Overcoming Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) - Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

It's natural for people to feel anxious, sad or scared after they have undergone a traumatic or extremely stressful experience. And, naturally as well, people also recover after some time and start to live life normally again. However, for some people who experience severe trauma, the stress is so overwhelming that they are unable to move past the experience. They often have nightmares about the incidence and may not even feel safe. If you or a love one underwent a traumatic experience and are having a difficult time getting back to your regular daily routine, then you or he may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Do not worry because PTSD can be beaten and you can go back to enjoying your life again.

Post traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that can occur after an individual has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Usually, this event is life-threatening or might have rendered you feeling helpless, but almost any overwhelmingly stressful life events can lead to PTSD. It can happen to anyone, even to those who are caring for the ones who underwent the actual trauma, such as their friends and family members. This disorder is common among soldiers, police officers, and even emergency response teams for catastrophes.

The development of the signs and symptoms of PTSD differs from person to person. Some experience them within hours or days after the trauma, while it could take weeks to years in others. Common traumatic events or experiences that can cause post traumatic stress disorder include wars, natural calamities, violence, accidents, loss of a love one, rape, kidnapping, sexual or physical abuse and childhood neglect. It's normal for people to feel disconnected, scared, frantic and anxious after these events; however, if these feelings persist, worsen or prevent you from going on with your life, then it is likely that you have PTSD.

Post traumatic stress disorder symptoms can be classified into three types: re-experiencing the event (such as flashbacks, nightmares, and intense feelings and physical reactions when reminded about the event), numbing and avoidance (such as detachment from others, emotional numbness, avoidance of activities that reminds you of the traumatic event, and memory loss about the trauma), and emotional arousal and increased anxiety (insomnia, irritability, poor concentration, hypervigilance, and nervousness or feeling jumpy).

Not all of these symptoms may appear and, in fact, other symptoms may also be present. If you or a loved one is undergoing the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, then it is imperative that you seek help immediately. Early treatment will help you or your loved one get over PTSD faster and easier. Remember that seeking help is never a sign of weakness. PTSD is nothing to be ashamed of and the only way of overcoming it is to confront the traumatic experience. You must learn to accept your past and this process is easier when you have the support and guidance of a doctor or a therapist.

You will not get over post traumatic stress disorder if you constantly try to numb yourself and ignore what you are feeling. The symptoms will only worsen and the stress may even disrupt your life even more. In order to get over it, you need to seek treatment which will help you explore your thoughts and emotions about the event. It will also help you cope with the experience and address the problems that PTSD may have incurred. Some of the available treatment options for post traumatic stress disorder are family therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy and medications.

If you are caring for a loved one who has PTSD, be supportive and understanding. Be patient with him and do not pressure him to talk about the experience. For those who have PTSD, do not forget to reach out to others. Your family and friends can be a very good source of strength. You can also join support groups, and try to challenge the sense of helplessness that comes after the trauma. Helping others will help you remember that you are strong and that you can cope with life. Do not resort to alcohol and drugs; there is a lot you can do to get over post traumatic stress disorder.

Fear - Coping with Feelings of Fear and Anxiety

 According to Webster's Dictionary, "fear" is a general term for the anxiety and agitation felt at the presence of danger. In many ways we live in a fear-based society in which fear controls our normal lives. Threats and acts of terrorism and war are the focus of media coverage and fear is a natural response to these and other potential threats to our perceived safety and security. Fear can keep us stuck and prevent us from achieving our wants, needs or desires. Fear of the unknown and fear of success or failure can block progress and be as debilitating as the fear of an apparent risk to health and safety.

The following are some approaches to dealing with fear. This information is by no means a complete reference; a trained professional may be able to address and provide specific techniques for handling fear not mentioned here.

Sometimes it is difficult to hear someone else's fear and the tendency might be to minimize it without meaning to do so.

