PTSD
I've lived with a relative for more than a decade who had PTSD and has recovered from it since. It was the result of a very nasty life or death incident. They have been very open about the issues, causes and remedies. Talking about the event, the trauma, and feelings are a key recovery mechanism. Holding it in is a road to hell for the person and those around them. Drug only therapies only putoff the inevitable hell. Flashbacks, rapid and prolonged anxiety and grief can all be manifests of PTSD with 0 warning.
"Flashbacks" are a big problem, they are a very rapid re-living of part or all of a very traumatic event. They are unpredictable with regard to intensity, timing, triggers or resulting actions by the person. They can be like a quick chill in a scary movie that lasts 5 seconds, or can cause a conscious or unconsious blackout that may last for hours or days, or may induce very high anxiety. I believe psychologist call this an "S2" response. In one instance my relative saw a book on a shelf, the name on it was the same as the last name of one of the persons involved in the traumatic event. The result was very high anxiety for a day, starting with the inability to speak and loss of peripheral vision.
On the flip side, we were at a movie and one of the scenes was a reminder. After about a minute of controlled breathing and counting they were fine.
With time and talking about it openly, the symptoms diminish to a manageable, then almost unnoticeable level.
If PSTD sufferers talk about the experience with people who care, the road to recovery is much easier. What we have seen over a decade is going from a tough flashback every few weeks to less than one mild anxiety attack annually, about the same as sneaking up on someone and saying BOO.
Finally, we have noticed that when our relative "charges PTSD head-on" (such as intentionally going to a movie related to their trauma), they may have a minor flashback during the movie but come out more in control every time.
I hope that helps. I apologise in advance if some of this is vague but I don't want to provide linkages to the person, personally identifiable information and the event that triggered the PTSD.
I've lived with a relative for more than a decade who had PTSD and has recovered from it since. It was the result of a very nasty life or death incident. They have been very open about the issues, causes and remedies. Talking about the event, the trauma, and feelings are a key recovery mechanism. Holding it in is a road to hell for the person and those around them. Drug only therapies only putoff the inevitable hell. Flashbacks, rapid and prolonged anxiety and grief can all be manifests of PTSD with 0 warning.
"Flashbacks" are a big problem, they are a very rapid re-living of part or all of a very traumatic event. They are unpredictable with regard to intensity, timing, triggers or resulting actions by the person. They can be like a quick chill in a scary movie that lasts 5 seconds, or can cause a conscious or unconsious blackout that may last for hours or days, or may induce very high anxiety. I believe psychologist call this an "S2" response. In one instance my relative saw a book on a shelf, the name on it was the same as the last name of one of the persons involved in the traumatic event. The result was very high anxiety for a day, starting with the inability to speak and loss of peripheral vision.
On the flip side, we were at a movie and one of the scenes was a reminder. After about a minute of controlled breathing and counting they were fine.
With time and talking about it openly, the symptoms diminish to a manageable, then almost unnoticeable level.
If PSTD sufferers talk about the experience with people who care, the road to recovery is much easier. What we have seen over a decade is going from a tough flashback every few weeks to less than one mild anxiety attack annually, about the same as sneaking up on someone and saying BOO.
Finally, we have noticed that when our relative "charges PTSD head-on" (such as intentionally going to a movie related to their trauma), they may have a minor flashback during the movie but come out more in control every time.
I hope that helps. I apologise in advance if some of this is vague but I don't want to provide linkages to the person, personally identifiable information and the event that triggered the PTSD.
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