Are My Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms Normal? PTSD

Are my symptoms normal? The quick answer is "IT DEPENDS." One could argue that many or all of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are NORMAL responses to a TRAUMA.

TRAUMAS are trick memories because they often hold a lot of weight and pain, but they are also memories that we try to forget. Our BRAINS desperately want to process these memories so we can heal from them. HOWEVER, many times that is the LAST thing someone wants to do. Often what happens is we try to AVOID feeling emotions connected to the trauma, think about the trauma and AVOID external triggers (e.g certain people, places, conversations) that remind us of the TRAUMA. While this behavior makes perfect sense, it also slows down of stops the BRAIN from being able to process the TRAUMA and as a result SYMPTOMS persist.

▶️What is PTSD?

Dr. Harry McCleary is a licensed clinical psychologist and Navy Veteran. His channel is aimed at educating Veterans and their loved ones about mental health.

#PTSD #veteranshelpingveterans #veteranmentalhealth #posttraumaticstress

▶️For further explanation of what a disorder is and how we use them, check out this video.
(What is a mental health diagnosis and why do providers use them?)

▶️What is Anhedonia?


▶️ What is COGNITIVE PROCESSING THERAPY

▶️What is PTSD?

▶️What some people do NOT receive a PTSD diagnosis

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🛑****PLEASE READ**** If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call a local emergency telephone number or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.

VETERANS CRISIS LINE: 1-800-273-8255 and then press 1 or text 838255

[danamckerrow]

Excellent explanation, DrH, spot on!

[StonrJezus]

I balled my eyes out listening to this video. This is so true. I spent a decade in the Army and they absolutely discouraged seeking mental health care. You don't want to be perceived as a weak link in the chain. So you deal with it in any way you can whether it be drugs or alcohol you find your way to make it through the day. I still struggle to this day despite seeking therapy after a decade out of the army.

[pski]

I think about Afghanistan everyday and I was deployed back in 2011-2012.