PTSD, The Supernatural and you.

[Cybermancer]

PTSD, The Supernatural and You

In dealing with the supernatural, many of us have been confronted with stressful and/or traumatic events. These situations can lead to a condition known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD for short. Even under normal operating conditions, PTSD can be a difficult condition to deal with. When no one will believe the causes of the condition, the matter and treatment can become complicated.

In this multi-part article I will first address the condition known as PTSD. Then I will segue into coping strategies that can help those of us coping in unique circumstances. I will also address certain stressors that are somewhat unique to those experiencing or investigating the supernatural. Alien abductions are one such phenomenon.

PTSD

What is it?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a treatable medical condition brought on as a natural response to extreme stress.

Myths

We often deal with what others consider to be myth as reality. So we must be aware of the myths and reality of PTSD.

- Having PTSD means I'm going crazy!
This is patently false. The symptoms related to PTSD including emotional stressors are the body's physical reaction to danger. The body feels that it is in danger and is engaging the fight or flight mode to increase its chances of survival. The problem arises in that the source of the danger has been removed but the survival reaction persists.

The fight or flight reaction is a natural and normal reaction to high situations. It is a useful survival mechanism. The problem arises when the survival reaction persists after the danger has ended. When there are constant or repeated instances of danger or stress, this may seem like a reasonable coping mechanism for your body's survival instinct.

You're not going crazy. You're just trying to cope. Treatment can help give you the tools to cope better.

- I'll never get better!
This is not true. Let me say this again. THIS IS NOT TRUE! PTSD is a diagnosable, recognized and treatable medical condition. You CAN get better. And unlike conditions such as cancer, you have the power to make it happen.

- If I get PTSD, it was because I wasn't strong enough!
FALSE! I can't emphasize this one enough. It is often a source of shame for those experiencing PTSD which makes the condition worse, and what's more, interferes with the patient taking active steps to seek treatment and to help themselves.

PTSD has nothing to do with your personality or strength of character. It occurs due to chemical changes in the brain that result from traumatic events. These changes cause the symptoms of PTSD.

The truth of the matter is that no one is immune to PTSD and anyone can get it. Think of it as a cold. Even athletes who are physically strong can catch a cold or other sickness. So no matter how mentally tough you are, there exists a potential to experience PTSD. The best thing you can do is acknowledge the symptoms and immediately seek professional assistance.

- All of us have had traumatic experiences and have at least one symptom as a result.
PTSD is the inability to return to 'normal' after a traumatic situation. During the traumatic situation, most people will experience flight or fight reactions. This is a normal survival coping mechanism and should not be confused with PTSD. If you experienced something traumatic and returned to normal days or even weeks afterwards, then you did not experience PTSD. If you experienced something traumatic and occasionally find yourself thinking about the experience, that is not PTSD or abnormal in any way.

Experiencing a stressful or traumatic event does not automatically mean you will experience PTSD. The odds are actually against it. Nor should natural and immediate reactions to stress or trauma be confused with PTSD. PTSD is a condition where the reaction to stress or trauma lingers long after the event has passed.

- Stress reactions to trauma exist but should not be considered a serious medical condition
PTSD can be a disabling medical condition. It can emotionally cripple a patient to the point that they are unable to function normally. The condition can also affect those around the afflicted individual. PTSD, while serious, is treatable.

- Combat Stress Reaction =/= PTSD, PTSD =/= Combat Stress Reaction
Combat Stress Reaction is the immediate fight or flight response we experience when confronted with perceived danger. It is a natural response to danger. It is not PTSD. There are important distinctions and different ways to deal the two conditions. I realize now that I will have to write a separate article on Combat Stress Reaction explaining it. For now I will continue to focus on PTSD.

Next I will get into the causes and risk factors for PTSD.

[Cybermancer]

I will now address causes, risk factors and symptoms to watch for.

Causes

Traumatic Events that traditionally lead to PTSD

- War
- Natural disasters
- Car or plane crashes
- Terrorist attacks
- Sudden death of a loved one
- Rape
- Kidnapping
- Assault
- Physical Abuse
- Sexual Abuse
- Childhood neglect

Traumatic Events Supernatural Investigators May Encounter

- Confrontation with horrors from beyond
- Alien abductions
- Supernatural abductions
- Human sacrifice
- Occult rituals
- Possession
- Witness of, or the after math of atrocities
- Horrific transformations
- Hauntings
- Murder, maiming, manipulation and massacre of innocents

Risk Factors

- Previous traumatic experiences (how many of us have only encountered the supernatural only once in our lives?)
- Family history of PTSD or depression
- History of physical or sexual abuse
- History of substance abuse
- History of depression, anxiety or another mental illness
- High level of stress in everyday life (all to common amongst us, I think)
- Lack of coping skills (yes, I mean you)
- Lack of support after the trauma (this one is huge for us since few will believe the causes of our PTSD-something I mean to change)

Symptoms

These are the signs you can watch for in yourself and those around you. I must stress that many of these symptoms may be normal for days or weeks after a traumatic or stressful event. That is perfectly normal. But if they persist longer than that than you could have PTSD and should immediately seek help.

