I remember the day my PTSD started like it was yesterday. I had recently experienced a traumatic event, and I didn’t even realize its full impact until everything that came after. At first, I just felt numb and disconnected from the world around me. As time passed, I began to suffer from severe anxiety attacks and panic episodes. The flashbacks of whatever had happened started to become overwhelming and almost unbearable.
I knew something wasn’t right but couldn’t pinpoint what it was or where it was coming from. I felt embarrassed talking about the symptoms I was experiencing, so I kept them to myself. I didn’t want to burden anyone else with what felt like a personal failure on my part.
It took years before finally getting help for my PTSD. Even after having gone through countless therapy sessions and medications, it still doesn’t feel completely gone away - although it has certainly eased up enough to allow me better quality of life now than ever before.
My experience with PTSD has been unique in so many ways: through understanding my triggers better and learning how to move past their effects more quickly; by finding strength within myself when things get tough; by connecting with others who have suffered similarly as me and truly understanding the deep connections possible when we share our stories with each other; and finally by learning that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
No matter how far along you are in your PTSD journey, know that you are never alone; you can find people who can relate to your struggle and support you as you work toward healing. You deserve an accepting environment which allows for growth instead of suppressing emotions or avoiding them all together - ultimately allowing yourself peace of mind at any stage of the process is key!