Survivor: PTSD
Although it is safe to say that most clinicians believe that traumas which result in disorders such as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) result in major difficulties both mentally and physically, not everyone is looking at it this way. An article published in Psychiatric Times in April 2004 came to a decidedly different perspective, albeit not one of either a positive or negative nature, but a combination of the two.
For anyone with PTSD, the positive perspective of those like Maslow and Yalom, can offer a breath of fresh air. They contend that personal life crises are opportunities for important change while others see the trauma as not only leading to positive change, but to growth. Life is never without stressors but it is the way we meet these challenges that helps us to improve our lives and enhance our skills.
The new body of literature which is developing out of these theorists' work is in the area of posttraumatic growth. The cases being described range from contending with crippling or life-threatening illness, to the loss of one's home, sexual assault and combat or refugee experiences. One thing which the authors note was that survivors begin to appreciate and recognize the importance of everyday events in their lives. New goals may be recognized and still-newer paths to them which may not have presented themselves before are seen. How the individual relates to these goals and sets their course is all-important.
I've seen instances of trauma victims who have literally turned their focus around and made their life's work reflect this. Gloria Allred, a famous California discrimination attorney, recently revealed in her autobiography that she had been raped as a young woman and she used this painful experience as a life-changing one. She decided to help women who had been victimized by employers, partners or any system and she decided that she would do much of it on a pro bono basis. Her triumphs have been many.
Most of us know of the courage and incredible strength of Ryan White, the boy who contracted AIDS from a transfusion necessitated by his hemophilia. Ryan was taunted by classmates, his school tried to refuse him permission to continue his attendance and his family finally moved to another state. There the story changed and Ryan became a hero and a spokesperson until his death on April 8, 1990.
His legacy, however, lives on in the healthcare bills passed because of him and the new understanding he raised about this devastating illness.
Christopher Reeve, once literally "Superman" in the movies, suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed. He fought back in every way he knew and, thanks to that fight, we now have new research initiatives for spinal cord patients.
Each day we make a decision regarding that day's struggles and activities. Make yours count, if only for yourself, and you will be a survivor, not a victim.
Related Topics: Got a Phobia? Hormone May Help, Best Ways to Ease Anxiety Disorders
Technorati Tags: PTSD, survivor, positive living
For anyone with PTSD, the positive perspective of those like Maslow and Yalom, can offer a breath of fresh air. They contend that personal life crises are opportunities for important change while others see the trauma as not only leading to positive change, but to growth. Life is never without stressors but it is the way we meet these challenges that helps us to improve our lives and enhance our skills.
The new body of literature which is developing out of these theorists' work is in the area of posttraumatic growth. The cases being described range from contending with crippling or life-threatening illness, to the loss of one's home, sexual assault and combat or refugee experiences. One thing which the authors note was that survivors begin to appreciate and recognize the importance of everyday events in their lives. New goals may be recognized and still-newer paths to them which may not have presented themselves before are seen. How the individual relates to these goals and sets their course is all-important.
I've seen instances of trauma victims who have literally turned their focus around and made their life's work reflect this. Gloria Allred, a famous California discrimination attorney, recently revealed in her autobiography that she had been raped as a young woman and she used this painful experience as a life-changing one. She decided to help women who had been victimized by employers, partners or any system and she decided that she would do much of it on a pro bono basis. Her triumphs have been many.
Most of us know of the courage and incredible strength of Ryan White, the boy who contracted AIDS from a transfusion necessitated by his hemophilia. Ryan was taunted by classmates, his school tried to refuse him permission to continue his attendance and his family finally moved to another state. There the story changed and Ryan became a hero and a spokesperson until his death on April 8, 1990.
His legacy, however, lives on in the healthcare bills passed because of him and the new understanding he raised about this devastating illness.
Christopher Reeve, once literally "Superman" in the movies, suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed. He fought back in every way he knew and, thanks to that fight, we now have new research initiatives for spinal cord patients.
Each day we make a decision regarding that day's struggles and activities. Make yours count, if only for yourself, and you will be a survivor, not a victim.
Related Topics: Got a Phobia? Hormone May Help, Best Ways to Ease Anxiety Disorders
Technorati Tags: PTSD, survivor, positive living
3 Comments:
I very much agree with this article. Being an Iraq veteran, i was just recently diagnosed with PTSD by the VA, but none-the-less, the person i was before hand the person i am now, is a total 180. When i seen all of my old college friends, whom i hand't seen in years since leaving college, they were all very suprised to see how "squared away" i was as comparison to before-hand. I took my life altering experiences i encountered out there, and i've applied them in many aspects of my life that are making my future better by the day!
I know that God has been in my life throughout my whole life differences and challenges. seven to eight years ago i experienced domestic violence so brutal that i was hospitalized. Why did I stay in it? Our kids, low self esteem, my life threatened if I left. Since i was left tramatiized because of the beatings I took i have constant headaches, high blood,bad dreams and have been diagnosed with panic disorder. I want to speak out to those young women that think that love comes with abuse and staying in it gets better, it doesn't! I have good days and bad days but I just thank God that im still alive to see my two wonderful children daily. My name doesn't have to be in magazines , books, or on billboards but if I can save one person from being beat on, or even dead i want to tell my story.
I was just informed that I have PTSD. I was having flashbacks and other symtoms which I did not understand. I am in therapy and am finally receiving the treatment I need. I had a horrific childhood that included moslestation, a mother that cut me and tried to smother with a pillow I made many suicide attempts the youngest age was either 6-7 years of age by hanging the belt broke. There have been more attempts but all failed. Therapy is hard but at least now I understand where so much of my pain is coming from. Thanks to a wonderful therapist I am finally receiving the help I need. People need to know that not only veterans have PTSD many men,women and children also have it.
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