PTSD is like bad memories on steroids. When we experience a traumatic event, our brains get locked into that event almost exclusively emotionally. The brain is having trouble using logic to overwrite the emotional response. We logically know that we are safe and made it out ok. Yet our brain can’t think our way out of these bad memories. PTSD tends to occur after we experience situations where we feel helpless or threatened. Symptoms and onset vary between people; some people start to have symptoms within a few days, but it sometimes takes a year or more. Now, not everyone who goes through something traumatic will develop PTSD. After the event, most people will experience disconnectedness, sudden fear, a lack of trust in people or unavoidable situations, nightmares, and an inability to stop thinking about the event. With PTSD, these symptoms last much longer and sometimes can get worse.
Even though we avoided a car accident, I still feel anxious. My mind keeps playing it over and over again. I keep telling my brain it is time to put this behind me. But that isn’t so easy to do. I can only imagine what this is doing to Tommy; the feelings must be more intense.
We turned off the pellet stove this morning. The weather is warming up here. Tomorrow night Tommy, Kel and I are going to see Lacuna Coil in concert. This will be fun. Maybe it will help get our minds off of things. Then Friday we leave for our cruise. 🙂
