PTSD in a SHTF situation.

Post traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health problem that can occur following the direct experience or witnessing of life -threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape. It is a medically recognized as an anxiety disorder that occurs in normal individuals under extremely stressful conditions.

Being able to recognize PTSD. 

People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through a range of symptoms (e.g.,nightmares and uncontrollable thoughts, difficulty sleeping, and feeling detached or estranged from other people), and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly worsen the person’s quality of life and ability to function PTSD is marked by clear biological changes as well as psychological symptoms. It is complicated by the fact that it frequently occurs together with related problems such as depression, substance abuse, problems with memory, and other physical and mental health problems.

I think that this PDF explains what it is, how to recognize it and some ways to deal with it Click Here

PTSD  for Preppers

It could be a natural disaster, it could be an attack, it can be the grid down. What ever it is PTSD is a survival tool that kicks in under life threatening events. And some times it does not shut off. As we see with soldiers, abused women and children ect. In fact most wild animals have it to so degree, it makes them hyper aware. We as humans are a domesticated beings and have no real use for it. So when it turns on it can be a fright for the person and those around them.  

I am a person that has seen to much in my life time and have had PTSD and will always have it to some extent.  But many people have lived in a world that can never prepare them for a post shft life. They think they can handle it because they watch tv and read the news.  But to live it will be a whole different game. 

Many people will be fine, but there will be some that will not. And it is our jobs to understand and recognize the symptoms.  And to have some basics to help the person through it safely.  Read the above PDF, even print it for your prepper binder to help you learn to notice if a person is in distress. 


Support
Support  is one of the most important things. Let the person know this is common. And I am here for you, lets talk about it. And even explaining the symptioms and why it has happened will help a great deal. 

Sleep
This is so important. It is hard to sleep with PTS, and without sleep things just get worse. Learning some of the local weeds and herbs that help with relaxing and sleep are a very important prepper tool. 
 Most of the herbs on this page are for smoking. BUT everyone of them can be added to a tea and have the exact same effect.  CLICK HERE
 
And the one herb that is used already to treat PTSD is illegal in most states still.  Because of this if something happened many people will still not be able to get it.  That is why I tell all prepper's to fight to get it to be legalized in your state. The medical uses top 70 different diseases. 



Nutrition 
When a person has been through a trama they may stop eating and that is not good for the body or the mind. Making sure they are getting food in them is beyond important. And if you can get supplements that will help to. 

Some foods that can be helpful are turkey, chicken, fish, peas, nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and peanut butter that have The amino acid tryptophan.
If you can eat them with carbohydrates, such as potatoes, pasta and rice,  this can help the brain's uptake of tryptophan.

Plant-Based Protein are also helpful with PTS Click Here for info I did about that. 

They also say that Probiotic foods can help with the stress.  Foods like yogurt Pickles Natto (a fermented soybean), Fruits like bananas, and tomatoes and veggies like artichokes, green beans and leeks. Also whole grains breads and honey.

Every little bit can help. 

And Hope or Spiritual well being

Even if you are not a religious person sometimes helping and believing that things will get better can help.  Even being able to talk to God when everyone else it asleep can bring rest to a troubled mind. 
Now I am not a professional,  I can only talk about what I do know. There will be people with PTS and knowing some of these basics will help you snap them out of it or at the least learn to live with and control it when meds and docs are not available.




Never be afraid to ask for help 

I also came across this PDF worth looking at.  

Holistic Self-Care for Post-Traumatic Stress & Dissociative Identity Click Here 

If you think you or someone you love that is a vet has PTSD here is a good place to start Click Here 

If you think you or someone you love that may have be abused or had an etreme event happen in their lives my have PTSD this is a good place to start Click Here

 

Click Here to learn about this group

 

 

 

:(  this song is the song for this post -Ray Lamontagne - Empty

It always hits me in the heart.