September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month – a time to talk about suicide, to listen without judgement, and to remind one another that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. September also feels particularly significant to me because Major Trauma Awareness Week takes place from 14–22 September. The campaign by the Day One Trauma […]
PTSD Awareness Month reminds us that trauma isn’t only about what happened. It’s also about what the body remembers and the grief we continue to carry long after the event itself has passed. Have you ever reacted to something and immediately thought: “Why am I so upset about this?” Maybe it was a comment, a
PTSD and Grief: When the Body Holds Unprocessed Loss Read More »
“No one warned me that surviving my accident would mean grieving a life that never actually ended, rather an ambiguous loss, lingering quietly beneath the surface.” My traumaversary Today marks my fifth traumaversary – five years since the accident that changed my life in a split second. Five years ago, I was hit by a
What if You’re Grieving What’s Still Here? Understanding Ambiguous Loss Read More »
As my birthday approached, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling growing inside me. Birthday depression crept in slowly at first but then brought with it flood of questions: “Have you done enough?” “Are you where you hoped you’d be?” “What are you even doing with your life?” Have you ever felt sad on your birthday?
Birthday Blues Are Real: How to Cope With Birthday Depression Read More »
June is PTSD Awareness Month and as someone diagnosed with PTSD after an accident over four years ago, I know how crucial a strong support network is. I’ve been fortunate. My husband has stood by me, and my psychologist was exactly who I needed at the time. But I also know that not every survivor
Heartfelt Messages for Loved Ones and Caregivers from Trauma Survivors Read More »
I Will Not Be Shaken by Danielle Maxwell | PTSD: My Story Project #016 Trigger warning I wanted to join these courageous people in sharing my story here on the PTSD: My Story Project because I feel that it is important to let other people know that they are not alone and that hope and
I Will Not Be Shaken Read More »
I was walking home from the gym, lost in my own thoughts when the siren of a passing ambulance suddenly made me jump, as has been the case so often since my accident. The ambulance siren took me back to the immediate aftermath of my accident after I was hit by a van. However, this
Grieving Lost Time, and How to Deal With It Read More »
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in the Flower Power event. This enjoyable family event took place at the Weald and Downland Living Museum in West Sussex (UK). They invited the literacy community Words Out Loud, which are based near the museum, and who invited submissions for the event. For this
Inspired by Flowers: Blossoms of Being Read More »
Prior to experiencing PTSD myself, I had never met anyone who openly admitted that they have PTSD. Although I had heard the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and even studied brain development during my University studies, I never really knew what it entails until I experienced it myself. After my PTSD diagnosis, following my traumatic
What Trauma Survivors Want You to Know About PTSD Read More »
My Story of Being a Caregiver and Trauma Survivor by Amber Jeann Parker | PTSD: My Story Project #015 Trigger warning To be a trauma survivor isn’t something you choose. It is what happens to you and then you have a choice – What will you do next? How will you respond? What will you
My Story of Being a Caregiver and Trauma Survivor Read More »
