Tag Archives: Posttraumatic stress disorder

Are You Too Proud To Heal From Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

When you think of “shell shock” what comes to mind?

During World War One Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome was a huge problem. Doctors believed that the tell tale “thousand yard stare” was a sign that the close proximity of exploding shells had caused trauma to the brain.

If you take that reasoning into consideration, it is troublesome to discover that it was common practice for Doctors to prescribe rest away from the front for Officers, while enlisted men were often accused of being cowards and sent right back out to the battlefield.

Some were shot for cowardice, or punished in a variety of creative ways.  Though enlisted men would be more likely to have been in close proximity of exploding shells than Officers, wouldn’t they?

If you are likely to be shot on the spot or court martialed you aren’t very likely to seek help when you need it most.

It seems that the history of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is one of shame and persecution.

With soldier suicides being such a huge issue in today’s world, you hear a lot about what they are doing to identify those who need help in an effort to control the climbing death toll.

The struggle today is to get soldiers to admit that they need help before it’s too late.  They aren’t facing a firing squad, but they feel like they are letting their unit down.  They aren’t keeping up their end.

Admitting that you need help with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome feels like admitting a weakness.

When you think of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome you might think of soldiers at war.  However, emergency response workers are on the front lines of daily life.

Identifying those who need help among emergency response workers can be very difficult as well.  Admitting you need help might endanger your job and your livelihood.

Family caregivers are at risk as well.  Continue reading Are You Too Proud To Heal From Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?

Is There a Chance You Could Be Suffering From Compassion Fatigue?

Is There a Chance You Could Be Suffering From Compassion Fatigue?
Is There a Chance You Could Be Suffering From Compassion Fatigue?

Whether your job requires that you struggle to function in a care giving environment that constantly presents heart-wrenching-emotional challenges, or you are a Sandwich generation caregiver torn between the needs of your young children and the needs of your dependent elders, Compassion Fatigue is something you should always be aware of.

Do you strongly identify with the pain of others?

Does it seem like you can actually feel their pain?

You are not alone.  Your empathy has everything to do with your desire to become a care giver in the first place.

It’s also the reason you are so susceptible to Compassion Fatigue.

The first step to healing is awareness.

What Are the Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue? Continue reading Is There a Chance You Could Be Suffering From Compassion Fatigue?

Are There Tools To Help Manage Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?

Are There Tools To Help Manage Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?
Are There Tools To Help Manage Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?

Having trouble coping with the stress in your life?

Do you feel on edge?

Have you been over-reacting to small irritants?

It’s not a good feeling to see yourself reacting and be unable to stop yourself.

After all, you want to choose your response to life, rather than reacting unconsciously.

Don’t you?

Over the weekend, I was headed home on the highway when a bad car accident happened just ahead of me.

When I arrived at the scene I got out to see if anyone was needing help.  The accident involved a very large truck and a very small car.

The passengers of the car were really lucky, it could have been so much worse.  They really didn’t seem to need any help I could offer so I stood back to wait for the paramedics.

I noticed that a teenage passenger from the car was getting really intense and freaking out with the most injured passenger who was still in the back of the car.

He was screaming, asking her not to die and begging her not to go to sleep.  I was concerned that he was going to hurt her worse than she already was, so Continue reading Are There Tools To Help Manage Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?