Kids experience PTSD. Too often instead of recognizing PTSD children are labeled over sensitive, trouble makers, or other acting out behaviors. I came across a sheet of tips for parents and teachers about PTSD in children. Many of the suggestions work for adults too. Click to access PTSDTipSheet81310.pdf Update: Be careful following some of the…
sphincter muscles. Yup. All week I worked on a list of vocabulary words for school. One was sphincter muscle. The explanation was long and almost as confusing. I had a 3rd column that gave a short more direct answer. This morning I stared at the word then burst out laughing. I knew I couldn’t use…
A challenge in “Princess Bride” rather than a fight to the death it would be a fight to the pain. The description stayed vivid in my mind. The implication is death is preferred to pain and pain must be avoided at all cost. Through my life experience I learned that isn’t always true. When I…
Long before I was diagnosed with PTSD, I studied eating disorders. I learned from watching my grandmother talking about how she was fat when she weighed 80 lbs. (36 KG) She would feed her steak to the dog under the table. She ate better than anyone else and she fed it to the dog. I…
I could have told the doctors there was a connection, however, they want proof, the kind you get off an MRI or other scientific proof. They are getting that proof. They are showing there is a link between abusing a child and actual physical long lasting trauma injuries. Those that live it, know it. But…
Lilly Hope Lucario and I must be on the same wavelength. She wrote about the chronic pain from constantly being on-guard. Never relaxing because I knew that as soon as I let my guard down my abuser would strike. They would persuade me I was safe, I would relax then wham full attack. I was in…
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Chronic pain is a rarely mentioned side effect or symptom or cause of PTSD. Many days of my life, I wake up, I move, I’m in pain, I’m not dead, therefore, I have to get up. Bummer. I could never figure out what was causing some of…
On a regular basis I post information on the symptoms of PTSD. I lived with it for over 40 years not knowing that my reaction to life had a name and I wasn’t alone. I am fascinated that when I decide I want to write a certain post and within days I get links to…
Today many articles are written about the Fight or flight response to stress. Over the years they added a third reaction to stress, freeze. I call it ‘deer in the head lights’ reaction. Rather than fight or flight, freezing is my reaction trying to assess before moving in any direction. Here is an article that…
I started counseling with my husband in marriage counseling. After several ‘failed’ homework assignments, the counselor asked me about my childhood. I chirped, “It was great, we went to the park, we went to the zoo. It was a great childhood.” He shook his head and persisted, “Tell me an average day.” He knew before…
PTSD - Accepting, Coping, Thriving 