Post Traumatic Stress

If you have never experienced anyone with post traumatic stress then you just have no idea how terrible it is.  The person you once knew is no longer there and there is nothing you can do to change it. The person you once knew as a loving, kind, happy helpful person was now a miserable, angry, aggressive, sulky person who hates life, sees no purpose in living and the slightest little thing can send them off into a fit of rage that would frighten even the most hardened souls.

Outsiders do not see the 'other side' to people going through this syndrome and unless you know the person well you may not pick up on the signs.  On the other hand people living closely to a sufferer will notice that they start to lose interest in everything around them.  They do not want to get up in the morning or go to bed at night but are too tired to do even little jobs.  They hate themselves think they are inadequate and useless and they are difficult to talk to.

If their syndrome has been brought on by a traumatic episode then they my well suffer from nightmares.  They will actually feel they are going through the stressful traumatic drama that happened possibly years ago.  Waking in a sweat and feeling stressed and ill.  They often also feel that they didn't do enough when they went through this trauma so will stress about that too.

If not address by a Doctor these symptoms will increase and will start affecting the whole body and its functions.  This will then increase the stress the person is feeling and increase the feeling of being inferior, useless and what is the point of living.  Often someone going through this will get their sleep patterns round the wrong way and will sleep in the day and be awake at night.  A feeling of nervousness, like butterflies in the stomach, will be constantly there and headaches come on suddenly.

The rages are quite dangerous and it takes a lot of strength and straight talking to stop someone from doing something stupid.  They lash out and lose all sense of reality and consequence.  If you are faced with this then your strength, perseverance and your knowledge that the person isn't seeing you as you is essential.

It is a kind of depression with a twist and very sad to see.  It is treatable but you need to be able to get them to go to the Doctors. They do come through it with medical help, support and understanding  from their loved ones and time.  I find it so sad seeing so many take their own lives when this is preventable.  This is a real disorder and not one that you can 'just pull yourself together' and everything will be ok.  It needs intervention, anyone who has been through a traumatic situation should be monitored.  It can take years to come out and the changes are small at the beginning. So if you are living with someone who has been through something then be aware for any slight change never dismiss it and never be afraid to seek help.