Always aware of danger!
As someone who's been through the tough times of past abuses and beatings, along with the challenges of combat deployment, I'm on this journey to help others with the challenges they face with PTSD.
Your body works like a smoke alarm. Its role is to alert you when there is potential danger. Imagine if the smoke alarm went off every time you cooked or lit a candle!
That's how it goes when your mind is running a mile a minute. It remains on high alert, even when there's no threat now. That ongoing "fight or flight" mindset can take a toll on first responders, police officers, veterans, and those who put in much effort at work.
Believe me, I get it.
One night, a while back, I woke up all sweaty. It was like my heart had just sprinted through a marathon. So, to clarify, everything was fine, and there were no issues or threats at all. My body was unaware of that.
Another Instance:
One day, I was at the movie theater with my daughter and grandchildren, watching “Fury,” which stars Brad Pitt and Shia La Beouf. In one scene, a German Tiger tank camouflaged in the bushes shot a tank behind Brad Pitt’s tank. The sound of that shot and explosion made me immediately hit the deck, shouting, “Incoming Get Down.”
Everyone laughed and thought it was funny. But I was back in the battle from years ago, from my days in combat. It took me at least two weeks to break the cycle of being retraumatized by the sound that once was an everyday event.
My mind was going way too fast, like when a car engine roars to life when it really should have been turned off. My nervous system hung out in "survival mode.”
What was going on was that my brain and body were designed to protect me. Triggers can happen because of trauma, whether it's from one big event or a lot of years spent worrying.
The pineal gland, a tiny yet significant part of the brain, might also be affected. Melatonin is a hormone that lets your body know it's time to hit the hay. The pineal gland is responsible for producing melatonin.
After a stressful event, this gland might get a bit out of whack, making it challenging to unwind and drift off to sleep. You probably already know this, but sleep is super important for staying healthy and helps recharge your body.
I felt relieved to understand what was going on finally.
It wasn't just something I imagined. Even though it was super risky, my body and mind worked hard to protect me. You're not broken; you're just going through a change.
So, what do you think we should do next?
Start with small steps at the beginning.
If your sleep schedule is a bit off, maybe think about tweaking it. How about trying to hit the hay at the same time each night? Or maybe creating a chill sleep routine could help, too! Try deep breathing for five minutes to help your nervous system feel safe.
Just remember, you’re not in this alone; everyone who has suffered abuse or trauma has a smoke alarm.
It's all about gradually figuring out how to quiet the noise around you. You'll keep pushing forward because you've got that determination in you.
You've made it this far already.
You've got this! Just keep pushing forward.