MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Not every scar is visible, for some people, their scars are real but unseen. The painful part of this is that, these people experience their deepest darkness over and over again.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) is a mental disorder that affects people who have gone through any awful or terrible experiences in their life time. It could be war, accident, sudden death of a loved one, domestic violence, rape, natural disaster and among others. Any of the above stated events at all, can cause an individual to become traumatized. Research has it that, more women are affected than men. Literally, every 1 out of 2 women is suffering from PTSD.

One major symptom of PTSD is insomnia (inability to achieve or maintain sleep). This symptom is a result of the numerous nightmares that their past experiences creates. Victims of PTSD are usually haunted by these traumatized events to the extent that, they become sleepless. Others also force themselves to forget about these fears. They willfully push these memories down to their unconscious mind thereby, causing them to experience repression.

Instead of seeking for help from people around them, these victims tends to avoid people. While they're preoccupied with the fears of these traumatized experiences, they isolate themselves and develops a habit of ignoring anyone or anything that causes them to remember their ordeal. PTSD often cause some victims to loose touch of reality. PTSD puts victims in a position where they're unable to distinguish between what is real and what is a nightmare, because, whether asleep or awake, they see the same events happening again and again.

Speaking from experience, I'll say the most painful thing is to be at war with your mind. Living each day of your life with flashes and the memories of a particular time period that one wishes he/she should have never experienced is so hard but, help is what they need. The good news is, PTSD can be treated. Several therapies have been proven to be effective including systematic desensitization therapy, group therapy, medications and the likes.

The brain is one of the powerful organs in the body, therefore, your mental health is your total health. People around us are fighting battles that we have no idea of. Some are even afraid to share those experiences with loved ones because they see them to be shameful experiences. Let's help create a room where everyone will be free to share what's bothering them. Let's build a trigger free environment where these victims can live peacefully. Prevent someone from loosing hope by providing them with the support they need. Together, we can save a life. Help someone to enjoy the happiness of life. It can be you and it can be me. Always remember that, PTSD can reach out to all. Thank you.

~ written by Osinda ❤️