Thanks Reggie,

I guess I am certainly on a downward spiral. I can
barely think of anything positive now and I can't seem
to talk to anyone outside this group because no one
was there at the pile or working with family members
who lost loved ones and other items as well. There is
no PTSD group that focuses on 9-11 issues that
includes the Veterans Hospital. They seem to twist
things around of what you initially stated something
completely different. Also I must take morphine on a
daily basis for severe pain relief which doe not help
with the depressed mood. Since returning from lower
Manhatten in early 2002 I have been slowly shutting
down and now it seems that I am starting to close my
life off to the world except for the barest of
necessities. I can actually feel the door closing. Do
you or anyone here in this group know of a
professional or even someone in the EMS, Police or
Fire fields that I could speak with about 9-11 and how
my life has changed since than?

If so I hope to hear from someone soon.

Thanks,

Rex
--- Reggie Cervantes <crquijote@...> wrote:

> Hi Rex,
> Welcome to the group. I am one of the 9/11 WTC
> survivors in this support group.
>
> I have triggers just like yours. Sights, sounds,
> smells, flashbacks and nightmares, day mares etc.
>
> First, I can only tell you what worked for me
> after working in counseling. My first step, Like
> Amy said is to identify the triggers that set off
> the PTSD rollercoaster ride. I use a rollercoaster
> as a metaphor because sometimes its an up ride and
> sometimes a total down ride. I remember back to the
> good things I accomplished at Ground Zero and the
> pride feels good but when I get a trigger, I go on a
> downward spiral at times so fast that it hurts too
> much and just leaves me shattered.
>
> Everyone in this forum has at one time felt some
> rollercoaster ride related to PTSD so just try to
> understand we are here for support, to listen, to
> provide a shoulder and an ear.
>
> Second, once you identify the trigger, try to accept
> that its a small part of what happened at Ground
> Zero. Our service there was essential and positive.
> For every negative or trigger, focus on a positive.
> Try to also if you can talk about it. Every time
> you speak to someone or discuss it here, the trigger
> at least for me lost power. Since I had identified
> it, when it came/showed up, I knew it was what set
> me off and tried to replace it with positive
> thoughts. There is a cartoon that constantly
> repeats "find a happy place" and I try to go there
> when I get a trigger.
>
> On another note, I hope that you are also seeking
> counseling. PTSD can affect so much of your life
> that sometimes our relationships become affected and
> people take advantage of the fact we are not as
> sharp as we use to be.
>
> This group open 24 7 365 and our members come
> from all over the world.
>
> What is said here is for our support and like most
> 12 step programs stays here. Kinda like Vegas.
>
> Reggie Cervantes
> WTC Survivor Rescue Worker
> now in Yukon, OK
>
> Rex Burton <raburtongdyr@...> wrote:
> Are any of you getting flashbacks from
> 9-11 and the pile from certain smells in the air? I
> am and it brings back so many memories and recall of
> people suffering after the attacks. Please let me
> know when you can, I can't seem to shake the
> flashbacks one damn bit. Any thoughts on how I can
> better deal with it? I currently reside in
> Arizona...
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rex
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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>




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