PTSD

So many mental health conditions get swept under the rug by other, often more prevalent issues. However, just because something isn't well-known doesn't mean that it's not worth talking about. Secondary post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of those conditions. Not many people know about secondary PTSD, and many may not have even heard of it. However, it's an important topic to know about.

Most people have experienced some form of trauma in their life. Regardless of what type of trauma you have encountered, it is valid and you deserve proper healing. There is not a trauma that is “better” or “worse” than another trauma. Trauma is often at least partially responsible when people develop mental health issues like substance use disorders (SUD), mental illness, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

After you’ve left the emotional strain of an abusive relationship, you may walk away with a fragile heart scarred from the deep emotional agony of the relationship. Many, out of protection, close their hearts off and may also feel scared, angry, hopeless, or depressed. In times like this, when your heart feels small and hurt by others, you have the greatest opportunity for creating heart space. Your heart space is a place of pure love and acceptance within you where healing for yourself and others takes place. Holding heart space in your life happens through nurturing love in what you choose to witness, listen to and become, and happens when you are aligned with your values. Only when your heart space is open can you have a full heart of love, joy, and gratitude.

When we experience trauma in our lives, we might begin to experience anxiety or PTSD afterward, but why does this happen? Is there a physical component to it, or is it all psychologically driven? Understanding what the limbic system is and what limbic trauma loops are can help answer these questions.

Veterans who have recently left the military are between 2 and 3 times more likely to take their own lives compared to active service duty members, and nearly 20% of all veterans who return from duty experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or depression. USA Today stated that on average, 20 veterans die by suicide each day. These numbers are alarming, devastating, and so tragic for all the military members and families involved. Earlier this year that President Trump signed an executive order to provide more benefits for more veterans transitioning from the military into civilian life. Trump stated, “We want them to get the highest care and the care they so richly deserve.” Many members of service are exposed to horrifying instances like combat, assault, disaster and more – leaving many with anxiety, nightmares, depression, hyperarousal, paranoia, and more. When they come back to civilian life, they face unique challenges. On top of their mental and physical conditions, they must fit into corporate America, which isn’t very easy for them. Veteran Health Services has noted the following challenges for many returning from the military:

It is common knowledge that war, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and getting robbed would all suffice as traumatic incidents. Childhood trauma can leave people feeling debilitated for years to come – some even their entire lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects over 14 million adults in the United States, according to Mental Health America. The National Center for PTSD defines PTSD as a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Those who have PTSD often experience nightmares, flashbacks, hyperactivity, intrusive thoughts, and negative emotions/feelings. Can something as simple as watching a violent show on television trigger someone to have PTSD? The answer is technically, no. Cultivation theory posits that those who watch television often and in substantial amounts tend to adopt the perceptions of what they see on TV. For example, if a person spends many hours a day watching scary movies, they may eventually come to believe that the world is a scary place and may therefore fear leaving their home. The person may show similar symptoms of PTSD, but are not directly experiencing it. The scary content that they viewed on TV may cause them intense emotions which could continue manifesting into a phobia or anxiety disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, exposure to media, television, movies, or pictures cannot cause PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD are:

Whether as a child or during adulthood, traumatic events in our lives can make the present and future seem distant, hopeless, frightening, and more. These events sometimes define who we are for the rest of our lives, or at least change the way we perceive ourselves and the world. Understanding the effects of trauma can help us feel more at ease with knowing how we are feeling, and could give us the potential to help someone else by knowing what they are going through. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network explains that when a child goes through a traumatic event, their body may experience rapid breathing or heart pounding, chronic physical complaints such as stomach aches or headaches, sensitivity to light, touch or sound, and more. Traumatic events or extreme stress can even cause a child’s body to shut down when presented with stressful situations. Emotionally, a child may have difficulty identifying, expressing, or understanding emotions, and may experience significant anger, depression, or anxiety. Dissociation is another response safety mechanism, in which the child may mentally separate themselves from a stressful situation. Adults can experience damaging effects of trauma as well – the American Psychological Association notes that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm was threatened. Physical assaults, natural or human-caused disasters such as terrorist attacks, motor vehicle accidents, rape, physical and sexual abuse, military combat and more are all cases that may induce PTSD. Dr. Lynn Margolies, psychologist and former Harvard Medical School fellow, describes for Psych Central that hyperarousal, intrusive memories or flashbacks, feeling numb or detached and being easily startled are just a few symptoms of PTSD. Help Guide provides several ways to help overcome the effects of trauma: