Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - Invictus games / Changing of the Guard
This article tries to take a sensitive, but speculative and thought provoking piece, that is informative but also gives us something extremely important to consider and prepare for as and when we need it to.
At this time we should be savouring the success of our GB Invictus games team. Celebrating the success of our talented but wounded soldiers who have given so much. Instead we are in a climate where the games are cancelled and looking at the changing of the guard with a very different frontline battling a wholly different war, but essentially the same thing. We must embrace both their sacrifices and their endeavours to keep everyone safe.
It’s not rocket science that I’m talking about the NHS staff, care workers and key workers. Not to mention the people already living with this and other conditions and even people who are shielding or vulnerable, what effect will their self-less 4 month isolation have on them as they prepare to return back to whatever normal will now be? Will our mental health teams be able to cope with services already stretched. Will people be prepared to come forward for help?
But why are we looking at PTSD? This definition may help set the scene for what I really hope is a piece read with the sensitivity, compassion and empathy with which it intended.
'Post Traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Someone with PTSD often relives the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, and may experience feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt.They may also have problems sleeping, such as insomnia, and find concentrating difficult.These symptoms are often severe and persistent enough to have a significant impact on the person’s day-to-day life. (NHS Choices Website).
Got the reasoning behind this now?
The condition is frequently associated with those in the armed forces who see such tortuous and distressing events whilst serving on the front line. However, anyone can suffer from the disorder following one traumatic incident or the build up of a number of events such as those loosing their homes to serious fires or a loss of a relative in a very difficult way to those who experience severe accidents at work or on the roads that leads to a significant change to their lives and haunting flashbacks that are so difficult to overcome.
If we now refer to the definition, we can relate that because of the conditions that people are working in, from seeing colleagues and patients dying in front of them, the self less isolation away from family and friends to keep them safe, you can start to think how this will effect them in the long term. When the chaos and the adrenaline dies down which it will in time, how will their mental health be affected? What impact will this then have on the NHS being able to cope with additional cases? Not to mention the people already living with this condition and even people who are shielding or vulnerable. Will our mental health teams be able to cope with services that are already stretched?
Let’s delve into this in more detail and look at what lessons can be learnt and how we can protect ourselves and others by recognising the signs, supporting others and getting help early.
We can begin to learn along this journey from the military and in particular the Invictus games that I mentioned at the beginning of the blog. The story of the games is described as:
‘Most of us will never know the full horrors of combat. Many Servicemen and women suffer life-changing injuries, visible or otherwise, whilst serving their country. How do these men and women find the motivation to move on and not be defined by their injuries?
The word ‘invictus’ means ‘unconquered’. It embodies the fighting spirit of wounded, injured and sick Service personnel and personifies what these tenacious men and women can achieve post injury. The Games harness the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country.
The Invictus Games are more than just sport. They capture hearts, challenge minds and change lives’. (https://invictusgames2020.com/en/)
However, the most important thing is to recognise the symptoms of the disorder and then ensure that you can speak to someone over the phone or via the internet and get yourself help. This is not being weak, this is merely talking and admitting you have a problem and finding the right course of action to tackle the symptoms and progress forward into your new normal.
Full details of the symptoms can be found on the NHS website at the link below and are better explained by the experts.
Treatment for this condition can be through various mediums. One of which is art therapy, a subject in which I have undertaken an online course in that actually explored this condition in detail and the posting is below in italics for you to read if you wish to. There are obviously other possibilities available to try and the power of sport and exercise work well, having a positive mindset, finding ways to manage the symptoms of the condition that work for you will be a long road if you do have PTSD or any other mental health problem. Again the experts are better at showing you these and can be found at the link below.
From the perspective of someone who has experienced severe mental problems leading to a prolonged hospital stay I can only hope that firstly now I can recognise the symptoms and secondly that when my symptoms worsen my mental health toolbox can be opened, my strategies applied and lastly that this horrendous experience of my downward spiral into the unknown can help support you. Having had no idea what was happening to me was awful and terrifying.
We are all reminded constantly that exercise is good for our mental health and well being as mentioned. How do our key workers find the time for this? They are juggling so much - their job is of course mentally taxing and others the opposite. Sure being on your feet all day is tough and probably generate above and beyond the recommended 10,000 steps or 30 minutes a day guidance. Although, that doesn’t give the ‘exercise’ buzz, it’s not relaxation that is getting rid of stress, they are part of a team but it’s not their normal exercise class with others.
