Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Survivors

MJo · 12-10-2011, 08:33 AM

I thought I'd relate what just happened to me in case anyone else goes through this. A dear friend has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. WHen I heard the diagnosis, I immediately wanted to give her as much support as possible. But I began to feel as if I had just heard my own diagnosis -- the fear, the horror. I couldn't sleep, felt anxiety and even had an asthma attack. I talked about it in my survivors' group and the facilitator -- a therapist -- told me I was likely suffering from PTSD and had a flashback. It never occurred to me! It took a few days for me to feel better and I used Xanax when I felt anxious. I am a six year survivor. This episode surprised me. During the flashback/attack, I wanted to forget I'd ever heard my friend's diagnosis. I'm feeling better now and able to be supportive. I had begun to wonder if being in a breast cancer survivor's support group after six years was somehow "weak." Hah! Thank god there was a therapist who could help me figure out what was wrong with me. So years after treatment ends, it's possible to get a flashback!

KDR · 12-10-2011, 06:40 PM

I am the Queen of PTSD...got that title after surviving maniacs who came to kill me at my job using jumbo jets filled with people as their arsenal...and that's just a start. You are not weak, you are HUMAN. A feeling being. You are entitled to your truth. Yes, the shock of the news will most likely never leave you, but you can learn to keep it in perspective. Don't doubt yourself, you are entitled to every bit of anxiety and every remedy that helps you deal with that anxiety, whatever it may be.

Today, in the company of a loved friend, I took a train, something I have not been able to do since that day--which is over 10 years now. We can't "measure" healing. I am a victor! And yesterday, I went in the scanner with no meds! My first big victory, as I came out of above situation with severe claustrophobia. The technician told me I amazed her, she remembered how much trouble I had last year doing that scan. Go easy on yourself. In my dreams, I still see fire trucks flying up to me on the 56th Floor, then floating away.

I am so terribly saddened to hear of your friend's diagnosis.
Karen

Mtngrl · 12-12-2011, 02:41 PM

Wow, MJo.

Thanks for telling us about that. Who knew?

I had PTSD from childhood trauma. It's possible to heal from it. In some people, it takes a very long time. But you can do it.

I'm so sorry about your friend, and I'm so sorry you had to relive your own nightmare.

Don't ever label yourself as "weak." You're not.

Blessings,

Jackie07 · 12-12-2011, 04:47 PM

My PTSD was not recognized until almost three years after my 23-hour brain surgery. Reluctantly went to the counselor and, after repeating the same story (with tears/uncontrollable sobbing) to several 'strangers', my 'complex' was gone.

Just ordered the book 'Spark' written by JJ Ratey. Found this abstract of his latest paper and thought I'd shared it here with you:
Rev Neurosci. 2011;22(2):171-85.

Ratey JJ, Loehr JE.
Source

Harvard Medical School, 328 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. john@johnratey.com
Abstract

The positive impact of physical activity on cognition during adulthood: a review of underlying mechanisms, evidence and recommendations. A growing body of literature suggests that physical activity beneficially influences brain function during adulthood, particularly frontal lobe-mediated cognitive processes, such as planning, scheduling, inhibition, and working memory. For our hunter-gatherer ancestors, times of famine interspersed with times of feast necessitated bouts of intense physical activity balanced by periods of rest. However, the sedentary lifestyle that pervades modern society has overridden the necessity for a physically active lifestyle. The impact of inactivity on disease processes has been the focus of much attention; the growing understanding that physical activity also has the benefit of enhancing cognitive performance strengthens the imperative for interventions that are successful in increasing physical activity, with the outcomes of promoting health and productivity. Population health and performance programs that promote physical activity provide benefits for employees and employers through improvements in worker health and performance and financial returns for the company. In this review, we examine the mechanisms by which physical activity improves cognition. We also review studies that evaluate the effects of physical activity on cognitive executive performance in adulthood, including longitudinal studies that address the impact of physical activity during early adulthood and midlife on preservation of cognition later in life. This is of particular importance given that adulthood represents prime working years and that physical activity promotion is a key component of population health and performance programs. Finally, we provide recommendations for maximizing the lasting benefits of movement and physical activity on cognition in adulthood.scheduling, inhibition, and working memory. For our hunter-gatherer ancestors, times of famine interspersed with times of feast necessitated bouts of intense physical activity balanced by periods of rest. However, the sedentary lifestyle that pervades modern society has overridden the necessity for a physically active lifestyle. The impact of inactivity on disease processes has been the focus of much attention; the growing understanding that physical activity also has the benefit of enhancing cognitive performance strengthens the imperative for interventions that are successful in increasing physical activity, with the outcomes of promoting health and productivity. Population health and performance programs that promote physical activity provide benefits for employees and employers through improvements in worker health and performance and financial returns for the company. In this review, we examine the mechanisms by which physical activity improves cognition. We also review studies that evaluate the effects of physical activity on cognitive executive performance in adulthood, including longitudinal studies that address the impact of physical activity during early adulthood and midlife on preservation of cognition later in life. This is of particular importance given that adulthood represents prime working years and that physical activity promotion is a key component of population health and performance programs. Finally, we provide recommendations for maximizing the lasting benefits of movement and physical activity on cognition in adulthood.

