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In the world of professionals a firefighter cradles a lifeless little girl. Seven month later he leaves his beloved profession because of PTSD. A police officer is in shock over an accident he responded to. A paramedic after a long day of work breaks down. Nurses come and go in hospitals, the turn over rate is extremely high. Soldiers returning from duty in a war can not return into the so called regular life.
A child who is abused in the home learns to watch out for subtle changes in the climate of his home. He develops different coping methods which serve him as a survival method, but as an adult he still might be haunted by events which bring up the trauma and PTSD.
A
person who witnessed or was the party to an accident; someone who lost a loved one in a tragic way; someone who is or was in any kind of abusive relationship will most likely develop some sort of anxiety and trauma which may grow into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
You may have heard about being 'gun shy' that also can be a symptom of PTSD.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is described by great emotional upheaval and the shattering of the soul.
It is also a story of courage, determination,resilience, and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit.
Life does not prepare us for trauma.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder results from exposure to an overwhelming stressful event or series of events. A response by normal people to abnormal situation > the symptoms make perfect sense, because what happened has overwhelmed normal coping responses.
Following exposure to traumatic
events~such as natural disasters, crime, accident, rape etc.~ millions of people develop PTSD with symptoms raging from nightmares to headaches, flashbacks, withdrawing from people, profound sadness, anxiety, anger, guilt, fatigue, pessimism, sexual problems and emotional numbing.
The only difference is how people are able to cope with it. Do they turn to or away from their faith, peers, friends and families; people feel shame and guilt, whether they are responsible for the event or not; perceptions, assumptions are made based on their personalities and upbringing.
Have you ever:
- felt so tense, discouraged, or angry that you were afraid you just couldn't cope?
- had an extremely stressful experience that you try not to think about, but it still continues to bother you or is repeated in nightmares?
- felt constantly on guard or watchful, or been on edge or jumpy more than you really need to be?
- had a family member who seemed troubled in these ways?
- do you sometimes wonder why you get upset seeing a certain scenario on the street, on film?
- do you ever wonder where the feelings inside of you appeared from?
- have you ever felt suicidal?
- did you experience events that you heard over and over to get over because it is not a big deal -"You know> 'put on your big girl panties on' or 'pull your bootstraps on'?"- and you still are bothered?
- you have a family member who acts out at the weirdest times over 'nothing'?
- find yourself self-medicating with drugs (prescription or other), alcohol, food,
sex?
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Please talk with your therapist or doctor if you feel or think you may have PTSD based on what you read! |
