, I am really starting to just trust myself more.
Also, I have to say after I got the results from the allergy testing, it was really invigorating to know what I was allergic too. I found out crab, which I never knew and that was actually the beginning of my food eliminations when I got sick in a seafood restaurant. I thought I was having a panic attack and just avoided eating because of the memory. It ends up I was allergic so go figure!
I feel alot better and I am proud of myself that I went through with it and I know what I am allergic too. So....sometimes we have to push through the fear.
God Bless you too!! Thanks again for the welcoming and I think I will stick around :)
Paula
Edited 1/26/2006 10:03 am ET by newyearhope06
HI-
I really feel that all of your replies to me have helped. You have reminded me that I have tools that I can use when I feel anxious and out of control. I ended up not going to the meeting. I'm trying not to look at it as a failure, but that I was just not ready for it yet, and I stress yet! I got through my work week which I consider a success, because just a few weeks ago I couldn't.
I am not taking meds for the dreams, but my psychiatrist said he would put me on a beta blocker in a couple of weeks if the dreams contine. My subconscioius mind is tired! :) I have to also let go of the disappointment and anger/resentment I have against my ex-he did this to another girl years ago, so I understand it is his issue, my issue is to not react so anxiously and to get over him!
I know that it will be better someday, and I will try and focus on the positive and what I can accomplish now that I wasn't able to just a couple of weeks ago. I went to a restaurant last night and was okay!!!!!!!!! Again, thank you so much for your support, it is truly appreciated! Susan
Hi Susan,
You are right you just have to take it one day at a time. You have to try and not beat yourself up over things. I am also healing from a relationship now where I felt that thingw would be different. If you go on to the Breaking up is hard to do board. You will see my story long. That pretty much somes up my last relationship and it may help you more see what you are going through is ok and is part of the normal stages of the mourning process. It is better for you to go through the painful part of mouring and heal from it. Than to try and block your emotions. That would be what my ex did and he at 40 is left picking up the pieces from all of his failed relationships in one shot.
That is ok you missed the meeting. Do not stress over it. I used to think when I get better and when this or that happens with things. I find when I still get stressed is when I start projecting the future and I feel like I have to have the answers to all of lifes problems in a instance. So I try and sloooooow down and than I put things into perspective. I would notice though with me if I was arguing with an ex, I sort of did not think of the anxiety stuff as much or if I was helping someone else it kept me busy and took me away from doing for me. So now it is my time.
Things happen for a reason! When you see the reason and the lessons learned you will realize just how strong you are.
Paula:)
I think that it's great that you pushed ahead with the allergy testing!
Sheri Ann
I never view any of my failed attempts as failures.
Sheri Ann
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