Hi, my name is seriouspmt! No motivation after PTSD therapy. Is this normal?

seriouspmt

I'm really struggling. Just finished counselling for ptsd. I actually feel it went well. Some things are better. But I've been a cake maker for years and used to love doing it now it's all I can do to even start one. Any advise please I have friends lined up for cakes that I'm not even sure I want to make anymore. Is this normal and will that passion cone back.

Karen

Albus_Scope

Hi @seriouspmt and welcome to the community.
I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with your cake making, I understand how hard that must be. I had a few rounds of EMDR and some talking therapy for my PTSD and it certainly made a difference and I'm glad it has with you too. It sounds like you should speak to your GP about your lack of motivation though.

seriouspmt

I have. Thank you though, turns out I may have ADHD too. But when you put your heart and soul into something it's hard to let go. I was hoping it was a common thing after therapy to feel that way x

Rosie_Scope

Hi @seriouspmt, Sorry to hear that you're struggling at the moment.

As Albus said, it's well worth keeping in touch with your GP about it in case you might need some extra support for the lack of motivation. While I can't give direct medical advice, I just wanted to share my experience as I've been through similar struggles in the past.

I'm going to sound like some kind of self-help book when I say this, but I have found personally while working through things in therapy that it's not always a straightforward line of healing, it's more of a wiggly line with lots of pockets of things dotted about. Even though some parts might feel better and that's great, other bits might not be quite there yet and are still having an effect. But it doesn't mean that the parts that haven't returned yet wont come back later on with a bit of time and patience.

One thing I did try to do was to keep some of my hobbies alive by just doing small things and working my way up if I could. So instead of doing a full cake, maybe you could do a small batch of little ones and just decorate one or two? And try not to be too down on yourself if you don't find the joy that you used to straight away. I found that the more I worried about not wanting to do things, the less I felt I wanted to do them, but that's just me!

Just be mindful that it could be you still need a little bit of extra support with things, so be sure to look after yourself and keep in touch with your medical teams about how you're feeling. I hope you can get back to your cakes soon 😊

seriouspmt

(I found that the more I worried about not wanting to do things, the less I felt I wanted to do them, but that's just me!)

Thank you Rosie so much you have helped both of you have. What you said there is me at the moment.

I've been referred to an adhd specialist and I need CBT which I'm sure will help. But I will definitely keep in touch with my GP for help. My Tauma Counsellor said a very similar think about the wigglyline. She said the therapy is just the beginning of healing. The rest comes after therapy.

I'm doing a cake of my old dog for cake International so if I just work on that one for now bit at a time if any are going to rekindle that passion this one will xx

Jimm_Scope

A cake sounds nice @seriouspmt, I don't bake enough really. Let us know how the cake goes!

I just wanted to add as well, CBT can be amazing and really help a lot of people. If, however, it doesn't work out don't be disheartened. There are other forms of therapy available. I just wanted to let you know that. As someone with ADHD I tried CBT and it didn't work for me, and for a while I felt like that was it, that therapy just couldn't help I guess. Then I signed up to a different type of therapy and it just clicked. Helped me so much with myself and my mood, just helped with everyday living.

Anyhow, hope that cake is tasty 🎂