They can be divided into three distinct categories.

Re-experiencing the Traumatic Event:
- Intrusive and upsetting memories of the event.
- Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
- Nightmares (either of the event or other scary things)
- Feelings of intense stress when reminded of the event
- Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)

Avoidance and Numbing
- Avoiding activities, places, thoughts or feelings that remind you of the trauma
- Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
- Loss of interest in activities and life in general
- Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb
- Sense of a limited future (you don't expect to live a normal lifespan, get married, have a career)

Increased Anxiety and Emotional Arousal
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Irritability or outbursts of anger
- Difficulty concentrating
- Hyper-vigilance
- Feeling jumpy and easily startled.

In my next post I will address the differences between a normal stress reaction and PTSD. I will also describe different treatments that are available.

[Cybermancer]

In my previous post, I neglected to mention the signs to watch for in children. As supernatural occurrences seem to be attracted to young children, looking for signs of PTSD may be an indicator of such activity. It may also be an indicator of abuse or other trauma to be careful and aware.

Symptoms
- Fear of being separated from a parent
- Losing previously acquired skills (such as potty training)
- Sleep problems and nightmares without recognizable event
- Somber, compulsive play in which themes or aspects of the trauma are repeated
- New Phobias and anxieties that seem to be unrelated to the trauma (fear of monsters-this is important, not every monster seen by a child is real, in fact most are not)
- Acting out the trauma through play, stories or drawings
- Aches and pains with no apparent cause
- Irritability and aggression

Treatment

PTSD is treatable. Let me say this again. PTSD is treatable. You CAN recover! Early treatment is best. The longer PTSD goes untreated, the worse it can get. You won't 'just get over it'. You need help. Get it. Here are some options that can be pursued with the aid of a qualified therapist.

Trauma focused cognitive behavioural therapy.
This is similar to the treatment of phobias where the patient is subjected to limited exposure to the stressor. In this case, thoughts, feelings and emotions that the trauma triggered or are otherwise associated with said trauma. Identifying these feelings and thoughts can often be the first step. The goal is to acclimatize the patient and then work towards replacing these stressors with more balanced and constructive thoughts and feelings.

Family Therapy
PTSD can strongly effect those close to you. Therefore it makes sense to involve them in the therapy. This is not something you have to face alone. This is not something you should have to face alone. Those who love you want to help you, let them. What's more, family can provide the support network that aids in recovery. Listen to and follow your therapists suggestions in this regard.

Medication
Medication can help relieve the secondary symptoms of PTSD. This is part of an overall strategy when coping with PTSD. It is not, in itself, a cure. The root causes of the PTSD must be addressed and dealt with. Self-medication with alcohol is a mistake.

EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR incorporates elements of cognitive-behavioural therapy with eye movements or other forms of rhythmic, left-right stimulation, such as hand taps or sounds. Eye movements and other bilateral forms of stimulation are thought to work by “unfreezing” the brain’s information processing system, which is interrupted in times of extreme stress, leaving only frozen emotional fragments which retain their original intensity. Once EMDR frees these fragments of the trauma, they can be integrated into a cohesive memory and processed. (Ever wonder why reading can be so relaxing? Your eyes are constantly moving back and forth.)

Group Treatment
This is the option that may be of the most use to those of us who visit and use this site. This resembles such successful group therapy systems such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Those who have experienced traumatic events share them with others who have likewise experienced similar situations. This sharing and the support from others it generates helps patients deal with their emotions. It also shows them that they are not alone. It also allows others to share coping strategies. This strategy helps the patient transition from the past to the present.

Common and Important elements of Therapy:

First and obviously is removal from the crisis situation. If you're a hunter or investigator, it is important that you take breaks so that you can deal with the stressors that have been affecting you.

After that comes education. Learn about what you're going through. There are many resources on the internet (like this one) that can help you.

Exposure to the event through various means will now be important. This will allow you to re-experience the event in a safe and controlled environment. In such an situation you will be able to examine the situation, your feelings about it and your responses to it. Under the guidance of a properly trained therapist, you will then be able to develop coping strategies.

You will never forget your experience. It will always be a part of who you are now. But with time and therapy, it can become a manageable experience. You can learn coping skills that will greatly assist you in moving forward with your life.

In my next post I will address how we can help each other when this issue arises.

[Cybermancer]

How to Help (yourself and others)

I think that this site has huge potential in helping with the problem of PTSD when it occurs in one of our members.

