Traumatic Experiences Community Check-In 1 June 2020
Traumatic Experiences Community Check In June 1, 2020
The focus of todays check-in will be stigma related to mental illness and PTSD in particular. This topic was recommended by one of you and I would like to thank them for choosing such a wonderful topic to address and focus on. There are many individuals who experience stigma from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This can be a debilitating condition since the symptoms often lead to incredible emotional distress. Individuals with PTSD can often experience negative issues with relationships, work, or school.Individuals with PTSD may also be more likely to develop other disorders, such as anxiety, depression, or substance abuse. Availability does exist for effective treatment of PTSD and other disorders, but these treatments are only helpful if they are sought out by someone with the disorder. Unfortunately, this does not always occur.
Stigma- A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance,quality or person.
A study showed that among a large group of people with a variety of diagnoses (i.e., major depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders), fewer than 30 percent actually sought out treatment. Individuals with PTSD may be particularly reluctant to seek help.
Stigma refers to associating negative qualities with having a mental illness. For example, a person with a mental illness may be wrongly viewed (and may even view themselves) as being weak or "damaged." This perception leads to feelings of shame or embarrassment. Stigma may be particularly pronounced among military service members with a psychological disorder. For example, one study found that among United States service members returning from Bosnia, 61 percent strongly agreed with the idea that disclosing a mental illness would harm their career. In addition, 43 percent strongly believed that admitting to having a psychological condition would cause other people to not want to be around them.
Having a psychiatric disorder or a history of mental illness is not a sign of weakness or a reason to feel ashamed. Mental health conditions are common and many of the factors that cause a psychological disorder are completely out of a person's control. There is no evidence that disorders develop as a result of someone not being strong enough. There are many effective treatments available for mental illness and ways to learn how to cope with your symptoms.
I do hope you all are implementing positive coping techniques to address the symptoms of suffering traumatic experiences today and everyday. I will now ask you these four questions of you all:
How are you feeling today?
What coping techniques do you all use to cope with the symptoms of suffering trauma?
What, if any, stigma have you felt in regards to your individual struggles.
Can you think of any ideas for Wednesdays Check-in topic?
I know I normally ask three questions but I felt the need to ask a fourth one today. I have experienced stigma first hand and do not wish these thoughts on anyone. I do hope you all have a better today than yesterday, in hopes for a better and brighter tomorrow my friends!
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@Understandingempath
What a great topic for today's check in. I couldn't agree with you more. I feel like second only to our trauma, the worst thing facing us is the stigma in discussing our mental health, let alone seeking professional help. I feel like the more we have an open discussion about mental wellness the more we continue to break down the stigma around it. I say this as somone who has also been impacted by the stigma at one time. I'm grateful that I pushed through it and did reach out for help, but I know not everyone does. Either way, thank you for this. As for your questions:
Today I'm feeling better than I have in a long time. On a scale of 1 - 10, I'm at a solid 8.
A method I use to cope with the symptoms associated with my trauma is pretty simple and straight forward. I will acknowledge what I'm feeling and identifying the trigger for what it is, taking the time to tell myself and know that while i may have been startled into anxiety and sudden flash backs, I'm safe, I'm ok. i'm not back in the traumatic event. I'll also selfcomfort by placing my hands together and discreetly stroking my thumb against the opposite hand.
The stigma I've felt towards my individual struggle was the general unspoken attitude amongst my family that i could just "shake it off" or that any sort of sadness, anxiety, etc was something that people experience when they weren't staying preoccupied. I just needed to find something that would keep my mind busy. Thankfully that mindset shifted and I was able to help them understand and eventually seek profressional help.
If I had to make a suggestion for a following checkin topic it would maybe be how has our trauma effected those around us, how that has effected us, and what we did/ or could do to improve? idk im just throwing it out there, I really think you do a great job at choosing topics for check ins. Much love. <3 - LL
@LindseyLobotomy
I would like to thank you for participating in this thread. I am also glad you like the topics recommended by all of you. Stigma is hard to break and it makes me happy knowing you are overcoming it. An 8 out of 10 is very impressive. I'd say I'm at a 6 or 7. My family played a large part in me not seeking treatment for my anxiety and past trauma. It took moving away from them to actually address it all. I do hope you only continue upward and outward in your journey forward. I will use the topic you recommended for Wednesdays checkin. Have a wonderful day my friend.
