The PTSD Meaning

The PTSD meaning… What an important subject! It includes so much, and is pretty intense, yet it is not discussed enough. Too many people are struggling with it, and not enough people know about the actual PTSD meaning. For the people that are ready to face and deal with PTSD, today I am here to tell you that there is hope. And there are many ways to manage PTSD. But that’s hard to do when not really knowing what PTSD is and means.

When I first started seeing my therapist, she asked: ‘Have you been diagnosed with PTSD before?’. I looked at her like she was crazy. I told her: ‘There is no way I could have PTSD, I’ve never been in the army before!’. She started explaining to me what all that could come from, and what it includes. That’s when I realized I never really knew what PTSD actually really is.

Starting to Understand the PTSD Meaning

First, let’s start with looking at the PTSD meaning. PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. Once the word is written out, it makes more sense what it means. It usually is something people struggle with emotionally that can be transferred into something physically if not taken care of early enough. Post-traumatic stress is due to a traumatic event. The thing is, it can be any traumatic event. PTSD isn’t only connected to traumatic events connected to a battle or war field. If a person has witnessed a horrible event or moment as a child, that can cause PTSD as well. It is a fearful moment or event, causing a long-lasting stress if it’s not taken care of properly.

I had a moment of revelation when I realized that the actual PTSD meaning can develop any time throughout life. Any person that has been through any type of abuse, disaster, accident, or assault can develop post-traumatic stress. And sometimes it doesn’t even develop when the person has experienced it themselves, but also if the actual event happened to one of their friends, family members, or other loved one.

Not Seeing it as a Disorder, but a Response Instead

In my opinion, PTSD is not a “disorder”… I think it’s a natural response of your body when traumatic things happen in order for you to survive through it. Please keep in mind, that’s just my opinion, and not something that was medically said or proven. We were born and created with emotions. PTSD usually starts with the emotion of fear in the moment. When we feel the fear in a dangerous moment, I think it is our body letting us know that we are in danger, and we need to get into safety.

People in today’s time and society struggle with PTSD a lot, because they’ve never been told the PTSD meaning and what that all can include. So how are people supposed to take care of the problem, if they haven’t even been told so far what the cause of the problem could be?

Oftentimes, the PTSD meaning is when someone still feels the stress and fear because of something they have seen or experienced. And that’s even though they are no longer in that danger or situation. When someone has been professionally diagnosed with PTSD, it means they’ve had flashbacks, thoughts that caused fear, or bad dreams about the memory. Those can be caused by any triggers.

Recognizable Results of PTSD

Sometimes when people experience triggers connected with a trauma in their memory, they have a random anger-outburst. Sometimes, a past trauma can result in mood symptoms. Have you been around a person where everything around them, or every person is negative? That could be the result from something they’ve been through, or experienced.

Another result from PTSD can be that the details of the event aren’t being remembered. That often happens when the brain goes into survival mode because of what happened. It’s a protective mechanic of our brain because there is only so much a brain can process in the moment.

When a person keeps blaming themselves, or maybe feels really guilty, even though the event wasn’t their fault at all, is another way to describe PTSD. And when a person used to love an activity, and now stays far away from it… That could’ve been caused by a traumatic event as well.

The Physical Response to Post-Traumatic Stress

The thing is this… oftentimes with the PTSD meaning, when it is not recognized, faced and dealt with, it is being followed with stress, anxiety, depression, or substance abuse even. And maybe even all of the above. So it is really important to get to the roots of it all and deal with it. It is time to ‘fight’ it, and no longer run from it. And these are just a few symptoms PTSD can be recognized with.

Now, when children express it, they express it a little different. The post-traumatic stress in a child, especially when really young, is or can be expressed when they are acting out the event during their play time. Other children that have experienced a traumatic event, become unable to talk, or forget even how to. Many kids start wetting the bed going forward, even though they are trained. And others start becoming extremely clingy from the moment on.

There is so much more I could tell you about the PTSD meaning, but now it’s time to look at how to break free from it.

Taking a Step Towards Hope

The very first I want to say is this… In order to overcome post-traumatic stress, you have to be willing to deal with it. I mean really deal with it. Not mention it, and pretend like it wasn’t a big deal, but deal with it in truth. It’s time to see it as it really, truly is.

Start by seeking out support by people that you know will walk this journey with you. It’s not easy, and there will be moments and times when you need a shoulder to lean on. If you feel like there is no one around you that would understand, or give you the support needed, there are also support groups specifically focused on after-trauma. Those are people that have been through traumatic events as well, and definitely understand what you’re going through.

Where to Find Needed Help

If you are not sure where to start, or how to walk through the journey to overcome the trauma you’ve been through, there are trauma specialists that will walk you through it, one step after another. They specialize in traumatic events and experiences. They are here to help you get to the roots of it all. Then they help you overcome it at a pace that you are willing to go.

When looking for a therapist, you have to be completely honest with yourself about the therapist you’re seeing. In order for therapy to work diligently, make sure you are in a place where you feel safe, comfortable, and understood. If you chose a therapist where you don’t feel that, don’t feel bad to switch to a different one. Therapy is done to take care of yourself, not to please the therapist you are seeing… so keep that in mind.

During the tough and rough times, remind yourself that you have the strength you need to get through this. You have the needed coping skills to make it through it. When you experience a traumatic event, it often leaves you vulnerable, and oftentimes just simply powerless. So remind yourself during that time that you have what it takes to get through it.

What Works for You?

Keep in mind that every person is different. Everyone responds different. Your trauma might be completely different from someone else’s and the way the post-traumatic stress affects you, might affect someone else different. What might work for someone else, might not work for you… and that is completely okay. The important part is to deal with it, and not suppress it.

Be patient with yourself through this. Know from the beginning, this takes time, but keep in mind that you can get better. You are stronger than you think and have the ability to get through this! If you feel like the stress or the fear are trying to take over, think about a place where you enjoy being. Think of a place where you like to be and feel safe at, and go there for a little bit where you can relax. Okay, I will leave you with this for now because I don’t want to overwhelm you with too much in one blog. With that said, I hope you have a phenomenal coming week, filled with blessings, healing progress, and lots of support 😊. Keep going, you’re doing great!