Let's talk about PTSD// Coping with Mental Health Issues

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a mental health disorder that usually comes after a traumatic and stressful event/period of time, not necessarily as in failing an exam, going through a break up or a divorce.
 It is a common mistake to purely associate it with veterans and soldiers, as there are various situations and incidents that can result in people developing PTSD. Going through a trauma isn't rare either. 6 of every 10 men, and 5 of every 10 women on average experience a trauma. 1 in every 3 of these people will experience PTSD. According to the National Centre for PTSD, 7-8 out of 100 people in the population will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.

 There are various situations and events that can result in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These include:

• Being involved in combat e.g. part of the armed forces on the front line, criminal combat 
• Witnessing the death of a loved one/stranger whether it's a violent death, of illness or natural causes.
• Traffic accidents
• Sexual assault/rape 
• Child abuse 
• Domestic Violence 
• Terrorist attacks
• Natural disasters 
• Being held hostage
• Severe neglect
• Prolonged incidents of violence
• Abortion procedures 

There are theories that PTSD symptoms are the role of an instinctive mechanism with intentions of helping you survive and cope with possible future traumas. For example, if you were to suffer from PTSD due to an incident of sexual assault or rape, a symptom to induce this 'survival mechanism' would be lack of trust, so you would not put yourself out there or open yourself up to other people, as you feel, because of the trauma, they may take advantage of this trust and use it to harm you further. 

Some people who expirience PTSD feel the symptoms may start as less intense then worsen after a long period of time and stay that way. Other people face constant severe symptoms. Here are some examples of the symptoms and side effects of PTSD:

• High levels of fight or flight (adrenalin) levels, even when there is no danger present.
• Vivid flashbacks and nightmares of the event
• Hallucinations and experiences of involuntarily re-living the occurrence
• Feelings of guilt or shame. Victims may ask themselves why it was them and what they could have done to stop it from happening, resulting in self-blame.
• Avoiding places or people that remind you of the trauma
• Hyperarousal (constantly feeling on edge). This often results in irritability, random angry outbursts, insomnia and difficulty concentrating.
• Inability to put sentences together accurately
• Depression, anxiety and intense panic attacks.
• Chest pains, stomach aches and nausea 

These symptoms make PTSD incredibly hard to cope with and can affect an individual on a daily basis. I can't describe how much of a burden this mental health illness can be on someone, as I am currently experiencing it myself. I can, however, inform you if you are a friend, lover or family member on how to help someone deal with PTSD, and how sufferers themselves can cope themselves. 

Sufferers

• Immerse  yourself into an activity you enjoy.  When going through PTSD, you may avoid activities you once enjoyed, but by avoiding these activities you will only increase the amount of anxiety, depression and despair you feel. Put your heart and soul into it, express your emotions through your chosen activity. When getting involved in something fun, your thoughts on past traumatic events subside and you can forget them for a while.
• Learn relaxation strategies. Practicing techniques such as breathing steadily can really help you for when you next feel stressed or anxious. Doing activities like yoga will increase your skills in breathing and staying calm, it can also be something fun to do with a friend. 
• Write about your thoughts and feelings If you are struggling to cope with certain emotions, write them down. You can even be creative about them and use similies and metaphors. If you are experiencing random angry outbursts, try and find what is making you angry and write a letter to the thing/person that is making you angry then destroy it (one of my favorite techniques).
• Find healthy distractions Read a book, call a friend, have a bath, baby yourself, wrap yourself in blankets and have cuddles with a pet or loved one. 
• Improve your physical health It's common knowledge that your emotional health is connected with your physical health. Exercising releases endorphins, making you feel less anxious, angry and depressed. It can also be very rewarding!
• See a therapist Therapists are qualified professionals who are trained to deal with and help you face these issues. They're great to offload on and give great advice and coping mechanisms for dealing with various mental health issues.

If you know a sufferer...

• Make them aware you are ALWAYS there for them It's important sufferers feel they have someone they can talk to at any time of day, whenever they feel upset or are experiencing severe symptoms.
• Cuddle them It sounds simplistic but the power of a tight cuddle a few moments after a nightmare/hallucination/flashback is underestimated. Don't grab them straight away, because you don't know what happened in the nightmare/hallucination (yet), especially if the sufferer has had experience of rape or sexual harassment and abuse. 
• Let them know they're safe PTSD is a result of traumatic events that have affected an individuals safety and put them in grave danger. If the sufferer you know is ever feeling on edge, make them aware they are safe with you
• Encourage them to participate in fun activities It's easier said then done to get yourself into an activity. Encouragement and support is often needed just to give them an extra prompt. Make sure your friend/loved one engages in an activity you feel would boost your confidence and make you happier if you were in their situation. 

Hopefully, I've made you aware of the horrors of this terrifying disorder. One day, when I am feeling brave I may share with you my experience with PTSD. But first, I'd like to raise the awareness and beat the stigma that stands against people who suffer with mental health issues. I'd also like to make sure I'm better instead of worsening my current condition by remembering what happened and giving you an insight on this horrible disorder. I have a great supportive network behind me. My family, friends and Tom are all fantastic at making sure I'm ok and being there when I go through any of the symptoms and side affects. If you are suffering from PTSD yourself, please know you're not alone and make sure you follow all the golden rules listed above on self help. Make sure you tell a loved one, they WILL support you and help you get through it. 

I will support anyone who reads my blog or is a friend of mine with any mental illness as best as I can. Stay safe, I'm just a message away xo