Recently, on a local morning show, I was asked about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how it affects people on Halloween. Indeed, loud noises, unexpected surprises, and even costumes perhaps graphic in nature can trigger PTSD symptoms in survivors. A person can have symptoms resulting from any event that caused them to feel helpless, not in control, and overwhelmed with emotion (like horror). Often thought of as a veteran of war disorder by the public, symptoms can include startlingly easy, so if a veteran of war hears a loud noise that reminds him/her of war, they can believe they are reliving the event. Other symptoms can include irritability, angry outbursts, isolating behavior, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive memories, and extreme distress when reminded of the event and trying to avoid it.
What are PTSD symptoms?
PTSD symptoms are not just for those who have survived war or victims of a violent crime, or a natural disaster. Other common events in life such as divorce, betrayals like infidelities’, a history of relationships with “Narcissists, high conflict people, or adults who have a history with parents that had their mental health problems (depression, toxic parents/family members). Further, adult children of alcoholics may also have developmental trauma and symptoms because of “walking on eggshells” and a chaotic environment at a young age.
Although each person is unique and responds differently to events, the most important part is not a diagnosis, but the symptoms. If you feel depressed or anxious or have some of the symptoms mentioned, EMDR can help you move through this process and heal from your past. It can help you process these memories from the past that are ‘stuck in time”, like an iceberg. EMDR can help it melt, where you will remember the iceberg, but you won’t be distressed by it and may even find a way to look at the event in a positive light.
In sum, most people do not know that trauma-related symptoms can affect their present functioning. With help of a therapist, you can get through this. You can identify if there are events from the past that may be troubling you today. Counseling can help you on your path of healing and resilience!
