brookwest,
I ask the same questions but when you have PTSD and others don't struggle with it, you have to understand that from the information I have read it depends upon when someone was abused. It also depends upon the size of their hypocampus because some people (as they have learned through studies) have smaller hypocampus's than others are are more prone to this disorder.

Now I was abused as a young child before age five and unbeknownst to me it affected how my brain established a lot of the abilities to progress, have a strong personality and be more independant. I managed to survive and do a lot of things, but there were things that held me back too, fears about certain things, hense I avoided them.
I didn't suffer like I do now, my brain managed to stay off the bad things I experienced. But now because I experienced a big trama, I am invaded by all these bad experiences I had growing up. I know had this not happened I could have gone on not really knowing how much I was disturbed or threatened in my past.

I think when someone has abuse in their past, if they struggled a lot, then if they are in situations that present a lot of personal struggles the brain tries to find resolve.
From what I have read our brains sort through our memories to find answers and in that finds other situations that were presented that were similar to see if there was a resolve.

I talked to my therapist about why for so many years I was ok and then suddenly all this stuff is coming forward. He told me that something bad can happen and because we still need to survive our brain just hides it or represses it so we can continue on, survive and grow. A young girl can experience abuse, somehow move on in life repressing the bad memories and feelings about the abuse and then many years later can be addressing her own child that is the same age and simply be thinking about her own child and how to raise that child and suddenly a memory can come forward. However, and abusive memory can bring forward a lot of emotions that were very upsetting and confusing. This is upsetting and because anything upsetting now has to have an answer the brain searches and if there was more abuse, that comes forward too. The problem is that as these bad upsetting memories come forward, they also bring all the emotions and fears with them and it can be just as if they are happening in the present. Because we are frightened and alarmed by these memories, the brain produces the corizol that is normal for a brain to be on high alert but that is only for the first 7 minutes, after that it stresses the brain.

With PTSD it is very important that the person who is struggling get therapy and address these bad memories and work on self soothing, and resolve. And that is one of the reasons why CBT is helpful as well as talk therapy via therapy and support groups. It is also very important that when someone experiences PTSD that they are in a non stress environment as well. It is very important for the person who is addressing the PTSD to seek this low stress enviornment along with therapy as soon as possible. This is not always done with people who suffer from PTSD. But what does happen is those that suffer do isolate themselves and sense that need for quiet and low stress. But isolation alone doesn't cure PTSD, therapy has to also take place and for some people therapy needs to be frequent and validating and focused on resolve. Each person is going to be different depending on what abuse/tramas they experienced in their pasts. Discussing these unresolved memories are important because it can teach a person to slowly find resolve and allow these events to just be memories with a sense of resolve, they have been validated addressed and the emotions were allowed to finally be expressed. These emotions can include fear, confusion, and anger that should all be expressed and appropriately mourned.

The truth is that PTSD doesn't have to be so crippling NOT IF IT IS ADDRESSED FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO ADDRESS. That is why it is so important for anyone who suddenly begins to suffer to get addressed and slowly work through whatever is disturbing and upsetting.

I have to be honest, I have been suffering with PTSD badly. But I am also stressed everyday because the event that brought on my PTSD is still presenting me with challenges and unresolve. The system I am involved with keeps me trapped within the trama, I have to remember all the details and damage and this process is unfairly allowed to continue for several years. Last year alone I was asked to prepare for several depositions that never took place. Often a deposition can be scheduled suddenly as well, and for someone who suffers from PTSD, any SUDDENLY is very bad for the brain. Personally, I THINK THIS IS THE MOST INHUMANE PROCESS AND IS CURRENTLY LEGALLY ACCEPTABLE.

People who struggle with PTSD DO need to have therapy and an environnment that is low in stress until they can LEARN how to slowly resolve AND gain skills that can help them regain a productive forward moving stronger sense of personal well being. It has been shown that when people who suffer from PTSD are taken away from high stress enviornments and are receiving therapy do fair much better and can even regain much strength and positive thinking skills. Hense they can say, yeah I had this and that bad thing happen but I am dealing better now. Personally I avoid any just get over it sentiments and instead try to advise others who suffer to give it time in therapy and try to lower their stressful environments. Dont be hard on yourself if you have a bad day and struggle, give yourself time to heal, and make sure you have a good therapist, it really is a must.

brook, the people you are referring to that have managed to move forward and gain careers are also people that were educated and did progress which allowed them to overcome these past tramas. However, anyone who has a history of abuse CAN be affected by PTSD if they are again tramatized and are in a situation where they are threatened and stressed and feel unsafe.

Keeping it together verses falling apart is a skill. That skill can be learned in therapy over time.

Open Eyes