Remove ads on the forum by becoming a donating member. More here. |
---|
There’s no harm in asking. If you explain your needs, it’s up to the Hospi to say yes or no.I hesitated to post this but maybe it will help someone else too. I have PTSD. I did the CF a couple of years ago. On occasion I felt like I was going to totally freak out in the albergues, particularly when the beds were very close together, resembling a terrorist incident i went through in the 80’s in confined quarters. Sometimes I just had to get my stuff together as quietly as possible and sneak out the door in the dark as I knew no sleep was forthcoming. I can’t afford too many private rooms or hotels. I’m considering Camino number 2 next year as otherwise it was a life-changing experience on many levels. This time my thought is I wonder if I ask the hospitalieros if it would be ok for me to move to sleep in the common area or even outside on the patio if possible in the event this happens? Last time it didn’t tell anyone this was happening and just left. One time I couldn’t find an exterior door that wasn’t locked so I crawled out the window! I didn’t want to ask for special favors. It’s the one aspect that I dread and it may be a deal-breaker but otherwise I love the CF so much and would like to return. Has anyone else gone through this? Any suggestions?
I know the feeling. I sometimes get panic attacks and my overwhelming desire is to go outside and take in the air. It’s never happened to me on any of my three Caminos, but it did happen to me in the Camino Inka. In your circumstances I’d vote for the “talk to the hospitalero “ option.I hesitated to post this but maybe it will help someone else too. I have PTSD. I did the CF a couple of years ago. On occasion I felt like I was going to totally freak out in the albergues, particularly when the beds were very close together, resembling a terrorist incident i went through in the 80’s in confined quarters. Sometimes I just had to get my stuff together as quietly as possible and sneak out the door in the dark as I knew no sleep was forthcoming. I can’t afford too many private rooms or hotels. I’m considering Camino number 2 next year as otherwise it was a life-changing experience on many levels. This time my thought is I wonder if I ask the hospitalieros if it would be ok for me to move to sleep in the common area or even outside on the patio if possible in the event this happens? Last time it didn’t tell anyone this was happening and just left. One time I couldn’t find an exterior door that wasn’t locked so I crawled out the window! I didn’t want to ask for special favors. It’s the one aspect that I dread and it may be a deal-breaker but otherwise I love the CF so much and would like to return. Has anyone else gone through this? Any suggestions?
This is difficultI hesitated to post this but maybe it will help someone else too. I have PTSD. I did the CF a couple of years ago. On occasion I felt like I was going to totally freak out in the albergues, particularly when the beds were very close together, resembling a terrorist incident i went through in the 80’s in confined quarters. Sometimes I just had to get my stuff together as quietly as possible and sneak out the door in the dark as I knew no sleep was forthcoming. I can’t afford too many private rooms or hotels. I’m considering Camino number 2 next year as otherwise it was a life-changing experience on many levels. This time my thought is I wonder if I ask the hospitalieros if it would be ok for me to move to sleep in the common area or even outside on the patio if possible in the event this happens? Last time it didn’t tell anyone this was happening and just left. One time I couldn’t find an exterior door that wasn’t locked so I crawled out the window! I didn’t want to ask for special favors. It’s the one aspect that I dread and it may be a deal-breaker but otherwise I love the CF so much and would like to return. Has anyone else gone through this? Any suggestions?
thanks so much. i’m glad you are doing well! i am too overall. this situation only happened a handful of times in 40 days, but i think the note is a good idea just in case. overall i think i should be able to handle it better next time around. you are going to love it! buen camino to you as well xoI can certainly empathize, as I myself have PTSD and I’ll be going on my very first Camino next month, so I understand the concerns. Not having Camino experience, I can’t really offer any specific suggestions, but since I’ve been working on my PTSD for many years now (and currently doing very well), I’ll offer some thoughts, which may or may not be helpful.
I think it’s helpful to have the awareness of what are your needs and your limits, ie, what is your level of distress tolerance, and to be able to communicate these to those that need to know. I imagine that things can certainly come up, but being that you already have done a Camino should help a lot as things may not catch you by surprise.
I don’t know how comfortable you feel sharing your diagnosis with hospitaleros, staff, etc, as these kinds of things do carry a stigma. I’m at a point in my process that I’m not ashamed of it but I limit my disclosure on a “need to know” basis (or, as in this case, to try to give helpful feedback and support).