MCS · 12-15-2011, 10:42 PM

I can't believe how timely is this thread!

When I was dx with BC (2005), I was offered severance at my job and never have been allowed to return and apply. Yes, there is descrimination to cancer people.

So I believe I had a double whammy-bc and off work. You know when you are told about the big C, all stops. Life is never the same again.

Since then, I have left two jobs when my manager was VERY nasty to me, human resources brought in. Both times, I went to the car and cried in total despair, as when someone dies, I felt totally failing in all. I had to stop and park, I could not continue driving. I had to call my husband and talk because I may not be able to drive home.

I had another attack this Saturday and it occurred after an annual high school "tea" party. I went to a private high school and there's only about 90 in each class.
Well, I spent two hours listening to dear friends how wonderful teachers they are, how they could retire, they had pensions, etc. Everything I had lost plus also being ill.

I had carpooled with one of these friends. As soon as I got in my car, started to cry in despair, total failure, etc.

I have another friend with BC Her2+ that suffered PTSD and she was placed on Xanax. She was scared to get out and see people. She also had left another job and could not consider working again.

Well, as I was driving home a couple of days ago and trying to figure out why this was happening, I started to piece reactions together and how they all ended in total frustation, crying, screaming in the car.

I thought that perhaps I was having some sort of "flashback" even though I was not aware, conscious of it at the moment-not at all. So PTSD came up in my chemo brain!

because I thought of the returning soldiers from Afghanistan.

The crying, screaming goes away but the feeling takes me 2-3 days to come out of it. A lot of Ativan.

And I remembered that the onc had very briefly mentioned that I could be suffering from PTSD when I requested ativan in addition to klonopin

I knew it was not depression-I'm on Wellbutrin. I'm on klonopin for anxiety. The doctors say no Zanax because it's extremly addictive. And I also have .5mg ativan to use when I needed it. All these times, I did use Ativan, but it was several pills that brought me back into control. I don't think I'm bipolar.

I also think that triggers are different. I am not sure what mine are, but I think it could be the loss of a job, in other words, I have not been able to regain that part of my life. I run away from a local store when I see someone that worked with me. I dropped a zumba class when I saw one of my past managers in that class. See the run away, the inability to deal with them. A friend told me just go up and say hi and go on. I can't get to that step. If I'm cleaning the house, it can come out of nowhere, because again I feel that I have lost the ability to gain a job.

Now I know a job is nothing compared to all I and you have gone through. But when BC struck, I had a farily high and well paying position where my peers and above respected me for my knowledge. I have bs, mba and a couple of licenses.

So when I saw this post. I could not believe my eyes reading this. Literally, the same day I came with the idea of PTSD.

I'm going to see if there's a group at my local cancer community that can help me with this.

Can anyone else comment on this? Have you felt this way? Where have you gone for help?

I want to treat this non prescription.

Thank you MaryJo!!!!!

Maria del Carmen

AlaskaAngel · 12-15-2011, 11:33 PM

MJo,

I haven't had PTSD about the cancer dx, but I have had it about chemotherapy. I was chemophobic before doing CAF six times. So far, I have been able to sort it out in real time in dealing with practical situations, but afterward I re-live the physical part of it, including the dread. I've come to think of it as being my personal "normal", because it does eventually pass. But it is always unpleasant.

MCS,

Job termination and discrimination even without a cancer dx is hard on trust, and there is a lot more of it going around these days. It is normal to be angry about unfairness. Sometimes it gets as basic as realizing that those who brought on the problem have access to more power in "winning", and figuring out whether or not it is worth it to fight it, or to move on. Actively seeking help with anger management might work some of it out.

A.A.

karen z · 12-16-2011, 12:40 AM

I clinical psychologist I saw (who is very good and also not prone to labeling) suggested that symptoms I have experienced (related to my cancer diagnosis, subsequent treatment, and feelings/anxieties or panic attacks now) seemed to be PTSD. There are different types of trauma one can experience in life (and individuals relate to highly stressful events in very different ways). I think that reliving some of the trauma involved with cancer is likely more common that we might first think.

Soccermom · 12-16-2011, 08:46 AM

MJo , thank you for putting this "out there"!
Like KDR my PTSD was diagnosed prior to BC, a result of being assaulted by a stranger who tried to kill me(1990) and subsequent episodes of robbery and harassment in the workplace.
Over the years I coped with meds and staying close to home.
It wasn't until after treatment And the concurrent death of my Mom (to BC)& Hurricane Katrina that my PTSD began to push me further into my cocoon.
Uninsured, unemployed and not sure when the next shoe will drop , but plodding forward through life finding joy when I can.
Keep talking and looking for the professional help that will help you cope!
Much love, marcia