I am guessing if you found your way to this blog or if someone told you about this blog, it is because you have a friend or loved one who is living with PTSD. So, you most likely already know what PTSD is. I am not seeking to explain what PTSD is in this blog. This blog is intended to help friends and loved ones get a better understanding of what life is like for the person living with PTSD. If you are wanting or needing to find out more information about what PTSD is, you will find a plethora of information upon doing an internet search for PTSD.
That being said, I do want to give a brief definition and talk a little about the effect it has on a person’s life.
PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal event. Unfortunately for the person living with PTSD, their normal reaction will often look abnormal to the rest of the world. This disparity in perspectives increases the lack of understanding between those living with PTSD and those living without PTSD. This in turn makes the world of the person living with PTSD smaller, scarier and lonelier.
Here’s an example to maybe help put it in perspective. When a baby (who is wanted and expected) is born, there is always great joy. Almost everyone around the world has experienced this in some way and the normal reaction to a new baby is happiness and joy and excitement. We all know how the normal reaction and how to express our joy, whether it be hugs, kisses, congratulations, flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, or even those cheesy little fake cigars. No one will question you about why you reacted with happiness and joy or why you bought gifts for the baby or why you congratulated the new parents.
When someone experiences a traumatic, abnormal event, it is the normal reaction for that person to experience some range of the symptoms associated with PTSD. In this case though, everyone questions the person. Why are you scared? Why are you depressed? Why do you have panic attacks? Why don’t you want to be around people? Why don’t you want to do the things we used to do? And on and on… All this questioning can definitely make a person feel like they are not reacting normally. I’m sure that most times, the questions are asked with good intent by someone who cares and just wants to understand better but the questioning is usually counterproductive, regardless of the motive. Usually the person with PTSD does not understand what the answers are to these questions either or they may not know how to express their answers in a way that makes sense.
So, in both cases there is a normal reaction. In the first case, the world understands and expects the normal reaction. In the second case though, the world does not understand the normal reaction and often expects something quite different. This disparity usually only serves to alienate and isolate the person living with PTSD, making them feel like they are alone in this world even when they are surrounded by people.
If you have a question about what it is like to live with PTSD, please use the link at the top of the page to submit your question to be answered in a future blog.
That being said, I do want to give a brief definition and talk a little about the effect it has on a person’s life.
PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal event. Unfortunately for the person living with PTSD, their normal reaction will often look abnormal to the rest of the world. This disparity in perspectives increases the lack of understanding between those living with PTSD and those living without PTSD. This in turn makes the world of the person living with PTSD smaller, scarier and lonelier.
Here’s an example to maybe help put it in perspective. When a baby (who is wanted and expected) is born, there is always great joy. Almost everyone around the world has experienced this in some way and the normal reaction to a new baby is happiness and joy and excitement. We all know how the normal reaction and how to express our joy, whether it be hugs, kisses, congratulations, flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, or even those cheesy little fake cigars. No one will question you about why you reacted with happiness and joy or why you bought gifts for the baby or why you congratulated the new parents.
When someone experiences a traumatic, abnormal event, it is the normal reaction for that person to experience some range of the symptoms associated with PTSD. In this case though, everyone questions the person. Why are you scared? Why are you depressed? Why do you have panic attacks? Why don’t you want to be around people? Why don’t you want to do the things we used to do? And on and on… All this questioning can definitely make a person feel like they are not reacting normally. I’m sure that most times, the questions are asked with good intent by someone who cares and just wants to understand better but the questioning is usually counterproductive, regardless of the motive. Usually the person with PTSD does not understand what the answers are to these questions either or they may not know how to express their answers in a way that makes sense.
So, in both cases there is a normal reaction. In the first case, the world understands and expects the normal reaction. In the second case though, the world does not understand the normal reaction and often expects something quite different. This disparity usually only serves to alienate and isolate the person living with PTSD, making them feel like they are alone in this world even when they are surrounded by people.
If you have a question about what it is like to live with PTSD, please use the link at the top of the page to submit your question to be answered in a future blog.
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