Thursday, March 28, 2019

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:)


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