First and foremost it provides a media in which to share our experiences. The sharing of our experiences is in and of itself, therapeutic. It has additional value in that it allows others who might not be quite as willing to discuss what has happened to them, know that they are not alone. Even those who are writing are also reading and learning that they are not alone in this. This helps develop a feeling of camaraderie which in turns creates an emotional support network to help those who are experiencing difficulties.

The support of friends, family and colleagues is important and essential for those recovering from a traumatic episode. This site can help provide that support network. It has created relationships between people many times, and those relationships have worked to aid one another in times of crisis. Not just in dealing with immediate emergencies but also the emotional aftermath.

A shoulder to cry on and a sympathetic ear should not be underestimated.

When someone is suffering emotional turmoil, we should be as ready to leap to their assistance as when they are actively battling the supernatural.

It doesn't end there.

How often have we come to someone's aid and dealt with an immediate supernatural threat only to move on again? The threat is dealt with but now those victims must cope with the aftermath. Many traditional support networks fail to address trauma caused by the supernatural.

Thus I propose that our job is not done when we have destroyed or banished whatever horror that was causing the problem. Our job must also include helping the unfortunate victims find the help they are going to need in order to cope. We, ourselves, must become their support group. It is on our shoulders they must cry and our ears that must be sympathetic. If not us, than who?

But we do not need to bear this burden alone. As we help others in these unique situations, we can put them in touch with one another. Past victims can provide succour to those who are currently suffering. If the world ignores their troubles, then we will not.

I hope that this has been both educational and helpful.

Feel free to ask questions or share experiences on the subject here.

[GhostSpider]

People often wondered why I act like a clown on these boards. This is why. Its the way I deal with the things I've seen and experienced.

[Cybermancer]

Despite this having been written by my predecessor, the article remains insightful and I hope, helpful.

Due to various things going on right now, I thought it might be appropriate to give this article a little bump to bring it back to the forefront of everyones attention.

I would also like to state for the record that there is help available for those who have experienced traumatic events. There are even a small handful of profesionals who deal with those who are the victims of supernaturally induced trauma.

If you know of those who can help after a traumatic event, please feel free to share here. Especially if you are such a person.

[Grace]

I see a lot of myself in these posts.

[Razor]

How to Help (yourself and others)


First and foremost it provides a media in which to share our experiences. The sharing of our experiences is in and of itself, therapeutic. It has additional value in that it allows others who might not be quite as willing to discuss what has happened to them, know that they are not alone. Even those who are writing are also reading and learning that they are not alone in this. This helps develop a feeling of camaraderie which in turns creates an emotional support network to help those who are experiencing difficulties.

Isn't that what the War Stories are for, in part?

[Cybermancer]

How to Help (yourself and others)


First and foremost it provides a media in which to share our experiences. The sharing of our experiences is in and of itself, therapeutic. It has additional value in that it allows others who might not be quite as willing to discuss what has happened to them, know that they are not alone. Even those who are writing are also reading and learning that they are not alone in this. This helps develop a feeling of camaraderie which in turns creates an emotional support network to help those who are experiencing difficulties.

Isn't that what the War Stories are for, in part?

Yes, that's pretty much what is being said there.

[Razor]

Then why state something we're already aware of?

[Cybermancer]

Then why state something we're already aware of?

Really?

After a four part article about PTSD, that's all you take away from it? That one supposedly obvious point was brought up?

Regardless, here's the answer.

Not everyone is necessarily aware of it. Your assumption that it's obvious is based on your own preconceptions and may not describe what others see, feel or know. So while you think it may be obvious, it is not necessarily so for all. So yes, when trying to help people, pointing out 'the obvious' is part of the process.

[Razor]

No, that's not the only thing that I took away from the article.

[Cybermancer]

My apologies if I sounded short. There were extenuating circumstances.

I'm glad you took more than that from the article.

[RAVEN]

The application of this disorder to supernatural experiences is very insightful, Whichever-Mancer-You-Are-This-Week. I will pass this information along to my minions.

[GhostSpider]

You have minions?
Awesome!

[RAVEN]

My lawyer prefers that I call them "employees" or "associates." They are what they are.

[Sparks]

I admit I've never dealt with this much - I don't do this gig any more than I have to.

But I've known plenty of pals that have. Sad sight to see - worst part is my best talent (serving drinks) is exactly what they do not need.

[Grace]

I used to self-medicate with alcolhol quite a bit but in the last couple of years have cut back significantly.

[Gotham Witch]

Being I was already a bit of a heavy casual drinker, I can't say I ever 'fell into' alcoholism. That said, after last February I've really cut back.

[Ron Caliburn]

Been about 4 years since my last relapse.

Last encounter with the Nightmare almost relapsed me again. Bastard actually stimulated the old thirst directly to try and torture me.