PTSD: Secret Storm of the Mind
PTSD: Secret Storm of the Mind
PTSD: Secret Storm of the Mind
PTSD is the unhealthy response to trauma. It is connected in most people's minds with soldiers returning from battle. The reason for this is that a soldier cannot afford to respond emotionally to the sights and events of the battlefield, or he/she would not be able to do his/her job. So it is only after he/she is removed from the scene that the psychological impact hits him or her.
However,
post-traumaticstress syndromecan effect anyone after a trauma. This is illustrated well in my book,Pieces of Paris,where trauma occurred to a normal, healthy adult woman. At particular risk, are adults who experienced trauma as children and were prevented by harsh circumstances from reacting normally.
The normal phases of reactions to traumatic events are as follows:
Either anemotional outcry (fear, anger, sadness) ordenial(numbing and avoidance)
Both of these behaviors lead tointrusion (flashbacks and distress)
A mentally healthy person willwork through these feelings.
This results incompletion (going on with life: remembering without pain)
If the trauma is excessively prolonged or repeated the following unhealthy intensifications will occur:
Theemotional outcrywill be panic, exhaustion, feelings of being overwhelmed, dazed, or confused.
Thedenial phase will include some or all of the following: maladaptive avoidance, emotional numbing, withdrawal from activities, sense of unreality, dissociative reaction, addiction to drugs, alcohol, suicide.
Intrusion will occur at some point causing the following: flooding of emotion, nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, hypervigilance, startle reflex, work and social impairment, obsessive thoughts, guilt, depression, despair.
These behaviors block progression to the phase ofworking throughthe trauma, resulting in frozen emotional states where people cannot "feel."
Failure to work through the trauma blockscompletion which can result in a chronic inability to trust, love, or act.
My own PTSD was the most severe kind, resulting in the last bulleted item. I tried every kind of therapy to which I had access. Nothing worked. The PTSD had been growing in my mind and body during the whole of my life. I trusted no one. Finally, after years of being outside of faith and looking in, I decided to take the scariest step of all. I knelt on my knees and gave up control (who really has control over their life?) of my life to my higher power. I ventured to trust Him, and I let go of my anguish in a way I can't describe, except that it was like letting go of a helium balloon. I could almost see my troubles leave me.
Gradually, with new medication, a deep feeling of well-being I had never known in my life settled over me. That was four years ago. In that time, I have had only one crippling episode. I stay away from those thoughts naturally now, but they are not stuffed down anymore. I am learning, little by little to be an optimist about my life. Now I believe in miracles.
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