PTSD is a part of Donna’s story beginning when she was 32 years old. Donna and Christi explore Donna’s story of working through Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after her son experienced a health crisis.
What is PTSD? PTSD is a mental condition that results in a series of emotional and physical reactions in individuals that have either witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. The difference between trauma and PTSD is the length of time a person experiences symptoms after the event. When symptoms last longer than a month traumatic symptoms are diagnosed as PTSD.
A short definition of trauma is your brain got overwhelmed and doesn't know how to process what happened.
This experience revealed her bad theology. She believed that if she was a good mom and wife , nothing bad would happen to her family.
Donna's symptoms included: a flinch, left eye would blur, shaking in the middle of the night, a sense of unease throughout the day. A feeling of not being grounded in herself.
The Tools discussed in this episode:
1. Reach out to people who know more than you. A friend, medical personnel, therapist.
2. Prayer, Invite the Lord to show you where the fear is coming from - go back to the memories to heal.
3. Medication to support your brain in recovery.
4. Inner healing ministry
5. Therapy- Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/us
6. Exercise- regular exercise will help your body release the stress of PTSD
7. Talking/ walking with a friend
8. Reading - Leanne Payne- The Healing Presence book
9. Forgive people who have harmed you- ask for the power of the cross
10. Mindfulness- noticing thoughts and recognizing I am separate from my thoughts
11. Breathing tools- in through your nose out through your mouth. I am giving you what you need right now
12. Grounding tools- pushing your feet into the floor and breathing.
13. Bring to mind a loving presence- who is someone who loves you. Think about that person in times of stress.
Resourses: The Healing Presence by Leanne Payne, The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
