June is PTSD Awareness Month.
Are you aware of this devastating condition that can sink the brightest shining star? Living with PTSD symptoms can feel like navigating life under 10 feet of water.
Every person on the planet is capable of feeling the feelings of another person.
It’s arguable that you could say that about animals as well, but for the sake of this discussion let’s keep it to 2 leggeds.
Have you ever played the game where the group tries to guess the emotion of the acting participant?
It’s not hard usually unless the emotion is complicated, like jealousy.
But within the complexities of living life and navigating relationships, surviving and pursuing happiness, things get a little harder to read.
It can be difficult to understand your own feelings in difficult situations.
For someone with post traumatic stress syndrome feeling your own feelings can be increasingly difficult. You simply have no access to what you are feeling … good or bad.
If you can’t feel pain, you can’t feel Joy.
(If you noticed, I just used the term “post traumatic stress SYNDROME” as opposed to “post traumatic stress DISORDER”. The reason I want to invite you to use the word “syndrome” instead of “disorder” is because this condition is a response in your nervous system that is certainly painful to live through, but it is not a “disorder” in that you CAN heal!)
If you are living with PTSS/PTSD symptoms you will notice that you have a much harder time understanding others and communicating clearly, because you aren’t receiving your own signals.
You become numb.
Soldiers are certainly susceptible to this crippling condition, and so are survivors of traumatic events.
It’s easy to see this type of suffering in others. But it’s a lot harder to see it in yourself.
Trouble is, there are many people suffering from PTSS/PTSD symptoms who don’t know what’s wrong with them.
Caregivers are especially susceptible because they witness a lot of suffering. I’m not just talking emergency caregiving, I’m also talking about all types of nursing and hospice work as well as in home elder care.
Ten years of watching the rapid deterioration of someone you love can cause PSTD!
Something I’ve become painfully aware of in my community is the high incidence of incest. The experts here say 50%! Incest survivors have no way to know what’s wrong and are discouraged from getting help. You love your parent even if they are abusive.
If you can’t talk about a crime committed against you, it’s difficult to heal. I’ve discovered that folks become VERY uncomfortable if I bring up the subject of incest within conversations here in my community. That upsets me. Victims need our support, not our hushed whispers.
Rape survivors often have a hard time speaking of their battle for survival without shame. Healing is rough sometimes, but trying to do it under the judgmental eyes of society is just plain harsh!
Children exposed or subjected to violence have a much higher risk for PTSS/PTSD symptoms. They also have a reduced life expectancy! Violent stress causes long term damage.
Remember that you must feel safe in order to heal.
You may need to alter your career choice and even hold off on a serious relationship until you’ve had time to heal. Not easy to hear, but until you are healed and whole, your relationships won’t be either.
Over the years I’ve observed that THE MOST deadly type of stress is financial stress.
If you live through a period of harsh finances, you may come out the other end with symptoms as significant as those associated with shell shock, if you come out the other end at all!
Grandmother sure was right when she told you to always be kind to everyone you meet because you don’t know what battles they are fighting.
Now I’m going to get on a soap box a bit …
I hope I don’t offend you, but this needs to be said.
The saddest part of PTSS/PTSD symptoms is that the medical merchant INSISTS that they be DRUGGED!
The favorite most profit producing therapy for all the various symptoms of PTSS/PTSD is psychotropic drugs. Though there is not sufficient evidence to prove to that they couldn’t have just as much success without the danger of drugs.
Now, don’t leave me your comments saying how they’ve helped you. I’m not saying that they are never useful.
I’m saying they are dangerous drugs and should be treated as such but they are prescribed like candy!
If you are using psychotropics to manage your emotional health, you should also have a plan to wean yourself away from these drugs. Don’t kid yourself. You don’t want to mess with mind altering drugs long term no matter who it is that is peddling them.
Breathing Into Now is the way to process your emotions in a way that will not overwhelm you or harm you.
Don’t underestimate the power of your breathing to heal your emotional state.
AND don’t underestimate the power of BAD breathing to overwhelm your emotional state.
SLOW IT DOWN!
Whatever you do! SLOW down your breathing. Shoot, that’s your goal even when you are NOT in an emotional state, the trick is to remember when it counts!
Making that happen consistently for days and then years to come is how you achieve healthier brain waves, and much better brain circulation. Then Heart Math gets really effective! (Heart Math is a favorite tool around here. Check it out here -> Heart Math)
Paying attention to your needs now can mean the difference between aging healthy and early onset of major mental, emotional, and physical health challenges!
You CAN heal from PTSS/PTSD symptoms!
All that is required is a consistently safe healing space and Sacred Breathing.
But first you’ll need the basics!
Heart Failure Solutions offers a free downloadable ebook that will outline issues that leach your energy and tear you down, and what you can do with a little consistent observation and and increased priority for self care.
Click on the link below and discover your secret to empower health and well being.
Many blessings,
Carrie Tucker, RCP
The Life Breath Coach
Heart Failure Solutions
PS– Remember everyday:
-
Relax and Release tension
-
Exhale Slowly
-
Be active in a way that adds Joy to your life
Plus pure water ~whole foods~sunshine~and laughter