Dissociation (CPTSD) from client aggression (work)

[Faith-and-Hope]

Okay .... let's call it the Autocorrect Faery then @Adge ..... here to give us a laugh at the silliness it scrambles my typing into .... 😏

[Karenlb]

Hi Adge,

ive just joined the forum and your post caught my eye because I also have CPTSD, mine from childhood trauma.

I am not currently working and likely will not again but I am going to Tafe which is a godsend in one respect and a stressor in another.

Id like to share the main tool I use for when I dissociate in public... Hand cream. I take out my hand cream and give myself a good hand massage, focusing on the feel of one hand touching the other, the pressure, the lovely smell of my cream. It works well to bring me back to the present and it is something I can do anytime, anywhere, no one questions a woman moisturising her hands, and if they do I just comment about how the weather has been drying out my skin, nobody has ever questioned me further.

My main tool for when I'm home is rest. The most days I can cope with being busy and out of the house is 3, sometimes 4. I love to listen to audiobooks when I'm home, as it gives my mind something to focus on as I crochet or draw or do something creative which soothes my soul.

i hope this may help in some way, oh, and recently I have begun, as soon as I recognise I have dissociated, I fill my heart with gratitude and thank my mind for doing its thing to keep me safe. If I'm out and about, I then tell my mind that we need to focus right now and that I'm safe. It's amazing the difference that has made to the length of my dissociative episodes 🙂

i know I could not do the work you do and stay present, so please, give yourself some love and acknowledgement that you continue to work and make a difference for people every day. And that your wonderful mind is doing what it can to keep you safe.

with Warm Regards, Karen

[Shaz51]

Hello @Karenlb

just a little tip put the @  in front of the name and they will receive an email message from you @Adge

[Adge]

@Faith-and-HopeI love your new Waterlilly Avatar. Waterlillies are one of my favourites - I'm a passionate horticulturist at heart (worked in it for 12 years), & environmental management trained.

@KarenlbThanks, you have some great ideas (strategies) there.

Compassion for myself (especially whilst dissociated), & positive self-talk - I can definitely improve on. I tend to get caught up in self-judgmental critical thoughts when dissociated. Which does not help.

I'm quite ill at the moment, so I've been unable to read posts or write much.

It took all of my available energy & concentration today - just to go to yoga class, go to Psychologist appointment, feed my birds (aviaries), & do my grocery shopping.

I probably should have cancelled something, because I'm supposed to be resting to get better (recover).

Thanks. I hope to hear more from you, or share experiences...

Adge

[Karenlb]

Thanks @Shaz51, I appreciate the guidance 🙂 

[Adge]

@Shaz51@Faith-and-Hope@Owlunar@Former-Member

Apart from being ill with a virus (flu) for one & a half weeks - the on-going impacts of an unpredictable work shedule (never knowing in advance), have caused the repeated cancellations of my MH Support Worker appointments (& others).

I'm finding it very hard to type this (to express anything), due to dissociation & heightened anxiety.

I've been attempting to apply for work with fixed hours & in one place (with no driving). Those appointments (often cancelled due to my work), are to help me with that.

Yet I've been unable to find the energy or focus to follow-through, due to the impact of on-going work stressors & current dissociation increase.

My Dr wants me to get a desk job.

My psychologist suggests asking (scheduling) work to give me one day of during the week, every week - by making myself unavailable to work.

This might help to break the current stress-cycle, give me more time & energy, allow me the security of attending my appointments (if booked on that day) - & help me to more effectively focus on job-search & job applications.

The loss of much of my (already low) income is an obstacle to my taking action - to make myself unavailable to work (one day per week). It took over 12 months to get enough work hours (income) to just make ends meet.

Also illness, fear & anxiety over having to take such a step.

Thanks for reading this.

Adge

[Shaz51]

Apart from being ill with a virus (flu) for one & a half weeks - the on-going impacts of an unpredictable work shedule (never knowing in advance)

 hope you feel better soon @Adge xx

I am sick too with the flu too at the moment

[Adge]

My Psychologist's suggestion:

Informal meeting –   On a day before or after a shift when
Coordinator is available   ‘Can I have a quick chat to you about my
roster’

Points to raise –

*I am finding it too difficult to schedule my personal appointents when I am working
five days per week and have had to cancel a number of important ones
*It is the source of quite a bit of stress
*I am going to need to stop working on Tuesdays so I
can manage better

*I am not officially contracted to
work Tuesdays anyway and this day off works for me
*I understand may take a week or two to action this

*Sorry for the disruption for you

Adge

[Adge]

@Shaz51I'm sorry to hear that you are sick too. I do hope that you get (& feel) better soon.

Adge

[Zoe7]

@Adge