I think it’s perfectly reasonable to ask for what you need, since otherwise they won’t know; however they may not necessarily be in a position to meet that need, so better to know that up front so you can decide to stay there anyway or look elsewhere.
It’s a learning process for us so afflicted, and for those around us, but I’m confident that you can get through whatever may happen.
May your Camino be a successful, enriching, healing experience!
Buen Camino!
My diagnosis is "severe" the doctors said "you're doing quite well". The many caminos I've walked have helped me to rest and alert less. I have found waling 30's and being tired have helped. This last year I walked with other veterans some with more acute PTSD he too found it helped him, "Not cured"I hesitated to post this but maybe it will help someone else too. I have PTSD. I did the CF a couple of years ago. On occasion I felt like I was going to totally freak out in the albergues, particularly when the beds were very close together, resembling a terrorist incident i went through in the 80’s in confined quarters. Sometimes I just had to get my stuff together as quietly as possible and sneak out the door in the dark as I knew no sleep was forthcoming. I can’t afford too many private rooms or hotels. I’m considering Camino number 2 next year as otherwise it was a life-changing experience on many levels. This time my thought is I wonder if I ask the hospitalieros if it would be ok for me to move to sleep in the common area or even outside on the patio if possible in the event this happens? Last time it didn’t tell anyone this was happening and just left. One time I couldn’t find an exterior door that wasn’t locked so I crawled out the window! I didn’t want to ask for special favors. It’s the one aspect that I dread and it may be a deal-breaker but otherwise I love the CF so much and would like to return. Has anyone else gone through this? Any suggestions?
thank you for telling us your story. i’m glad this topic can bring out what others have to say on it. yes- maybe that other bunk is a compatriot of this thing. yeah it’s hard to talk about it. thanks again for all you do on this forum too! buen camino.My “anniversary” is coming up. London 7 July 2005. Always a difficult day. I do use the tube these days but not that day. I made it into the office. Lots didn’t. Front desk security gave me a long look and then offered me a clothes-brush. One of my team went to get me a coffee and came back to report that Costa were closed. If Costa were closed then it was obvious. The world had changed.
I hate that for a while it made me hate. I regret that it’s still there in my head every time I’m on the tube, metro, any confined or crowded situation. I do the exercises. I can breathe with metronomic regularity and I can climb the steps to the exit and emerge into the sunlight or the rain without feeling like I need to run.
@starrysky you are not alone. You are never alone. And you never know but that bloke in that “too close” bunk just might be me or one of our brothers or sisters.
The lovely therapists always told me “talk about it”, but I don’t: except I just did, so thanks for that window
thanks so much for telling about that. yeah it’s a bitch but i agree that being out on the camino is so wonderful it is definitely helpful but not necessarily a cure! buen camino to you!My diagnosis is "severe" the doctors said "you're doing quite well". The many caminos I've walked have helped me to rest and alert less. I have found waling 30's and being tired have helped. This last year I walked with other veterans some with more acute PTSD he too found it helped him, "Not cured"
There’s no harm in asking. If you explain your needs, it’s up to the Hospi to say yes or no.
Locking external doors is an absolute no no. If a Hospi does it,
From your past Camino,it’d be easier to avoid the similar situation by researching the room and bed types of each albergues,isn’t it?I hesitated to post this but maybe it will help someone else too. I have PTSD. I did the CF a couple of years ago. On occasion I felt like I was going to totally freak out in the albergues, particularly when the beds were very close together, resembling a terrorist incident i went through in the 80’s in confined quarters. Sometimes I just had to get my stuff together as quietly as possible and sneak out the door in the dark as I knew no sleep was forthcoming. I can’t afford too many private rooms or hotels. I’m considering Camino number 2 next year as otherwise it was a life-changing experience on many levels. This time my thought is I wonder if I ask the hospitalieros if it would be ok for me to move to sleep in the common area or even outside on the patio if possible in the event this happens? Last time it didn’t tell anyone this was happening and just left. One time I couldn’t find an exterior door that wasn’t locked so I crawled out the window! I didn’t want to ask for special favors. It’s the one aspect that I dread and it may be a deal-breaker but otherwise I love the CF so much and would like to return. Has anyone else gone through this? Any suggestions?
