PTSD: Dropping the “D” and Stopping the Symptoms
by Dr. Bill Tollefson and Dr. Lisa Palmer of The Renew Center of Florida
July 1, 2011
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an invisible epidemic in our society and is more widespread than most people realize. We would like to take the mystery out of this reaction. Understanding is the first step toward healing. One of Sir Isaac Newton’s proven and accepted laws of physics is that “for every action there is always an equal reaction”. So based on Sir Isaac Newton’s law Post-traumatic Stress is a “normal reaction to a perceived overwhelming life event”.
PTSD is not a disease. We would like suggest that Post-traumatic Stress be normalized to just a life reaction. Dr. Bill Tollefson and Dr. Lisa Palmer of The Renew Center of Florida has combined experience of almost 40 years in the psychiatric inpatient and outpatient field looking for the pathology in survivors of abuse and trauma, but what we found was that the aftereffects of experiencing an overwhelming life event was not a mental illness but rather it is a normal reaction to an abnormal life event. The reaction or the response produced was a result of how the individual perceived the impact of the life experience. Therefore we would like to put forth for discussion that our society take on that the “D” or the “disorder label” be taken off and shortened to Post-traumatic Stress (PTS).
Everyone is well aware that Port-traumatic Stress is the reaction to abuse (all types –emotional, verbal, sexual, physical, or spiritual), natural catastrophic events, rape, trauma, war experiences or violent acts. Yet little is known that PTS reaction is also, to one degree or another, the result of incidences such as being abandoned, belittled, bullied, depression, divorce, harassment, isolation, job loss, ostracized (to put into public disfavor from a group, school, social or professional group), relationship breaks-ups, geographically re-located, or rejected.
The aftereffects of experiencing overwhelming life events needs to be disconnected from being a mental illness classification and normalized in our society. If this normal response is labeled as a “healthy, normal reaction to an abnormal situation” then the associated disempowering beliefs and constant self shaming can stop and healing can begin.
It is not uncommon for someone with an eating disorder or addiction to have post traumatic stress, whether it be from breakdowns and effects of the addiction itself or events that led up to it. Often times, such events impact us in a way that affect mental processing and therefore we are likely to react to these unprocessed memories and thoughts through bodily reactions. For many, addictions and eating disorders become a way to push down the feelings and numb to cope. All the while, the eating disorder and addiction gains momentum to steal away aspects of one’s self and life, which are important to them. A vicious cycle ensues. The more one turns to the eating disorder, the worse things get, and the worse things get the more one turns to the eating disorder.
While many people can feel a sense a hopeless, there are actually ways to comfortably correct these vicious cycles to restore balance mentally, emotionally, and physically. For more information on correcting addiction and reducing intrusive memories and flashbacks call The Renew Center of Florida at 954-907-3446 or visit www.TheRenewCenter.com
Learn more about The Renew Center in Florida in the Eating Disorder Treatment Directory
