Overwhelming Experience, that Doesn’t Really End…

When something terrible happens, it’s hard to make sense out of it.  Sometimes we call this trauma.

The death of someone you love, a natural disaster, the work of first-responders and military can all be traumatic. Other experiences can also leave you feeling overwhelmed.  Things like a chronically sick child, the discovery of an extramarital affair, emotional abuse or untreated addiction in someone you love can create symptoms of traumatic stress too.

These can feel overwhelming, like you are reliving the pain over and over.

Symptoms of traumatic stress includes: anger that comes out of nowhere, the need to be hyper vigilant, avoiding thoughts or feelings, recurring thoughts invading your mind or a significant shift in how you view the world or yourself.  If you can relate, you may be experiencing symptoms of trauma.

If you’re struggling with overwhelming feelings that won’t go away, you don’t have to stay stuck. It’s normal to not be able to make sense out of the abnormal!

Let me say that again.

Trauma, by its definition is NOT normal.  And many people’s response is a normal reaction to try to feel safe. What I want you to know is that there are effective ways to make life better again.You do not have to stay stuck.

I recently saw a great video explaining the symptoms of traumatic stress. We know this as PTSD.  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a bit of a misnomer.  The name implies that what the person effected is feeling and doing is wrong — a disorder. But when you put what’s happening in the context of trying to feel safe again, it sure seems pretty logical! Click here for the video. And please know, if you’re suffering you don’t have to suffer alone.  

There are ways proven ways to make things better.