anitram said:
My main problem was insomnia, which has stayed with me to this day.
I second this. I got ptsd from something that was between an assault and an accident in fall 2005 and I think I got over almost all of it by last fall, except awful insomnia and sometimes the inability to concentrate on "real" stuff (work, school, etc that involves using my brain) as opposed to escapism stuff (uh...forum posting, tv marathons, etc). I really don't like this about myself, I used to set a goal and achieve it, and now I seem sort of self-destructive, like some part of me is trying to make me fail or less successful.
It sucks. group
Time is definately good, and for me too u2 was important - I was already a ridiculous fan but I started listening to shows online and went ot a few more that fall that made me really happy and got way more into bootlegs than I ever had been. What also helped me was a really understanding amazing boyfriend I got together with right after the accident, however, as I recovered and became less needy and more myself our relationship deteriorated; poor guy, I wasn't quite who he needed me to be in the relationship anymore, and I was overjoyed at the change in myself but he was losing me and couldn't understand it. (I broke up with him a few months ago.)
I agree with anitram that it was very hard to live in a world where everyone else was OK and didn't seem to understand what I was going through. Some of my friends were pretty good about it but after a while it seemed like they thought I should have gotten over it and I was very angry and isolated by this - who were they to assume, or to imply that they could do better when it hadn't happened to them so they couldn't know how they would react cause I never thought I would have wallowed in it either. I remember finally exploding at one friend who seemed to think I was milking what happened for all it was worth after he made a snide comment - I think I have just now gotten over feeling like there's hostility between us. The ex boyfriend was really the only one who was supportive.
Something that really, really helped me was accupressure, a kind of massage. I was getting it for free from my school because of the physical damage the accident had done and the school's fear of liability. It was so relaxing mentally and helped me with the physical pain which of course helped mentally. If you can afford it I highly recommend trying accupressure or some other sort of deep-relaxing massage. It is just nice to let go of it all and let your muscles relax for a little while even though sometimes especially because of the insomnia I'd be tense again in a few hours.
Because what happened to me was kind of public knowledge at a very small school I do still get really tense and uncomfortable when I meet a new person and they say "oh you're the girl who...." Right guys, thanks.
Mia,
I'll always remember that day, there was a power outage at my school and everyone was bitching about it and then I finally got onto a computer with a little battery and spent hours just shocked at what was going on while we were fretting about writing papers without power. I think that others around you are reacting in the only ways they can, even if it means making jokes, that's how some people deal with it - either actually laughing it off horrible as that is, or supressing it and having to maybe face it later on. The awful thing is that within the community, some people's reactions like that will make others feel worse. I'm so sorry.
Dis, have you thought about reporting this midwife? I certainly wouldn't feel safe going to her, neither do you... but of course don't do anything that makes you uncomfortable.
I'm also sorry to hear about this and really can't give too much advice except that sometimes it does help just to know you're not alone. I also went thru an emergency c-section and it is a scarey thing when you see that your doctors and nurses look scared. (That baby is a healthy 18 year old now tho so it all worked out!) It always surprises me just how many of us have had similar experiences, but it also makes you feel not so alone. Although I didn't get my post-traumatic stress from that experience, but from a car accident years later... it took some time, but it did go away. Just know your not alone and it will get better! 
I felt bad for him.
Hang in there, and if you ever want to talk to somebody (although I might not know everything about the way you are feeling right now), I'm here for you 
they probably all heard me. It's a small 100 bed hospital.
that sucks, Dis. I don't understand how she can have that kind of attitude and do the job she does. I'm sorry. 
kinda made me feel like crap.
