Paula - my Lassie statement, a striking resemblance to a joking or, worse, dismissive response....was not. It is true and very real in my life. And, I believe it's the reason I am an animal lover, always having at least five dogs at one time. I am forever trying to save Lassie. That trauma has never subsided for me and I still have nightmares of Lassie going over the hill. So, just as every child is unique in how they view something intended to be entertaining and comforting, another child will be scarred by it. The same for adults when we lose someone; I believe a lot has to do with how we handled our trauma's/disappointments in the past. But, the loss of my children is a much different monster of entangled emotions and I can't imagine anyone losing a child and not suffering with some form of PTSD, although most would be unwilling to discuss it. But, I'm glad you brought it up. Maybe others will join in with their opinions/feelings on the subject.
I have had PTSD for many years but have accepted it as it is and I don't let it isolate me, as I did in the past. I do still awake after being asleep only an hour or two - wide awake, as if I had just slept 8 hours. But, I'm used to it and I just walk around my property; go down and visit the horses, walk around my gardens and tire myself out and then go back to bed. I believe this is called the "Arousal" state of PTSD. I've posted a few links that are helpful but basically claim the same facts, just vary a bit and are all an interesting read. Let me know if you can relate to any of it.
Reliving: People with PTSD repeatedly relive the ordeal through thoughts and memories of the trauma. These may include flashbacks, hallucinations, and nightmares. They also may feel great distress when certain things remind them of the trauma, such as the anniversary date of the event.
Avoiding: The person may avoid people, places, thoughts, or situations that may remind him or her of the trauma. This can lead to feelings of detachment and isolation from family and friends, as well as a loss of interest in activities that the person once enjoyed.
Increased arousal: These include excessive emotions; problems relating to others, including feeling or showing affection; difficulty falling or staying asleep; irritability; outbursts of anger; difficulty concentrating; and being "jumpy" or easily startled. The person may also suffer physical symptoms, such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle tension, nausea, and diarrhea.
I basically suffer mostly from "Increased Arousal" but as I shared earlier, I have isolated and to a danger point. I don't, however have a problem relating to others or with displaying affection and I'm slow to anger. Avoidance was also a common state I lived in and something I had down to a fine art. I no longer suffer from these two particular symptoms although they do rear their ugly heads around significant dates. I also went through the hallucinations but I 'knew' they were hallucinations. I didn't think I was losing my mind, rather knew it was on overload and something needed to surface due to the fear. That fear had to manifest itself. I knew normalcy would return and that knowing was always a comfort.
And, though it's been offered in abundance, I have never taken medication for any of these symptoms. There are some medications that are very effective when these symptoms become debilitating and I'm sure have helped many people, as some would not be able to even function without them. I believe doctors are just too quick to numb a person's feelings when the reality of living strikes us and although it's painful at times, I'd rather be alert and understand what I'm feeling.
I hope my response was helpful or at least will give you something to compare or relate to, in regards to symptoms, etc.
http://www.ptsd.ne.gov/what-is-ptsd.htmlhttp://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/what-is-ptsd.asphttp://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=posttraumatic_stress_disorderWhat are some of your symptoms and how do you deal with them?
Look forward to hearing back from you!
Love,
Terry
Topic: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Read 5395 times)
