PTSD Awareness

June is national PTSD awareness month. 8 million people in the U.S. are affected by this illness.

PTSD is an acronym for Post traumatic distress disorder. It’s defined as a mental health problem that one can develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like in combat, a natural disaster or an accident; for others like myself it can occur in anyone who has endured a life of abuse and violence.

Those effected by PTSD go beyond veterans and can become problematic and debilitating to anyone who has endured a form of trauma from bullets to abuse. The current treatments for this disorder are psychotherapy as in CBT, also known as cognitive processing therapy, which consist of refraining from negative thoughts about the trauma, talking and writing about the feelings and reactions associated with it. Eye movement desensitization, to help process and make sense of the trauma. Antidepressant to chemically restore balance of naturally occurring chemicals in the brain. I’m pro natural remedies, so the latter treatment does not sound right at all to me.

Lastly, CBD the newest and effective treatment on the market is a naturally occurring cannabinoid in cannabis proven to be an effective therapy in the last two years for a range of mental health disorders.

In closing you need mental training of your brain to recover instead of inappropriately and ineffectively responding to the trauma. Seek the resources and tools to help achieve the goal of a healthy mind and a balanced life.

Being self-aware of any abnormalities or unhealthy thoughts spinning on repeat within your mind, listening to those who love you and can see the warning signs.

As a survivor and recovering from PTSD myself, I can say counseling, the awareness of the trauma, meditation, exercise, journaling, self-reflection and prayer saved my mind and my life. Everything is not perfect, but I found peace in uprooting and acknowledging what was bothering and mentally disturbing me.

There is healing in seeking help.

Sources: www.va.govqualityofcare and Cbdhelpme.org