“While we can’t heal alone, we alone, are responsible for our healing. Without our commitment, conviction and courage to dive into the depths of our own darkness, we will never know the full scope of who we are.”
Unattended trauma can leave you sitting on top of the world, yet unable to see, feel, or function. Most girls can’t even articulate what happened. However, their lives unravel into a mess as mine had.
PTSD can develop after exposure to a traumatic event, or repetitive trauma that goes beyond a typical stressor. These types of traumatic events include, but are not limited to, violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disaster, combat, accidents, and other forms of violence.
If this has happened to you, or someone you know, don’t give up, reach out a hand. I promise with hard work, persistence and time, what once appeared as a helpless and hopeless situation, will transform into your very own promise land.
PTSD doesn’t discriminate and can happen to someone of any age, sex, or background.
Down to the roots
One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused by the time they turn 18 years old, reports The National Sexual Violence Research Center.
The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network reports that 1 in 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime.
The National Sexual Violence Research Center reports that 81% of women and 35% of men report significant short or long-term impacts of sexual abuse such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Similarly, C-PTSD, or complex PTSD is a psychological disorder that can develop after prolonged, repetitive experience of interpersonal trauma, especially when the individual has little or no chance of escape. C-PTSD is associated with chronic situations of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse and neglect.
High school students who are victims of violence and sexual abuse before the age of 16 are more likely to drop out of high school compared to their peers who have not experienced violence and abuse. Science shows us how abuse re-wires the brain and limits the ability to focus, learn, and retain information. Many of these kids are being labeled, lazy, stupid, and incompetent. Until these kids are identified, made to feel safe, and helped, we are the lazy,stupid, and incompetent ones. All of us pay the price.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has symptoms that can severely impair learning, cognition, ability to work, and can make it difficult to cope with life’s “normal” stressors, such as parenting and interpersonal relationships, and make daily tasks nearly impossible. People who suffer from this might feel “broken”, and experience prolonged feelings of terror, worthlessness, helplessness, and a warped or damaged sense of self.
“One of the symptoms of PTSD and Complex PTSD is feeling like you don’t belong anywhere you go, including things like school, a job interview, or to ask for help.”
Our bodies keep record of that which we believe we can forget.
Without reflection and time for healing, we pass these wounds onto the next generation.
Take time to heal the past, allow yourself to grieve what should have been and what will never be, so you can finally step across a new threshold.
We have more options than ever before to begin the healing process. The very first step is to know you’re not alone, and that with your willingness to seek support and help, there is a way forward.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from PTSD, trauma, or PTSD-like symptoms, please get help.
RESOURCES
Suicide Prevention Action Network:
Therapy:
Literature:
Additional Resources:
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The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional.