There are many many symptoms of PTSD. Sometimes these symptoms are not known by the families and loved ones and sometimes these symptoms are not even known by the trauma survivor!
- Numbing and avoidance – Many people become numb as a survivor skill. They do this to be able to survive the traumatic condition. When that traumatic condition is over, they still use this survivor skill to be able to cope and live through the remembrance of the event. It is easier to stay numb than to feel the pain. This is dangerous however, because it can render the person to lose the ability to feel good or happy or to be able to love. The person may even forget what happened, evidence that they have been through something that was too much for anyone. All of these reactions are normal, but after a time they stop working. When the pain breaks through, the person may turn to drugs, alcohol, sex, or even violence to get numb again.
- Being hyper-alert – In order to survive in violent places, most people get hyper; another appropriate and effective survivor skill. They may sleep lightly, watching for danger everywhere…all the time. They may get physical reactions like an adrenaline rush or the shakes or nausea. This is all normal for a person experiencing PTSD.
- Re-experiencing – The person with PTSD may not be able to stop thinking about the traumatic event. They may dream about it, feeling like it is happening again (flashbacks), or hurting themselves or others the way they have been hurt (re-enacting). The message for these people is: “Respect yourself and your experiences.” “Don’t discount what you have been through,” is the message for them.
- Questioning “Why” – do I feel like this. Because they are human beings. It is normal to be affected by violence.
- The smell of gasoline – Something as simple as mowing the lawn may very easily trigger PTSD, because of filling the lawn mower with gasoline. In war times gasoline was used to start fires and explosions. There is also the issue of Napalm for the Veteran.
- Certain gestures – These gestures can be made by family, friends, or spouses; just the way they do it can trigger a traumatic moment of remembrance, in the mind of a person with PTSD.
- Certain nature scenes – can cause remembrances.
- A back firing car, truck, etc. – can cause remembrances of gunshots and shooting.
- Loud shouting
These are just some of the many symptoms that are important to know as we begin to learn more and more to be able to help our brothers and sisters trying to recover in their PTSD.
Submitted by: Ruth Ota, Author and Coach
November 13, 2010
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