Anniversary

12 years ago today, I was diagnosed with PTSD and Chronic Depression. After this diagnosis, I learned a lot of things about mental health. I am still learning. For a long time I was working on my depression, not really understanding the PTSD. It doesn't go away if you ignore it. Depression doesn't cause PTSD, it's the other way 'round. Today I take this time to write just a little bit of what it's like to have PTSD and help people understand a little bit. 

 You think of PTSD and you often think of soldiers but you don't think of everyday people who've suffered severe trauma in their lives. Enough trauma to have lasting, long term, life changing effects. Keep reading if you want to learn more. 

 PTSD can stay with you for the rest of your life, and that doesn't mean reliving the trauma that caused it. That means your brain decides what's traumatic and what's not. Even when something isn't traumatic, your brain and body can react as if it is. It's confusing for the person when you didn't think that thing was traumatic at all. It can change things that have happened, INTO traumatic "memories" (my best way to describe it) that you can relive in flashbacks of things that didn't even happen. Or have flashbacks of things and feel the symptoms of PTSD over something that didn't seem traumatic and you think "wtf brain?" 

 Anyone who knows me: Ever wonder why I'm so forgetful? Perhaps it makes sense now. Did you know that if you have suffered enough trauma in your life, your brain will just start blocking things out that *might* be traumatic to try to help? Your brain tries to protect you the best way it knows how, but when you have PTSD, your brain turns sort of, over protective. 

I hope this helps even 1 person understand that people with PTSD aren't always soldiers and that PTSD doesn't just go away over time. I personally was trying some cognitive therapy before covid but I am now just getting back into it and it sucks to feel like your starting all over but I NEED this. 

 Sorry for the long read, but if you made it this far: THANK YOU! I appreciate you taking the time to read this and I am here if you have any PTSD related questions.