My thoughts are with you William and Tincatinker. As a police officer of many years, who "buried" his symptoms for over forty years, I don't think that we "cure" our PTSI but learn to adapt and move forward in the best possible way. Notice that I used an "I" rather than a "D". I am in the growing group that refers to it as an "INJURY" rather than a disorder. Disorder sounds too clinical to me rather than a series of injuries, particularly the emotional ones, which created a world view and an inability to function effectively in certain situations.My diagnosis is "severe" the doctors said "you're doing quite well". The many caminos I've walked have helped me to rest and alert less. I have found waling 30's and being tired have helped. This last year I walked with other veterans some with more acute PTSD he too found it helped him, "Not cured"
Bumpa - Thanks so much for what you have written here. I am now going to change my own status to PTSI. Perfect! I have never viewed “PTSD” as a mental “illness” but rather the functioning of a survival-oriented brain which sends out signals commensurate with a perceived threat. Due to the horrific nature of the incidents which are triggered by the particular environmental stimuli, the results can be commensurate in force with the original force! (i hope that makes sense!). It’s sort of survival defense.My thoughts are with you William and Tincatinker. As a police officer of many years, who "buried" his symptoms for over forty years, I don't think that we "cure" our PTSI but learn to adapt and move forward in the best possible way. Notice that I used an "I" rather than a "D". I am in the growing group that refers to it as an "INJURY" rather than a disorder. Disorder sounds too clinical to me rather than a series of injuries, particularly the emotional ones, which created a world view and an inability to function effectively in certain situations.
I learned to feel that it was normal for me to be fearful of the dark and closed doors that I had to enter through. Therapy has helped immensely and has given me the permission to admit to fears set out in the previous sentence without embarrassment. Trauma is often imbedded deeply in the tissues which guide us and help make decisions. We all have our trauma, it is just a matter of degree.
I hid symptoms for many years, as did others in my position, because fellow workers may lose faith in you and your reactions, or a transfer or promotion may be affected. Many years of "just suck it up and get on with it" create veils that make it difficult for us to see through or for others to see into. I find setting personal feelings, otherwise hidden, down on a site such as this, which has others also willing to share is also helpful. I hope that some of us baring personal issues is not looked on askance but with a belief that your own thoughts. expressed or not are real and valid. I find speaking to others and sharing is a vital part of my therapy. Seeing things in print rather than just ruminating on them is very helpful.
I am thinking of rewarding myself for reaching 81 yrs young with another Camino in September. More to come, I'm afraid, as I am getting warmed up.
If you’re going through Ribadiso in late October do stop in. We have small gifts for pilgrims.My thoughts are with you William and Tincatinker. As a police officer of many years, who "buried" his symptoms for over forty years, I don't think that we "cure" our PTSI but learn to adapt and move forward in the best possible way. Notice that I used an "I" rather than a "D". I am in the growing group that refers to it as an "INJURY" rather than a disorder. Disorder sounds too clinical to me rather than a series of injuries, particularly the emotional ones, which created a world view and an inability to function effectively in certain situations.
I learned to feel that it was normal for me to be fearful of the dark and closed doors that I had to enter through. Therapy has helped immensely and has given me the permission to admit to fears set out in the previous sentence without embarrassment. Trauma is often imbedded deeply in the tissues which guide us and help make decisions. We all have our trauma, it is just a matter of degree.
I hid symptoms for many years, as did others in my position, because fellow workers may lose faith in you and your reactions, or a transfer or promotion may be affected. Many years of "just suck it up and get on with it" create veils that make it difficult for us to see through or for others to see into. I find setting personal feelings, otherwise hidden, down on a site such as this, which has others also willing to share is also helpful. I hope that some of us baring personal issues is not looked on askance but with a belief that your own thoughts. expressed or not are real and valid. I find speaking to others and sharing is a vital part of my therapy. Seeing things in print rather than just ruminating on them is very helpful.
I am thinking of rewarding myself for reaching 81 yrs young with another Camino in September. More to come, I'm afraid, as I am getting warmed up.
Thank you. I will bear this in mindIf you’re going through Ribadiso in late October do stop in. We have small gifts for pilgrims.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?