WHAT DOES PTSD STAND FOR? POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
Who Can Get PTSD?
Anyone who has ever experienced any kind of trauma, be it from Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, a Car Accident to War Veterans and those who even witness a crime or traumatic event happen to someone else.
My Take On PTSD
For a lot of people PTSD can be very life altering for many , many years. Unfortunately, the best possible outcome for PTSD is treatment immediately after the trauma. Sadly we all know that rarely happens unless its a case such as eg: a car accident.
More often than not everything we feel has no explanation and your friends, spouses and relatives don't know how to respond. This often and surely makes you feel worse. Let me elaborate on the above 'no explanation'. We tend to feel in a trap of knowing and feeling we are trying to get past something but we cannot explain why our mind keeps sending us flashbacks and recurrent thoughts thus keeping us in a cycle.
Sometimes it may appear that people around you, don't care what happened to you in order for you to get to this stage. They cant cope with how YOU CANT COPE and this to is another vicious & destructive cycle. At times they call you nasty names, such as weak or simply tell you the worst thing of all 'GET OVER IT'. Ahh yes-we would gladly GET OVER IT ALL, ERASE IT, FORGET IT & UNDO IT if we could.
I myself found out about PTSD about 3 years ago, I believe that time frame is just about correct. It was one night in my car as I was taking a trip to Ulladulla, N.S.W. It was late, I was in the passenger seat & I was researching Child Sexual Abuse.
Finding Out About PTSD changed everything for me, My entire outlook. In a sense in made me face the REAL implications my childhood sexual abuse had on me. Everyone is different but for me, it explained why I had been getting anxiety attacks since I was 14 years old, attacks that no doctor could ever explain. It explained why my face would and still changes every time I see a car or t-shirt, scent or voice that reminds me of one of my abusers.
Finding out about PTSD explained why I got to the stages of suicide and to be honest I'm never ashamed to admit that. I'm not ashamed that such a strong woman like myself got trapped in such a dark place because now I have overcome what placed me there and there is no way to return there. Being there & hitting rock bottom only allowed me to access my life, had I not been there, my story would not be of survival, my story would still be one of entrapment.
I have heard ONE TOO MANY people, some even abuse survivors themselves say 'I don't understand why people self harm?' whilst giving a look, as if they find it silly. It's not silly, its devastating that 9/10 SEXUAL abuse survivors have self harmed. It has everything to do with society, it has to do with the abuse, the lack of help available and the list goes on. It is so important to spread AWARENESS OF PTSD.
Remember That There are more DEATHS by Suicide Than Car accidents on our roads, That should tell you something, we need to pay more attention and take care of one another.
It Has made my life so much better and easier knowing it is something I can work on. Even though I don't believe my PTSD is or was the most severe, I know that many do suffer severely, either way it does alter your life. Lets all lend our knowledge to others and be the difference they needed to help them, help themselves 💖 Isabella Grand
Check For Symptoms - I'm checking in BECAUSE I CARE
- Recurrent, distressing and traumatic memories of the event
Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)-Uncontrollable
Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event such as nightmares
Severe emotional distress or reactions to something that reminds you of the event eg: smells, clothing, noises, songs, buildings, voices, people, colours, conversations, activities etc
Irritability, becoming easily startled and constantly on the lookout for signs of danger- always watching your shoulder
Lack Of Concentration
Lack of sleep
Emotional Numbness- Feeling like you lost all interest in your day to day activities
Anxiety
Thoughts Of Self Harm
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW- Is experiencing PTSD or believes they may have PTSD please contact your nearest practitioner.
Alternatively Please View the link below that will take you to Associated Councillors & Psychologists Sydney who have a focus on PTSD
http://www.counsellingsydney.com.au/ptsd-trauma
Tel: 8205 05 66
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING THOUGHTS OF SELF HARM PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ANY OF THE HELP LINES AVAILABLE ON THE TAB BELOW OR CONTACT