A Few Facts About PTSD…

“Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers, or you can grow weeds.”

Knowledge about PTSD is relatively rare and studies are limited. Here are a few facts:

* PTSD is considered an anxiety disorder

* Symptoms are normal and healing is possible.

* Simple trauma from a single event is one possible way to develop PTSD, but it can also be the result of the steady drip drip drip of years of living with negligence or abuse. One reason some folks to not think about PTSD is because they cannot identify “trauma”, especially if theirs was more of a steady stream of uncaring rather than a big event.

* Secrecy is a deterrent to treatment. Shame or fear may cause us to remain silent about our suffering.

* Victims feel out of control after exposure to trauma, this leaves some of us feeling helpless and therefore we do not tell others or ask for help.

* PTSD is our mind and body’s attempt to survive. A little compassion for ourselves is helpful for healing. We are all doing the best we can.

* Our attempts to survive may be misguided, which is why we need support and the experience of others to help us heal and get back to thriving.

How does PTSD feel?

* Helplessness and unable to take initiative

* Shame, guilt, self-blame, self-harm

* Sense of feeling damaged

* Distorted relationship with perpetrator (idealizing them, feeling as if they have all the power, accepting their ideas and beliefs, feeling that “fate” brought you together)

* Despair, loss of faith, giving up on any kind of future

* Vulnerability to revictimization, isolation, distrust, conflict and secrets

* Sleep problems, excessive health problems, eating issues, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempts, difficulty with depression and anxiety, explosive anger, sexual acting out, destructive coping strategies

* Memory problem, dissociation, reliving experiences through flashbacks, nightmares, rumination

* Depression, eating disorders, panic disorder and other anxiety disorders, personality disorder

If you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, please reach out for help. Help is available; recovery is possible.

Be compassionate with yourself; your mind and body are doing the best they can!