It’s been a long road for me, but I’m finally feeling the light after years of living in the dark. Two and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Nothing could have prepared me for this new life that I am living or to accept how it has changed my relationships and day-to-day existence.
I don’t remember when the symptoms started. Suddenly, things had shifted drastically and unrecognizably from before. Social situations used to feel comfortable and natural for me but now everything felt awkward and overwhelming. For many months, until my diagnosis, all of these strange feelings didn’t make sense to me or anyone close to me who I talked with about it.
My PTSD is connected to an event that happened when I was younger that left me with a traumatic memory of something very damaging; something that still carries strong emotional weight in my life today. This event was beyond my control at the time, yet its heavy memories haunt my vision of myself through flashbacks. It can be very difficult to cope with these moments internally as well as manage their effects on those around me.
In order to address this challenge in my life, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with a number of organizations dedicated to mental health services which have provided invaluable resources in coping strategies and support groups for people like myself who suffer from PTSD. Working closely with both professionals as well as individuals facing similar obstacles has made understanding they ways in which PTSD affects who we are much easier to face while progressively easing its hold. Furthermore, learning about elements such as mindfulness has enabled techniques which allow for more meaningful conversations between myself and those around me while continuing taking strides towards normalcy in all aspects of my life.
Moving forward has become much easier since addressing this formative part of my recovery process - seeing the light instead of entering further into darkness is something of a blessing compared to what it felt like before trying treatment options specifically geared towards moving forwards from PTSD symptoms, Allowing stigma associated with mental care processes fall away into nothingness has brought individual relief while also offering community support enabling better acceptance throughout society surrounding all challenges presented by mental health issues such as PTSD overall.