I am PTSD
Quick flashbacks to that time
And for a second it just feels so real
People tell you to talk about it
But how can you make small talk about the traumatic things you’ve been through
Suddenly you can’t do the simplest tasks
Because everything reminds you
Of the very thing that you try so desperately to forget
So many sleepless nights in bed
Where you just replay everything
And when you finally can sleep
You still can’t escape your thoughts
Explained
PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, which stems from witnessing or being a part of a traumatic experience. About 3.7% of people were diagnosed with PTSD in America in the past year. [6] Depending on the person and the severity of the event, symptoms can begin between a month and several years after the event. Those with PTSD usually have vivid flashbacks and nightmares, along with anxiety that the event will reoccur. Beyond that, they will often avoid discussing the topic or revisiting people and places that remind you of the event. It can also harm one’s mood by making them feel hopeless and depressed, which can make it difficult for them to maintain healthy relationships and continue to lead a normal life. PTSD can also cause people to constantly be alert and frightened, which can cause difficulty sleeping and concentrating. Finally, PTSD can cause people to disregard their health and well-being by taking on habits such as drinking too much or using drugs, and it may even lead to suicidal thoughts.
PTSD can be treated with different types of therapy. The first kind is exposure therapy in which someone is shown places or imagery that remind them of their trauma. Over time, the person will become accustomed to seeing these things and will become less sensitive over time. There is also cognitive restructuring therapy in which a person breaks down their trauma and analyzes the exact events that occurred since those with PTSD usually have memories that don’t resemble exactly what happened. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is another type of therapy in which people pay attention to movement meant to stimulate their eye movement while focusing on their traumatic experience. This type of therapy is meant to make the memories of this event less vivid since they begin to focus on something else while thinking about it. Present centered therapy is used to focus on the present rather than the past. People are educated on the potential effects of trauma on one’s life, which helps them recognize the changes they’ve made in their own lives. Beyond that, their therapists teach them coping mechanisms for the present moment so that they can go back to leading a normal life. If none of those therapies work, medication can also be prescribed by a medical professional to ameliorate some of the anxiety. [7]