@Understandingempath
You're welcome, truth be told, I feel priveledged to be a part of this thread, forum, and community. Its the listeners and members like you that really make this place something special. I'm sorry that you also had to endure the stigma within your family. I can only imagine how difficult it must've been to move, but I'm glad you were able to put your needs above all else and seek out help. I appreciate your thoughtful words of encouragement, I do, It means a lot coming from you. . . and what?! no way, thats rad. I'll be looking forward to it. As always, I hope you have a wonderful day as well my friend.
@Understandingempath Hey Hi.
At the moment, there's more depression then anxiety. Which in some ways, is a nice change. There's some underlying anger and a pull towards isolating.
Coping techniques change from time to time, because what works one time might not work the next. Usually it's a struggle to calm anxiety. Some times the coping methods are more unhealthy, with a tendency to drink and SH. We often keep busy, busy helps prevent thinking.
Oh my, stigma is a big problem. Just here alone, the questions that have been asked by a few listeners have lead to fear and concern of judgement. It has caused a fear of being open and fear of talking. So many times we're silent and afraid to reach out.
Sleep is always an issue here. At times anxiety makes it impossible to fall asleep, other times it's staying asleep. Grounding is another issue at times. Or maybe how to get over the fear of reaching out and how to stop silencing ourselves. I know some of these subjects have been discussed here before though.
Thank you.
@mytwistedsoul
I will never be a source of judgment towards any of you. I know the stigma all too well. I've been judged by others for being a victim of abuse as if I was tainted. I would never do such things to others. I do ask hard questions and it's not to hurt anyone. I ask the questions that I wish I had been asked so many years ago. You're right about coping skills not working every time. That's why I keep coming up with new strategies over time. It pains me to know that you suffer from anxieties in the ways that I do. The medication coupled with coping skills help me to combat it but that is only reachable through seeking treatment. It took me over twenty years to actually seek treatment. I do want to thank you for your participation in this thread. You are a valuable asset to this community and we love you. May you have a wonderful day today and may your struggles become strengths going forward.
Offers hugs to everyone on here that might need them!
I am broken.
@HopefulSprings
My friend you are not Humpty Dumpty with a little work and dedication we can put you together again. We love you and are here to listen and I love your active participation in sharing circles. You are a beacon of hope for so many. I just wish you could see how awesome you truly are.
@Understandingempath
Thank you x
@Understandingempath
How are you feeling today?- I am exhausted. Falling asleep in random places. Muscles are sore. Starting to feel anxious about returning to work. And still trying to be mindful of all the positive steps I have made.
What coping techniques do you all use to cope with the symptoms of suffering trauma? I am learning mindfulness and grounding techniques like 54321. I dissociate when needed. I startle really easily and have let people know that and people are usually pretty good about being mindful of letting me know when they are coming up behind me or knocking on my office door.
What, if any, stigma have you felt in regards to your individual struggles. - Previous to this diagnosis, I had a diagnosis of DID and I felt a lot of stigma there, less so with this diagnosis. I think there is a stigma about this diagnosis for people who have not been in the military and that's hard. I have family members that have discredited my diagnosis, saying things like "we all have our problems, you just have to not let it bother you." *sigh* I don't even have words to respond to that one.
Happy Monday.
Joy
@Joybeans
One doesn't have to be in the military to suffer from mental illness of any kind. I do hope things improve for all of us and you will always find me to be compassionate and empathetic as well as validating to each and every one of you indiscriminately. If you ever seek a listening ear I am here as well as many other incredible listeners. May you have a wonderful evening.
@Understandingempath
Oh I completely agree, mental illness is a medical condition that can be caused by a variety of things. I hope I didn't imply that I agreed with the military thing, was just saying that is some of the stigma out there.
Thanks for being such a compassionate support for those of us here.
Joy
Hi all, I'm not going to answer the Qs - though I appreciate the effort to think of them and put them in the check-in today.
I do not know what to say to "what or how are you feeling, right now?" Part of me is scared. That is the little (me), who was actually encouraged to talk in therapy today. At some points today, even IN therapy, I felt scared. I know my counselor cannot tell mom any of what we talked about; but this is a fear of mine.
Today's session was a lot different than others have been. My counselor asked hard Qs - after telling me 'ok this is a hard Q.' It was kind of cute, but I knew she was serious. (to be continued ... maybe ...)
I'm going to end this now - it is somewhat overwhelming, and I'm not ready to think through it all again. #TraumaSupport
People of #TraumaSupport , would you pray for me, or send good thoughts? I would like help to deal with this, but I am not sure where to go, who to go to - to get this help. Some of these things - if I could only nail them to the floor, then I wouldn't have to worry about them any longer. Yeah. I need help. But I don't even know where to look for it. ~ Platy
@cyanPlatypus6370
I for one will pray for you my friend. Just by you making this post is enough participation for me to be truly happy. I am glad to see when others get involved in these checkins even if you don't answer the questions. I do hope things get better for you and again you will be in my prayers. Also the Platypus is among my favorite animals.
