Mar 29 2009
Living with Posttraumatic Stress
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a relatively new diagnosis, despite the time it seems to be in existence. A diagnosis for war veterans, it now includes anyone who has experienced trauma. Trauma is the result of any event that is deemed catastrophic by an individual. This can range from witnessing a crime to being the victim of a crime or accident. The after affect is what this diagnosis is concerned with, including but not limited to the nightmares, reliving the event, ruminations that cause stress and anxiety and the physical ills that follow. Disorder is the terminal affects of trauma, which ranges from seemingly minimal impact to catastrophic impact where the person is near incapable of coping in her/his world. It is a constant state of hyper vigilance, always on the watch for another attack, the flinching reaction when there is motion that occurs near the person, emotional responses that seem out of control, the withdrawal from the world, and several other symptoms that tell a story. Without help the condition can become worse, but with improper diagnosis it can be worsened. Living in this state of stress is an experience not to be wished upon anyone. Finding help is near impossible when your income is low and the promise of work is empty. County programs are insufficient, the placing one on medication and very little support because there is not enough to go around. Falling through the cracks is the result.
Medications can offer a temporary solution that is until the body adapts and the side effects take hold. After a period of time the side effects increase, for example the increased blood pressure, worsening vision, heightened emotions, and that sense of going crazy because it is next to impossible to grasp some of the simplest concepts. This last is difficult to describe, but that sense something is forgotten is always there, then there is that awareness of being mistreated by others. A part of a belief system created through the years of trauma. This brings yet another aspect to this problem, the repetition of patterns, matters not if they are good or bad.
Talk therapy is a great start to any issue; it begins to sort the information that sits in the back of one’s mind causing chaos. It is not enough, there comes a time when action must occur otherwise you keep rehashing the same information, doing the same things, making the same mistakes and nothing really gets better. You find there is something missing, just never sure what. Yet for some spending their days in talk therapy is perfectly alright. For me, there is more to do, moving beyond the dependence of talking everything to death.
As one who has been living inside of the disease I can tell you that each treatment has its limits and serves to ignore the most important aspect of the human, the entire person. What this means to me is the mental, physical, spiritual, somatic, emotional, neuro-physical, and all the other parts that seem to get clumped up into one mass solution. Until the disorder is treated holistically recovery is not possible. A difficult quest, exhausting and at times a sense of helplessness, there is no other choice but to face the problems, look within and make the changes that healing will bring. Somatic healing is the key to a holistic balance in life. Somatic healing takes you to those memories that the mind just cannot seem to reach on its own. The journey is very rewarding and healing feels terrific.
Begin with listening to the breath, listen as it enters through the nose and into the lungs. Feel it as it move out through the throat and passes over your lips, keeping a slight smile. Follow this breath for the count of three. No thought but the focus of breath, no action but the stillness of body and the slight smile upon your face. Just be, sitting in the emptiness for the count of three breaths. Upon the last exhale, let it hang a bit longer and hold for the count of three. Stretch and feel your muscles reach out and expand. Reach over your head, then reach for your toes, stretching for as far as you can, then stand up and reach outward on all sides and for the ceiling. Stretch down for the toes. Let your muscles move freely and listen reminding yourself that this is your body, your muscles and your breath. Then get into your day. Practice this at least twice a day for the next week pay attention to the tension, let it rest. Use your journal after each meditation and record what you hear. Free journal, no monitoring of thoughts or reflections, let it flow. This is your dialogue, for your eyes and ears only. Then set it aside with a statement of gratitude and move into your day.
If you have difficulty sleeping at night keep your journal handy, repeat the breath exercise and record your thoughts in the journal. Let the thoughts rest there, written on the page and close the cover, quietly stating this is where I leave the worry and fear, written on this page. Express your gratitude to the Deity you believe in. As you close your eyes count backwards from 25 to 1, with each number state “I am relaxing my body, letting the stress release into the care of my guardians.” With each breath and number relax and let sleep come peacefully. If you reach the number 15 then begin reciting quietly “I am resting peacefully, I will sleep comfortably and awaken refreshed.” Repeat this at least three times and let yourself sleep.
These meditations will take regular use to begin to work comfortably for you. In the beginning it is difficult because of expectations, but set those aside and remind yourself there is no perfect way to meditate or heal the wounds. Practice is how we learn and become expert in all things. It has taken you years to learn to care for self the way you have been, it will take you time to undo those things that no longer serve you.
I have faith in you. You can do this, you can learn to care for self and overcome the burdens that were placed upon you by others. If you require further guidance see my contact page. I am there for you. I believe in you.
My next article will cover the holistic supplements to help you with depression and pain. If you cannot wait, contact me now.
