Sometimes you need that person to take your mind off things, sometimes you need to vent. Surround yourself with kind folks who'll lift you up out of your dark places, not drag you down into new ones.Ĥ) Have at least one person in your life to whom you can reach out, call, or text whenever you need. In some cases you might not be able to do this entirely, but you can certainly limit those encounters to when you're feeling strong and have the support you need to be around them and not feel devastated. Stay up to date on local/global happenings without getting triggered by disturbing moving images or the voices of newly-traumatized people.ģ) Distance yourself from negative or toxic individuals. Instead, subscribe to an email newsletter with major headlines: Every news outlet offers one. Always have a stone, or image, or song, a mantra of any kind that keeps you grounded to the present, focused, and can assist in regulating your heartbeat.Ģ) Stop watching the news. Lavender, sage, peppermint, or any other relaxing oil massaged on the spot between your eyebrows and your pulse points is marvelously calming. I don't go anywhere without my Homeopathic Calm Drops.
If you can't avoid stress - you're at the airport, a meeting, a dissertation defense - have a battery of calming solutions on hand. If you had nightmares or generally woke up on the wrong side of PTSD then that trip to the DMV can wait. So, each day I wake up and decide how I will find moments of peace, and over the years I've developed an extensive emotional apothecary, none of which involve pharmaceuticals.ġ) Avoid stressful situations whenever possible. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is like any chronic illness - it needs managing.
(I can almost hear Wendy out in her Great Beyond singing, "Finally, Sezin. 28, 2000 I witnessed the murder of my dear friend Wendy, and the shadow of that trauma has shaped my life ever since.īut that's not my whole story, nor do I want it to be. Originally Published on | Updated December 6, 2017 Yes, my emotional apothecary for treating PTSD requires varying levels of self-work, self-care, and self-awareness, which starts off daunting (and painful) but eventually becomes indispensable.Īuthor of Crime Rave and American Monsters contributing writer for Wear Your Voice Magazine
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