by Michael Hurd

Created on: May 27, 2008   Last Updated: May 28, 2008

I attacked the cat last night. Since I sleep with my eyes open it happens a lot. My mind creates all kinds of threats and I wake up the whole house yelling, jumping or running down the cat. This is a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder thanks to Uncle Sam. It might not have been that bad, but violently abusive parents, child molestation and a near fatal automobile accident has made me a little skittish.

Threats are everywhere. At least that's how it seems to a victim of PTSD. My wife still gasps in fear when a car hits the brakes in front of us. She was thrown from a jeep during a rollover accident and woke up with a punctured lung and several broken bones. That was twenty five years ago.

The most common symptom of PTSD is an aggravated flight or fright response to a perceived threat. The problem is most of the threats are not real or have been magnified by our trauma. This poses a challenge to the victim, their family and peers. What will trigger a response? When it does happen, how do we deal with it? The good news is that the first step to overcoming trauma is simple; talk about it. A PTSD victim cannot get healthy living in a vacuum, on an island or in a corner. We've got to open up.

The American Psychiatric Association's DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders) describes what a "traumatic event" is in clinical terms, but makes it very clear that diagnosis' of PTSD are very specific to the experiences of the patient. The best way we can help a PTSD victim is to listen without judgment and encourage them to get open. Beginning with a professional can help get past the initial trust issues that come with PTSD. If that isn't possible, then clergy, school counselors or other PTSD patients currently involved in groups or therapy are a good start.

The next step in recovery is figuring out what is real. When we start talking about our events, threats and fears, we will naturally start to make judgments as to what is real and what is distorted. A car hitting its brakes does not mean we're going off a cliff. The cat is not Al Qaeda.

The third step is to re-build trust. Something violated that trust. Talking will expose where your mistrust is. With this knowledge you can start to re-train your perception. A clearer view of the world will help you make proper decisions and set proper boundaries. At some point we have to go to where our mistrust lies, whether it is on the road, into a new relationship, starting a new job or confronting the past. We have to examine our trauma with the new knowledge we've gained. This can be a challenging or frightening experience, but well worth it on the other side.

Be smart, this does not mean you must re-engage with an abusive relationship or expose yourself to real danger. Go slowly. If it is driving, start on the easy streets. With a relationship, present clear boundaries and expectations. Talk about how you feel or what you're seeing when it happens. It is okay to say no. If it's an abusive past, take the hand of someone experienced or trained in your particular trauma and walk back through it. Small steps are as good as big ones. Just don't trip over the cat on the way. He's had enough trauma.

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