Posts pertaining to PTSD or to my husband, Eric.
Anger and PTSD are very commonly connected. Trauma can lead to anger as part of “survival mode.” In fact, anger falls under the category of Hyper-arousal under PTSD symptoms. Anger is a fight or flight reaction when one is faced with a traumatic situation and some can’t seem to shut it off. This is notRead more
Flashbacks and nightmares are some of the most known hallmarks of PTSD. Again, these are signs that we are shown time and time again in movies or TV shows to demonstrate that a character has PTSD. Sometimes though the flashbacks and nightmares are not so dramatic as Hollywood wouldRead more
Self-medication is something that happens quite often while struggling with PTSD, but self-medication is only one part of the destructive behavior patterns those with PTSD can exhibit. Self-destructive behaviors can be the worst part of PTSD because it takes the problem and makes it worse. There is nothing positive about self-destructiveRead more
Moral Injury and PTSD have similar symptoms yet at their core are based on completely different types of trauma. PTSD occurs when a person experiences a traumatic event. Moral Injury occurs when a traumatic event strikes at the heart of a spiritual, ethical, moral or otherwise deep-rooted belief system. Where PTSD is a mental wound,Read more
One of the scariest risks of those with PTSD is the suicidal ideations. Not all with PTSD go that far, but the risk is much higher. Suicide is often considered a taboo topic but as one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States it needs to be looked at. ThereRead more
Guilt and PTSD go hand in hand. Many with PTSD harbor some sort of guilt. Survivor’s guilt is one of the major kinds to be associated. Survivor’s guilt at one time was classified as its own condition in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) but has since been redefined as a significantRead more
June is PTSD awareness month. Since our family has firsthand experience with PTSD, I’ve decided to dedicate this month to educate and bring awareness to the sometimes less discussed portions of this condition. Eric, the one with PTSD, is no longer with our family, but I truly believe his PTSD is the biggestRead more
A term that we hear quite often, especially in mental health and special needs circles is ‘self-care’ but what does it really mean and why is it so important? Self-care is the deliberate act of taking care of one’s personal physical, emotional and mental health. In short, it is taking care of ourselves! Being goodRead more
One thing that most people don’t think about when speaking about mental illness is how that disorder affects the family as a whole. We usually talk about the person who deals with the mental illness; how they can cope, tips on self-care, what to do if such-and-such happens, etc. Rarely, do we hear about theRead more
Loving a person with a mental health disorder can be hard. There always seems to be times where life turns on end and chaos takes over. Times where you aren’t sure you can handle this person and their issues. It can make being in love feel more like a roller coaster rather than a rideRead more