To experience something like an attack, a natural disaster, an assault, can feel earth shattering. But common wisdom says that when we experience something like this we process, we recuperate, and we move on. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” “Keep calm and carry on.”
Trauma, though, is A LOT more complicated than that, and PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder, is another beast entirely. Think of experiencing trauma and rather than “carrying on,” your trauma becomes a sort of kaleidescope, morphing everything in your life, not allowing you to process or live like you could before. Trauma can cause its victims to be deeply misunderstood by their communities, and it’s why it’s so important for us to understand things like PTSD.
Cathy Benn, Second Story’s senior therapist, joins us to tell us about PTSD – its causes, symptoms, and the way it affects victims. Chrystel will tell us about her experience, and together they will continue to process working through, and healing from, trauma.
