United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi Peggy and Kath, thanks for your replies. Never actually thought it might help those possibly too shy to post about it ~ if anyone want to talk about PTSD ~ and i'm no expert just working through it my addy is tarmacsurfer@aol.com.

Jen, I can see how your mum would be traumatised by losing a son then almost a daughter to 'them things' (what my mother calls bikes... but hey you got an extended family now, think of me as one of yer er,, exciteable (ok hothead!) bro's!!!! ;O)

And Henry, cheers for the warning dude, i'm already starting to lose the anger. Think some part of it was me looking to 'blame' when in reality, sh*t happens, you get up and on with it. The anger is definitely being replaced with GRATITUDE, im walking talking and life's good, the futures so bright, i gotta wear shades!! ;O)

Again, thanks for the support guys, it means a lot!

Dave
PS, maybe see some of you guys at the camp, Liz is going, and im informed there's no windsurfing on the lake,(boooo!!) but if it's possible, i might be there, we'll see.

PTSD. Been there, seen it, done it, bought the T-shirt that says I'm not a looney any more. I totally agree with Dave about seeing a professional to get it sorted. The trouble is, I never even realised I had it until it was diagnosed. Now life has become wonderful again.
My symptoms were not similar to Dave's. I didn't have great bouts of uncontrollable anger. With me, everything just went 'grey'. There were no extremes of emotion in my life. I was never happy, never sad, never emotional, never angry, never excited. I was just going through the everyday routine of existing, but not properly 'living', if you see what I mean. Now I feel all those things, and that's the way it should be.

Dave,

Great post ! Thanks for sharing. It helps to know that our injury can cause some pretty serious anger. That awareness should help curb the severity. I have been known to throw an object or two at the wall and curse violently at a sndwich bag for not staying open long enough to put the sandwich in...

The booze and the anger - I have had many an episode that I am not too proud of - It is a very volatile combination.

I commend you for your strength in getting help, and I am confident that you will come out of this stronger and better. Please let me know how your quality of life improves, as it may give some of us the courage to go help, as well.

-Rich

-Rich

Dave,

I hope you do make it to camp; It would be nice to finally meet you in person.

I think it's closer for you to go to camp than it is for me! Well, not really sure. It could be about the same distance, but I'll bet it would be less expensive (since I'm bringing the family!)

I like the song ref: "future's so bright, I gotta wear shades"; keep that perspective )

Keep us updated!
Take care and TTFN!
Peggy

So TWO bpi camps for you this summer Dave? Wish I could make it to the NY camp but time and money as ever are the major factors :0( Be so great if the orignal three could go together, maybe another time.

Looking forward to seeing you at the UK camp tho, can't promise you an ice cream social but I CAN promise a lot of laughs, who needs anything else?

Yo Rich good to 'see' you dude... yep booze and anger don't mix well at all, don't drink if you're peed off or it can land you in trouble fast.

The doc gave me something to act as a sedative instead of the booze which i was knocking myself out with nights. It's much healthier and i can actually get a good nights sleep for the first ime in a looooooong while with NO alcohol!

Do you still get the chance to bodyboard? With the windsurfing or even fishing I find peace on or near the water, with no side effects except big smiles!
I would definitely recommend talking to a qualified counsellor about your feelings, as I was told by a PT who noticed things weren't right "you can't do everything on your own, it's ok to ask for help" and she was dead right.

And hey Jen, i said maybe I would be going to camp, we'll see how it goes, if this new motoXer hasn't bit me by then!! ;O)

Dave