The person experiencing the fear may "stuff" the feeling inside which may later come out "sideways" through anger, or manifest as physical problems: such as headaches, body twitches, muscle tension, physical illness, etc. It is extremely important to be able to talk about one's fears with someone who can hear them and validate them.

Talking about situations that trigger fear constantly may intensify the fear, so there is a fine line between not repressing the feelings, yet not being re-traumatized by talking about fearful trigger events too much.

Sometimes there is less of an ability to protect oneself from overload if the fear is initiated by an outside event and others are constantly talking about the situation. It is okay and self-caring to say to someone that you need to refrain from discussing particularly fearful events.

Many people hold onto patterns and situations that are not in their highest good, staying in jobs or relationships that are unfulfilling or abusive because they are afraid.

They fear change, or rejection, true intimacy, financial insecurity, failure or success. The underlying beliefs that are running these fears severely limit the choices and healthy risks available to the fear-based person. Understanding the origin of the fears and beliefs that generate them is very empowering.

One way to do this is to be as conscious as possible to the thoughts we have.

It is important to be aware of those thoughts that may actually be fueling the fear. To be conscious means to notice in a non-judgmental way the thoughts that feed the fear. Once noticed, we can gently work on stopping the thoughts as opposed to nurturing them and allowing them to take us over. This certainly takes practice, however, the more we can interrupt self-destructive thought patterns, the more manageable the fear will be.

It is helpful to work on the willingness to release fear.

Noticing the words we use will show us where we are in the moment. Small steps make big differences. By being willing to change our words and thoughts we can change our lives.

Fear and shock begins in the breath. People stop breathing when they experience things that shock and scare them.

Another way to make the feelings of fear less overwhelming is to get connected to our body. What am I feeling? Where am I feeling the fear? (i.e., tightness in the chest or stomach). Ask yourself, "What does the fear need from me?" Our bodies speak volumes, yet our minds tend to get in the way. The fear of "what if's" can be totally overwhelming. Sometimes its helpful to practice some self-soothing techniques - place your hand over the area that is tense or fearful and "breathe" into it. Back up the feelings with an affirmation.

If the feelings aren't felt or expressed we can't really move on (we need to feel it to heal it). Another way of helping to more effectively manage fear is through physical release.

If feeling particularly fearful in a given moment, allow the fear to be released through tears, exercise (a punching bag), dance. This releases the fear from the body as opposed to containing it within. These methods of emotional release through physical means can also be effective with anger, sadness, frustration and anxiety. Using the voice either though yelling (not at someone), singing or making sounds are also wonderful ways to release emotions.

- Some people are so uncomfortable feeling fear that they try to medicate their feelings with food, drugs/alcohol, shopping, sex, compulsive working, or keeping themselves so busy that they cannot possibly feel.

This may appear to help with the discomfort, yet instead it tends to prolong the feelings and/or magnify them later. There really is no shortcut to not feeling fear, just healthy and emotionally safe ways of experiencing it, expressing it and managing it.

Kathleen Dwyer Blair, LCSW, BCD is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Certified Diplomat who is the Clinical Director for Nassau Guidance & Counseling Centers. Kathleen has 27 years experience as a social worker and psychotherapist and is passionate about helping people achieve their dreams. If you would like to learn more about ways you too, can enrich your life, obtain more resources, or schedule a confidential appointment in one of her locations throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties in Long Island, New York, please visit her website at http://www.NassauGuidance.com or call: 516-221-9494 or call today at 516-221-9494 to get more information or schedule a confidential appointment.

AA 12 Step Principles - Honesty, Hope, Faith Principles

 

AA 12 Step Principles

Step 1 - Honesty

Step 2 - Hope

Step 3 - Faith

Step 4 - Courage

Step 5 - Integrity

Step 6 - Willingness

Step 7 - Humility

Step 8 - Love

Step 9 - Responsibility

Step 10 - Discipline

Step 11 - Awareness

Step 12 - Service