12 Steps for Living with PTSD
- Refrain from using alcohol or drugs, especially to cope with problems.
- Participate in regular outpatient therapy and ensure that you have immediate access to professional help:
- To express your troubles and vent unpleasant emotions;
- To receive support and work through emotional pain;
- To hear alternative viewpoints about your problems.
- Always ask for help, including hospitalization, whenever needed; seek out treatment for all medical problems and enduring pain.
- Communicate respectfully with your loved ones and others. Rather than needing to win every point, make sure no one loses.
- Socialize on a regular basis with old and new friends.
- Establish and routinely take part in leisure activities at home and in pleasurable recreational activities outside of your home.
- Resolve your anger and irritation immediately and constructively and take a “time out” if necessary.
- Work at getting regular, restful sleep every night, eat healthy foods, and regularly engage in aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise.
- Give and receive compliments and affection; show generosity and kindness; volunteer your time to help others.
- Think, listen, talk, write and read objectively and analytically.
- Lighten up! Cut yourself some slack!
- Remember! If you want to get out of a hole, let go of the shovel.
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on Friday, October 1st, 2004 at 4:12 pm and is filed under Semper Fi.
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