Information about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ,aka as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

I've just added this to the Trademe Depression thread - maybe it might be of help here too..

I find it helpful to remember this..

"PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation or situations that is/are life-threatening or substantially life-changing"

PTSD was first identified during the Vietnam War - when it was realised that soldiers returning home were unwell - that what they were experiencing wasn't the 'shell-shock' - or even worse, what had been thought during and after previous wars, that the person was 'weak' in some way and that was why they reacted to what they'd been through during military service.. an awful judgement on all those people..

It's since been recognised that a number of other situations have a high chance of causing PTSD.. among them childhood sexual abuse, adult physical/mental/emotional/sexual assault, traumatic birth experiences, etc..etc..etc..

Here are New Zealand PTSD sites I've found helpful -

http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/resourcefinder/listings/resource/197/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/#content-695

http://www.phobic.org.nz/pdf/post_traumatic_stress.pdf

http://www.rapecrisis.org.nz/content.aspx?id=48

http://www.asah.org.nz/ptsd.htm

Take gentle care..

Books,

Bless You for taking the trouble to list these information resources both here at TBBD and on the TradeMe General Message Board in the members depression support thread(s). And Thanks for all the support and encouragement you give folk there too.

You take really good care of you my friend, and keep smiling, 'cos it suits you

Pat.

Thanks for that, it is really informative and helpful