29: PTSD to Recovery

I take a very deep dive into my experiences of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands in 2017, and the aspects of those experiences which caused me to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is a condition that some, but not all, people develop after experiencing or witnessing a distressing or life-threatening event or injury. I discuss some of the symptoms that someone with PTSD may experience. I also discuss some of the additional symptoms that I had further to the storm. Finally, I explore some case studies of others who experienced PTSD, and I talk about some of the ways in which treatment and recovery may be sought. ** Please seek professional help if you are experiencing the symptoms of PTSD, or think that you may be, or if you are experiencing another mental health challenge, or think that you might be ** Topics:<br />00:00:00 Intro<br />00:02:04 ** TRIGGER WARNING **<br />00:02:26 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder      <br />00:03:02 Hurricane Irma<br />00:04:14 Real-life context of a category 5 hurricane<br />00:06:09 How I developed PTSD; Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps The Score<br />00:08:14 PTSD symptoms and PTSD statistics <br />00:11:53 Other symptoms of PTSD<br />00:18:07 The morning after the day before<br />00:20:24 The following days<br />00:23:43 Evacuation and the airport <br />00:29:34 Treatment of PTSD and other mental health conditions    <br />00:32:16 Bob Parsons, Founder of GoDaddy.com and PTSD<br />00:34:30 Case study of Terry an earthquake survivor, American Psychological Association <br />00:39:54 The need to seek professional help and treatment<br />00:40:05 9-step process and plan to managing and recovering mental health<br />00:40:50 Step 1: Have a schedule <br />00:41:14 The importance of making your bed <br />00:42:24 Step 2: Prioritizing rest and diet <br />00:44:07 Step 3: Exercising regularly<br />00:44:42 Step 4: Making social connections <br />00:45:26 Step 5: Practising perseverance <br />00:47:43 Step 6: Embracing the power of positivity <br />00:49:40 Step 7: Carving out downtime <br />00:51:15 Step 8: Seeking out professional help when experiencing a mental health challenge<br />00:52:05 Step 9: Practising acceptance  <br />00:53:14 Conclusion Online resources:<br />PTSD UK, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder stas and figures: https://www.ptsduk.org/ptsd-stats/<br />Singlecare, PTSD Statistics in 2023: https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/ptsd-statistics/<br />American Psychological Association, Case Study Example: Terry, a 42-year-old Earthquake Survivor: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/resources/prolonged-exposure-example<br />Megan Moog, New York Presbyterian, Understanding PTSD in Uncertain Times, https://healthmatters.nyp.org/understanding-pandemic-related-ptsd/#:~:text=You%27re%20not%20alone.,According%20to%20Dr<br />Imed Bouchrika, PhD, Research.com, 35 Scientific Benefits of Gratitude: Mental Health Research Findings: https://research.com/education/scientific-benefits-of-gratitude<br />The Week, Extreme weather events of 2023: https://theweek.com/in-depth/1021278/2023-extreme-weatherBook:<br />Admiral William H. McRaven, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe The World Note:<br />Whilst this show is about raising mental health awareness, I am not a medical docto