Living With PTSD

I've thought a lot about what I want lemon 8 to be for me. And I think I want it to be kind of a personal diary that others can see and relate to. So here's the run down, I'll be focusing on these points:

Personal Reflections, Daily Experiences, Challenges and Triumphs, Educational Content, Self-Care and Wellness

Today: what it's like to live with PTSD(a small list of symptoms I experience):

1. Chronic Pain. A lot of people don't think of this as a PTSD trait, as PTSD is a mental illness, but it takes form in so many ways, including physically. The chronic pain stems from tension for me. I get migraines and muscle aches primarily

2. Flashbacks. This is probably the most well-known trait of PTSD. Flashbacks are generally triggered by various environmental stimulation.

3. Nightmares. I unfortunately, have had nightmare for years due to the traumatic event I suffered, sometimes these nightmares are directly relevant to the event, but a lot of times they're not!

4. Hypervigilance. This is another common trait of PTSD, always being anxious and aware of your environment. For me this manifests as being jumpy and constantly scanning the environment for threats.

5. Avoidance. I avoid places, triggers, personal relationships, and even certain activities! The downside to this is I don't have friends for the most part as I'm so avoidant of intimacy and environments.

I will talk more in depth about things as time goes on but I just wanted to introduce myself!

#PTSD #embracevulnerability #Lemon8Diary #mentalhealth #mentalhealthjourney