Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder For Dummies (For Dummies

Life is an unpredictable adventure, and it can slip you some pretty big shocks now and then. Often these jolts are exciting, and although they may rattle you briefly, they make for great stories and add richness to your life. But sometimes events can pull the rug out from under you, leaving you feeling shocked, terrified, unsheltered, and alone. These experiences can shake you to your core, altering your feelings about yourself, other people, and the world around you. Consider these people’s words: A combat survivor says, “The old me died in that war. I don’t recognize the person I am now.” A woman who survived a rape says, “People say I’m cold and unfeeling now. They don’t know that inside, I’m falling apart.” A heart attack survivor says, “I feel so lost. It’s like I see my old life in the distance, but I can’t find my way back to it.” All these people have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They’re scared, angry, and sad — and they have every reason to be. A traumatic life event turned their lives upside down, transforming their once safe and happy world into a terrifying and alien place they fear they’ll never escape. The most important message of this book is this: There is a road out of this terrible place. The fact that you’re still afraid doesn’t mean you’re in any danger. It just takes the will and the way for your heart and soul to accept what the logical part of your mind already knows. I’ve been treating patients with PTSD for more than two decades, and the vast majority of them make the journey back to wellness. Often, it’s not an easy journey — or a short one. But there is help, there is hope, and there is a better future ahead. In short, there’s life after PTSD — and a good one, I might add. In this book, I explain how to set your course for that brighter future.