Dancing With PTSD
According to the American Psychiatric Association, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, can occur in all people, of any ethnicity, nationality or culture, and at any age. PTSD affects approximately 3.5 percent of U.S. adults every year, and an estimated one in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime. Women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD.
Intellectually, we may know we’re not in danger, but anxiety and PTSD can play with our otherwise rational minds. Triggers will jump out of the blue when we least expect them and conjure up unwelcome memories and emotions. We’ve often found ourselves in puddles of tears over the silliest things. THAT, my friend, is PTSD.
Finding Safe Spaces
What happens when we believe we’re in a safe place, but that space becomes toxic? We often give our heart and love and friendship to people with whom we share our life and orbit. Brene’ Brown says, “genetics loads the gun; environment pulls the trigger”. When we know our genetics might not be on our side, we seek healthy environments so that our families have the best chances at success. But things don’t always go as planned.