It is not easy to tell others we are struggling, or that a past trauma keeps us in mental and emotional lockdown. Worse, sometimes we don’t even realise that we are hiding or engaging in behaviours that harm us and those around us.
PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, has become a common, household phrase, but very few have an actual understanding of the nature of the disorder and even fewer know how far reaching and truly debilitating its effects are. The common understanding is that it only affects combat veterans and abuse victims, but the real story is that it affects an estimated 24.3 million people in the US alone.*
PTSD is diagnosed when the following three symptoms are experienced.
1 The traumatic event is relived/reexperienced again and again also known as “flashbacks”.
2 Avoidance of people and places that could potentially trigger memories of the trauma.
3 Being hyper-alert, looking for danger. Not able to focus, relax or sleep.
Overwhelmed with guilt, shame, disassociation, feelings of failure, and suicide clutter the lives of sufferers as they attempt to live normal lives.
But this doesn’t have to be the whole story.
Through the help of trauma therapists, craniosacral work, diet, and other holistic approaches we can begin to unfold insights and opportunities that present themselves throughout the healing process. Theses opportunities and insights provide the way to wholeness and home.
Recently, I was interviewed by the host of the Anxiety Slayer podcast, Shann Vander Leek about my experience with trauma and the strategies that helped me to deal with setbacks, pain and making important decisions after my trauma event of 2nd and 3rd-degree burns caused by burning jet fuel from an exploding plane.
Please have a listen and share with anyone you think could benefit from hearing a different perspective on how to deal with trauma. Contact me if you need some loving guidance.
Thank you.
Anxiety Slayer was created in 2009 by Shann Vander Leek & Ananga Sivyer. The two teamed up to present Anxiety Slayer podcast with the intention of supporting anyone whose life is overshadowed by stress or anxiety. The podcast episodes have been downloaded over 3,372,518 times in total.
*See more: http://www.ptsdunited.org/ptsd-statistics-2/#sthash.o7mTy09T.dpuf