PTSD From Personal Trauma
Let’s Chat Afterglow #11
It used to be that the only time we heard about PTSD was when referring to those who served in the military. Before PTSD terms such as “shell shocked,” war neuroses, battle fatigue, etc. were used. The diagnosis was officially described as a mental condition or response after the Vietnam War. In 1980, after monitoring Vietnam Veterans and the catastrophic side effects of war, PTSD became a mental health diagnosis. Over the years more and more people I know, who have not actively served in the military, have been diagnosed with PTSD and, to be honest, I have been a little judgmental about it. Do we throw around the term “trauma” too nonchalantly? It is easy to understand how certain events and experiences in life are traumatic, but not so easy with others. Is trauma in the eye of the beholder meaning different people having different ideas about what is traumatic? If it is perceived trauma, is it in fact trauma? So many questions.
To identify events or experiences such as losing someone you love in an unexpected or violent manner like a car accident, farm accident, overdose, murder, suicide, fire, drowning, medical crisis, etc. as traumatic is not a stretch at all for most of us. I also don’t think we argue the fact that occurrences such as being a victim of domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse, rape, a life-altering physical injury, or losing a child to illness is traumatic. But what about divorce being diagnosed as PTSD? Yes, it’s painful, heartbreaking, stressful, and depressing, but traumatic? How about losing a job, bankruptcy, having a home in foreclosure, finding out your spouse cheated on you, a back injury, etc.? Where do we draw the line? And who am I to judge whether or not what someone has experienced should be deemed trauma. Thank goodness we have professionals for that.
The criterion that was shared by my most recent podcast guest listed five criteria that one has to meet to have PTSD and to be treated accordingly.
A. Perceived life-threatening event either happening to them or someone they love as they are watching, such as in cases of domestic violence or repeated exposure to details of a traumatic event. This now captures first responders who are repeatedly exposed to scenes of abuse, death, car crashes, overdoses, etc. Observing an abuser throwing dishes around, beating someone, and then being told that the same thing will happen to them if they misbehave or tell. They have not actually been abused but it is a perceived threat.
B. Intrusive memory such as flashbacks, nightmares, or something activating within a person that produces a psychological or physical response, and it may take days to recover.
C. Avoidance. Avoiding people, places, and things that remind them of something they don’t want to remember. Avoiding external activities or events that remind them of their experiences.
D. Negative Cognitive Alteration. Viewing the world as unsafe, viewing themselves as bad, believe they are responsible for what has happened to them, they don’t trust anybody, they withdrawal, they stop doing what they used to enjoy, they have a pervasive negative belief about themselves, others, and the world. [We can identify this criteria].
E. Arousal. Insomnia, can’t get to sleep, wake up, disturbing dreams, hypervigilance, needing to be aware of their environment at all times (exits, back always against the wall, etc.), exaggerated startle response, the need to push further to find excitement, risk taking, substance abuse, promiscuity, etc. [Another criteria we can identify].
I don’t know about you, but God has a way of taking me to the woodshed quicker than anybody. Holy Spirit put this rebuke into perspective for me. “Stop putting yourself in someone else’s shoes judging how they should walk in them. Put yourself in your own shoes and walk your walk.” Can we really even put ourselves in someone else’s shoes?
An interesting facet of trauma is the fact that two people can go through very similar experiences but only one person meets all five criteria and is diagnosed with PTSD, in need of trauma-therapy, and, in some cases, medication. Why is that? Does it mean that one person is stronger than another? Do some people use what has happened to them as a copout? Does it have to do with emotional intelligence, support systems, socioeconomic status, education, faith, personalities, etc.? Still, so many questions.
The things that have really tore me up in life may seem silly to some. The times when I wasn’t sure if I could pull through, when I was an absolute hot mess and felt for sure that nobody had ever suffered the pain, loneliness, or confusion that I did in that moment, case in point, losing my best friend, Bernie. Bernie was a dog. My heart was shattered, I struggled with depression, and emptiness that was a dark abyss. I know some people thought it was ridicules, but that is who I am. I’m wired that way when it comes to animals. People may have judged me for how I was taking it, how sad I was, how long it took me to get over it, and on and on and on. To me it was a traumatic event, but it didn’t come close to meeting the criterion of PTSD. And, it shouldn’t have.
Please don’t think I’m minimizing the topic of trauma because I’m not. I’m just trying to help us see the difference in people and possibly shed a greater light on the subject of trauma. I want to have empathy for people and if I don’t understand something, that will make it more difficult. As we grow and understand more about mental health and trauma, it expands our capability to change our stinkin’ thinkin’. “We know more now so we have to look at things differently. To look at humanity from a dated view is a disservice” (Beth Ramsey). Our understanding of mental health, trauma, etc. has changed due to advances in neurology, psychiatry, and psychology. "If you are diagnosing someone based on a 1975 criteria because that's when you got your master's degree to practice in the mental health field as a clinician, YOU'RE NOT ETHICAL" (Beth Ramsey, emphasis mine).
In essence, trauma is any event that leaves you with the belief that somehow, you’re less than, any event that changes how you think of yourself. Do experiences and events like this always need medical attention? No. Does this mean that everything that meets this definition is PTSD? No. It just means it should be dealt with so you can be whole. “You can slay your dragon and find yourself” (Beth Ramsey). You don’t have to live with a false belief of who you are dictating your thoughts, emotions, and actions. God can help you find you and heal from all things that have prompted a false view of self for you that leaves you short of living your best life as God intends you to.
“Father, God, please expand our capacity to understand mental health through your lenses. Our desire is to know more so we can serve in a greater way those who are bound. In Jesus name, amen.”
