PTSD awareness: it’s a shitty thing to have to live with. It’s even more crappy to have to deal with peoples misconceptions of what PTSD actually is.
Trauma affects the brain at a deep level. Memories and responses get laid down wrong and wired incorrectly. This means that quite often things that happen that are outside of the normal list of ‘triggers’ can still create a full blown PTSD trauma response.
This reaction is not something that I am consciously aware of, and have no conscious control over.
The best we can do, to live our best life with this incurable mental health condition is to have a good self awareness and ability to self reflect.
In addition to this we use a tool box of grounding activities to anchor us back into the present moment when we are going through a PTSD episode.
⚠️Remember: PTSD is a very specific medical diagnosis that involves a comprehensive assessment process. ⚠️
⭐️Helpful responses to someone with PTSD who is struggling
❣️tell them you are right there with them and that they are safe.
❣️Remind them to take slow deep breaths, feel the tension inside and relax it bit by bit
⭐️Unhelpful responses to someone with PTSD who is struggling
‼️get a grip
‼️stop living in the past
‼️you are over-reacting
… get the picture? …
