Do you think you are suffering from PTSD?

You have been in America for a couple of years now and you feel somewhat stable and comfortable, but oftentimes you see yourself back in a time when you did not feel well. You feel the discomfort. You begin to feel the pain you once felt whether it was physical pain or emotional pain. If you have experienced a traumatic event such as losing a loved one, having a major injury, or even being scared for your life, you might have PTSD. These are delayed stress reactions to your trauma. Sometimes when we experience trauma and we think we moved on in our lives, we might experience episodes of flashbacks and negative thoughts pertaining to the trauma. 

 You might have a panic attack or you might get anxious and at loss for words and become unsure of what is going on with you. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; it is when an individual relives the trauma they once endured. When one is in an episode of PTSD, he/she may be reliving traumatic memories, they might have a heightened startle response, and may experience nightmares. If this sounds like you, keep on reading to find out how you can help yourself. 

The first thing you can do when you are having a PTSD episode is take relaxing deep breaths. Quick breaths will only make you feel worse and can make you anxious. Slow breathing slows down our nervous system and helps us calm down. If you are having flashbacks, talk to yourself. Talk yourself down; tell yourself in specific words that you are okay and that the flashbacks you are seeing are not real anymore. Remind yourself that it was in the past. I find it fascinating how much of our physical and mental health is connected to our brain. Many issues people have can be solved with just simple breathing. It’s the connection we make with our brain; we feel the way we tell ourselves we feel. 

You can interrupt your body’s stress response by moving your body. When you are feeling a PTSD episode, come on, get up, walk around, jump and run! Your body will “wake up” and remind you of your present self and can tell you that you are fine. Another way to get past the episode is to reach out to family and friends. This will also keep you in the present. Be mindful in your everyday life. That means thinking about your daily actions and what they mean to you and how they will make your day better or worse. Be intentional throughout your day as well. An example of being intentional is when you know going for a walk gives you a clear mind, so you schedule a daily walk in your week. Or maybe you have set a goal to be a happier you, so you decide to smile more often. Basically, be aware of your actions and your thoughts and stay positive. 

The most obvious one in my opinion is being healthy and staying away from drugs, sleeping well and staying hydrated and nourished. And finally, the most important tip is to seek professional help! Although many cultures see therapy and mental health as taboo, we are now in a time where taking care of your mental health is embraced and highly accepted. Your health is much more important than culture, you can’t pass on positive cultural traditions without a healthy body and mind. PTSD is a real disorder. It is a delayed stress response to trauma. If you have signs of PTSD, please try these tips and get the help that you need. You are the most important person in your life. Without a healthy you, you won’t have the life you desire.

01/01/2023