PTSD: For those who have it or have someone they love suffering with it, we realize that PTSD is much more than depression and although it is a disorder, it manifests itself in the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual demeanor of its sufferer in ways un seen in other disorders. Even with centuries of data on PTSD, we still do not know a lot about what makes it happen or triggers it. What we do know is, it is the result of experiencing an event (whether directly or indirectly) that exceeds what we accept as normal. For example, you wake up to your room fully engulfed in flames. For most normal people, this would be a traumatic stressor. Your first reaction likely would be to get out of the flames right, and not think about how close to death you are. But later, after you have removed your self from the traumatic event, when you have seemingly have moved on, this same event with its heat, smoke and flames will come back to you. Triggered by a smell, a thought or sight -but it will be all in your mind - but it will be as real as it was when you woke in the burning room before. This is just one scenario given for example. My personal event has it origin in Baghdad, Iraq while I was serving with the U.S. Army. My unit had been assigned a large multilayer building as our HQ and living area. I lived on the bottom floor and since we where often under attack either by RPGs, mortars and rockets, I went to sleep each night fearing being pancaked under the 5 layers of the building. Thankfully, it never happened, but because of this and various other traumatic events - I suffer with PTSD. Things trigger it. Veterans day gets me thinking about things. I am not alone. Tomorrow - when you see Combat veterans, most will not have visible scars, but all will have scars. They just dont give Purple Hearts for these. They are still paying for freedom.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 04:52:20 +0000
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