PTSD Doesn't Make You Look Different

Spring has a hard time coming this year, but today it made an appearance.  Not only was it a warm beautiful day but it was also the first baseball game of the year and the REDS won!!!  I am now coming alive again after a long hard winter.  It has felt like this has been the longest winter in history.  Slowly but surely there are some buds appearing on the trees and a few plants peeping out of the ground.  I had to get flowers to lift my mood and now have pansies planted in pots on my porch.  I am hopping that we don't dive directly into a hot summer as we are still suffering the affects of a drought from last summer.

The news has been on fire with so much hatred and our government has left me wondering what is in store for my golden years.  My goodness do they give Emmy awards out for the news.  It is like a daily soap opera.  I don't know any more what to believe and I am glad spring is coming, so our attention will shift to being outdoors and away from TV.

Speaking of TV my television literally went out with a bang two nights ago during the news.  I guess it was fed up with the shenanigans going on in this world and blew up.  It is officially dead.  Too bad I have more than one TV and I can still watch more Russia obsession.

Sadly the news is reporting massive destruction from tornadoes and flooding.  My prayers are being sent to those people living through the devastation.  I am hoping that FEMA and insurance companies will help them rebuild quickly.

My heart is also saddened to hear of all the people committing suicide.  We must acknowledge and educate people about PTSD.  It happens not only to people in war, but anyone who experiences a life threatening situation.  I know because I have had PTSD.  I was taken back by people who say, "You don't look sick".  No people with PTSD don't look different, but they sure feel different.  It is scary and you may feel depressed, have severe anxiety, panic attacks,  insomnia, fast heart rate, upset stomach, sweating and a feeling of isolation.  There are many more symptoms as your nervous system goes haywire.  However there is treatment and people can recover.

It is imperative that family members and doctors ask people if they feel they have lost hope for life.  It is no longer acceptable as far as I am concerned to overlook the power of the mind.  Your brain needs medical care just as the rest of the body.  People with PTSD are not crazy they are medically ill. They don't look different than they always do.  It is like a silent killer that we don't see.  Their body has gone into a fright flight response and has gotten stuck.  Let's get rid of stigma and realize that anyone of any age may need help with mental health.

Let's all put down the phones and listen to the people around you.  You may save a life!

Life is beautiful !!

Elizabeth:)

A Social Life Is Healthy

You never know any more who is watching you in the world.  The cameras everywhere tell all.  I was at an appointment this morning and we were discussing the fact you can not go anywhere without smiling for the camera.  Also a lot of stores are closing and the mall is going to be a thing of the past.  It is hard for me to think about what the world will be in the future.  My husband and I have noted less and less people in department stores including the grocery store.  Are we headed for a anti social society?  The mall was like a place where you went and occasionally met up with someone you hadn't seen for awhile.  It was somewhere to go on cold rainy days.  Now everyone is ordering on line including groceries and having it sent to their home.  Are we becoming hermits?

I still like strolling in the store and engaging in conversations and trying on clothes.  I prefer to pick out my own groceries...you know the fresh produce.  I like seeing a variety.   What a nice apple looks like to one may look yuck to another.  It is all personal taste.  Perhaps everyone will forget how to communicate verbally.  Texting has already taken over for the younger generation. 

I use to get my name called out when we were waiting to be seated at a restaurant  and now it is a text to my phone.  At least someone still escorts you to the table.  No wonder everyone is feeling all alone.  Human interaction triggers those feel good endorphins.

Well it is going to be interesting to see what happens.  Everyone will be a robot and look pale and pasty from lack of sunshine.  They won't need to leave their home.  Let's make it a point to talk to one another.  Try everyday to talk and maybe we can change the world back to a place filled with love and happiness.

Let me say that face to face interaction, respect and trust is what we need to start working on.  Let's teach our future generations the importance of human interaction. 

Maybe we will understand that part of being healthy includes a good social life.

Life is beautiful !!!!!

Elizabeth😊