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Friday, July 26, 2013

A time to remember: PTSD & Anniversaries - Life after Trauma

A time to remember: PTSD & Anniversaries - Life after Trauma
Excerpt:
I hadn't remembered yet what today - or yesterday - was. I had too many things on my mind: my ailing mother, plans for a trip back to Michigan, caring for my recovering son, and a dozen more. I had talked to my therapist yesterday, the day of our anniversary, and didn't think of the date then, either. I did tell her that I'd been feeling like I had an itch under my skin. I attributed the edginess to worries about my trip home.  Now, I realize that it was probably about the anniversaries all the time. Anniversaries are potent triggers for PTSD. Sometimes, we're aware of the date and sometimes, like today, feelings ambush us. I still don't know what caused me to remember the significance of today and yesterday's dates. One moment I wasn't consciously thinking about it, the next it hit me what day it was - what day it REALLY was, and a wave of sadness and regret washed over me. And I couldn't think of anything to do to commemorate the sadness of the losses. 

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