What this means
It is normal for your body to produce more chemicals when you are under pressure. The extra chemicals in your blood give you instant energy to deal with the pressure. Then when the pressure eases, the chemical supply goes back to normal. However, when you get a severe shock, your body seems to have trouble knowing when the shock is over! As we said earlier, once the body experiences terror, it never forgets it. As a rsult, the chemical supply does not go back to normal; your body remains filed with those extra chemicals. This is why the traumatised body is said to be different from the ordinary body. The point to reminder is that traumatised people have an unusually high level of chemicals in their blood supply.
What to do
First go to your doctor for help - to get your blood back to normal. Your doctor may say that you are fine, on the other hand your doctor may treat you or send you to a psychiatrist. If so, that does not mean that uou are crazy! It only means that psychiatrists are specialists who deal with chemicals. That's their job.
Only a medical person can say if you have Post Trauma Stress Disorder or not.
On the other hand, anyone who tells you, "Pull yourself together! There is nothing wrong with you! Put it behind you and get on with life!" is not helping. After you have seen your doctor, go to a trauma counsellor or group for further assistance if you want it.
Definitions
Post
means 'after'
Trauma
means 'a shock'
Stress is:
* The response of your body to any demands made upon it.
* Your Inner response to pressure coming from outside.
* The anger that appears in your body when faced with a threat.
Post Trauma Stress is:
* The stress that appears in your body after a shock.
* The stress that appears after the bonds which attac you to others are cut - but not by you.
Post Trauma Stress Disorder is:
After a severe shock, you are said to be in a 'very stressed condition'.
Post Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD) means:
* The stressful way you are after a sever shock.
* The stressful condition you are in after a sever shock.
This condition is viewed as normal; it normally can be expected to appear in anyone who has been exposed to something this is not normal.
It may be normal, but it is also a medical condition. Only a doctor can tell if you are in this condition or not.
However, IT IS NOT A MENTAL ILLNESS. It is important to know this.
WHAT THE TERMS MEAN
Given that trauma involves the cutting of bonds, it can be useful to take a closer look at these.
Any time the invisible bond that links you to a home, family or society is cut, you are said to be shocked or traumatised.
The degree of shock differs from person to person. Much depends on:
* The degree of attachment; the greater the attachment, the greater the shock
* The age of the person: the younger the person, the more severe the shock.
* the intensity of the event: the greater the trauma is if you are:
- physically close to the event or
- emotionally close (e.g. attacked by a friend rather than a stranger.
The result is that you no longer feel safe in this world. Nobody feels safe when they
are alone and helpless. In turn, being alone and helpless leads to TERROR.