@cyanPlatypus6370 Sending you good thoughts Platy - be gentle with yourself
Please add me 😢
@schizanaboy35 ((Platy presses the buttons in the most simply complicated way imaginable and then last key .... 3!))
You're in! You're in!
AKA Hi, boy35 - Welcome here :) and yeah I get the sad too - like I'll try to smile and whatnot for all of you here, but under that I'm really in tears. Like that? Take care, Schizana. I'll see you 'round. ~ Platy
I have been dealing with a lot of personal home front issues. To be frank for several days & some I have slept & or laid in bed refusing to get up & function as a person, a man, a husband, & or a father. Depression hit me really bad. The ghosts & the moments of my past came at me like a nuclear bomb this week.
I struggled to tell the difference from the past & present. All to many occasions I felt as though I were right at that essence of trauma, loss, death, & such. To the very point that I was able to feel, smell, taste, touch everything as though it was real & just happening. Not something that has happened & is over. Flashbacks is what they call them I believe. Suffering Hell is what I call them. No escape. No forgetting. No getting numb of the feelings, emotions, memories. As long as I live they live with & threw me.
I got out today & cleaned up my truck & tools & attempted to join the here now. Not an easy task.
@4DarkSouls
I am glad you were able to overcome the trauma to live in the here and now even if it is only for a moment. I can't imagine how painful it is to relive those traumatic moments but I can tell you I am here to listen and provide a shoulder to lean on no matter how severe your trauma may be. Thank you so much for participating in this thread my friend. You're much more than a survivor in my book.
@Understandingempath Hi, the original post was quite overwhelming for me. Yes, stigma is a big problem unfortunately.
I just watched a movie that kind of triggered me. It was a cute anime movie called Mirai about a boy who feels neglected by his parents and has magical daydreams that help him process it a little. I guess it just upset me a lot that the parents never recognized and tried to change their own behavior and never validated his feelings or even honestly noticed or understood him in the end. :( And of course I went down the rabbit hole of reading reviews and found that people felt he was a brat which is not very empathetic to me.
@Daydreamer47
Sadly there will always be those individuals who fail to understand or empathize with our individual struggles. Unfortunately one cannot force them to, but we do have the power to not allow their words to cause us harm. I personally do my best to avoid the rabbit hole. I do hope you have a wonderful day today. If you would ever like to chat I am available a couple hours each day and there are other wonderful compassionate listeners who can offer a listening ear as well.
Evening. I grew silent in the last week or so. Allow me to share that I am still very alive & on this side of the dirt. After another member had for the worst part violated the aspect of PTSD-Support "Break The Silence" in expressing her feelings that I needed to hush, I felt that after a strong defense that I like so many of us had no voice to cry from, that "Breaking The Silence" is not what we are a loud to.
Matters became worse as I have been dealing with a lot of personal home front issues. To be frank for several days & some I have slept & or laid in bed refusing to get up & function as a person, a man, a husband, & or a father. Depression hit me really bad. The ghosts & the moments of my past came at me like a nuclear bomb this week.
I struggled to tell the difference from the past & present. All to many occasions I felt as though I were right at that essence of trauma, loss, death, & such. To the very point that I was able to feel, smell, taste, touch everything as though it was real & just happening. Not something that has happened & is over. Flashbacks is what they call them I believe. Suffering Hell is what I call them. No escape. No forgetting. No getting numb of the feelings, emotions, memories. As long as I live they live with & threw me.
I got out today & cleaned up my truck & tools & attempted to join the here now. Not an easy task.
@4DarkSouls I'm glad to see that you're on this side of the dirt. Breaking the silence is hard enough without other's making us feel we need to hold our tongues and keep our silence. It adds to the feelings of shame we often have for ourselves and what we've gone through. It adds to feelings of anger and grief. We suffered for years in silence and for many years to come, we continue to do the same.
You're absolutely right about the flashback or as you said suffering hell. Our own private hell's, where our demons were hand picked for us alone. When they happen, seemly from out of no where, you are very much in that moment. We become lost to the present and live only in the past. The pain, the sounds, the smells are very real in that moment. Even afterwards, when the moment seems to have past, there is the residue of it left, coating your skin and your soul.
While there may be many who feel you should hold your tongue and keep your story to yourself, there are many of us here who understand what you're dealing with and we hear you. Maybe together we can all find our voice.
