Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is something I’ve had to learn how to live with since I was a child. From a young age, I have experienced trauma from many sources and PTSD has become part of my everyday life. It’s certainly not easy living with this disorder, especially because it can be hard for other people to understand.
At first, I felt completely overwhelmed by the intensity of my symptoms. Nightmares, flashbacks, and severe anxiety are all very common signs of PTSD but they do nothing to make you feel any less alone. It was difficult going through these experiences without anyone that could relate - it wasn’t until I got older that I was able to find support from those who understood what I was going through.
No single treatment works for everyone with PTSD, so learning what works for me has been an ongoing process. With the help of professional therapy and medication to manage my mental health, I have learned that there are a number of strategies which can help me cope with my PTSD symptoms on a daily basis. Mindfulness can be particularly helpful; focusing on the present moment can really ease up anxious thoughts about the future or memories of the past.
I’m here today in spite of everything that has happened; living with complex post traumatic stress disorder hasn’t been easy, but reminding myself of how far I have come and focusing on managing day-to-day has helped make life more manageable. And it helps knowing that there are others out there who may be feeling similarly too, who have also found ways to thrive despite their own experiences of trauma.