But then what do we have to offer for our key workers? We need to be creative, reach out to them and help them find something that they can access easily and do with friends and family. Another group of people spring to mind here. There are the vulnerable, the family carers, the shielding group, those with long term medical conditions. The elderly, many on their own at home isolating and seeing no one. Their experiences and issues should not be pushed aside and this experience can easily lead them to mental health conditions. A great way to get started or at least I hope so is to link to my alternatives exercise activities blog The links is below;
Additionally and brilliant for those with long term medical conditions and the vulnerable a national programme called ‘We Are Undefeatables’ comes into play and would be a really good place to get started. It’s been running now since August 2019 as a national campaign, lead by Sport England and funded through The National Lottery. It highlights the fact that there are 1 on 4 people in this country who are trying to manage at least one long term health problem and are working alongside 15 health and social care charities. Make physical activity part of your life and especially during the lock down. Find some inspirational stories through the link below and join us on our adventure.
Personally through my long journey from a psychotic episode and subsequent psychosis needs a range of treatments and programmes. They consist of a good balance of exercise through my physiotherapist, We are Undefeatable’s, my swimming clubs (Clacton Masters & City Of Norwich) and Active Essex / All Together Ambassador programme, support from the Pituitary Foundation UK and the Addison’s Disease Self Help Group. All provide excellent resources and you just need to find your balance. It’s been four years now and I’m still fine tuning and adding new things, especially at the moment when things seem to be moving so fast with COVID-19.
I really hope this is read with the sensitivity, compassion and empathy intended. Please be mentally aware, keep talking to others, find things that work for you. But above everything else contact someone for help and support. Remember that right now we are all looking for our new normal and that’s not any easy thing to have to do. It will be hard and I’m prepared for the fact that I am going to need support moving forward and now I am not ashamed to talk about that.
Four long years ago I was was completely clueless but I am determined to try and get myself back on track to where I was before lockdown even though I know this is a mountain that I need to climb, just remember like I need to that things need to be taken at a sensible pacing level. Not the level of a friend or colleague or family member, everyone is unique and everyone will need to progress at their own speed. It’s not a race and please don’t be phased if everyone around you seems to be ready to go and have no problems adjusting. They are probably struggling inside in same way that you might be…………………..
Look out for a blogs entitled 'The Wheels Are Moving too Fast', a carers week special and volunteering. All of which could aid and support you as we try to get back to our everyday lives again.
Take care, stay safe and take your time.
The links below offer more help through the amazing Mind charity and the official Invictus Games site
Mind - Information booklet
Want to learn more about the Invictus Games?
ART THERAPY(Please be aware this is the post written prior to the COVID-19)
This is one instalment of this Art Therapy Course which I took and explores Post-traumatic stress disorder and how art therapy can help. Please remember I am not an expert in this area. I have researched and read numerous articles but still a novice! Please contact your GP, local hospital or other medical professional for further details. Please feel free to add your opinion to the blog on my facebook page or through email to timetoheal1210@gmail.com
Before I explore PTSD and how art therapy can be an effective treatment I want to summarise what Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is so that it is possible to explore the potential benefits of art therapy to those who suffer from the disorder.
'Post Traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Someone with PTSD often relives the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, and may experience feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt.They may also have problems sleeping, such as insomnia, and find concentrating difficult.These symptoms are often severe and persistent enough to have a significant impact on the person’s day-to-day life. (NHS Choices Website).
Next we need to categorise art therapy, which is simply described as:-'In essence 'Art therapy (also known as arts therapy) is a creative method of expression used as a therapeutic technique. Art therapy originated in the fields of art and psychotherapy and may vary in definition'. (NHS Choices).
So now the question remains how the two can merge together to create coping mechanisms or recovery from the condition. Art therapy has the ability to support people with this life limiting and terrifying disorder.
So what makes the difference when art therapy is explored and implemented to help the person requiring support to overcome such a difficult and traumatising situation. It may be extremely difficult to explore the extreme trauma through spoken word and therefore art therapy in its many forms offers an alternative. Those being some of the previously explored therapies on offer such as drawing, painting, dance, music and pottery. It may even be too painful initially to share any outcome of 'art' material with either a care worker, counsellor, therapist or other health care professional.
If the tools for starting the process are available and the patient is guided through how to make a start to the process they may find it easier to work on their own at home supported by loved ones or even in total privacy. Others may find the need for someone to be with them even if there is a controlled and planned silence whilst the art medium is explored and the potential then to have an experienced therapist quietly lead the patient through the process. With the condition evolving from extreme and severe and life changing events art therapy may need to be continued for a long time before any significant progress is noticed. A lot of trust needs to be built if a qualified therapist is sought in order that the heart breaking events and subsequent PTSD can be shared, managed and effectively controlled with confidence.
In summary, art therapy can be effective for many people suffering from PTSD in the same way it can help people to recover from other mental health problems that have been previously explored.
If you enjoyed this blog then you may find the below of interest to you.
An introduction to Undefeatables - Exercise For All
So this is where ‘We are Undefeatables’ comes into play and would be a really good place to get started. It’s been running now since August 2019 as a national campaign, lead by Sport England and funded through The National Lottery. It highlights the fact that there are 1 on 4 people in this country who are trying to manage at least one long term health problem and are working alongside 15 health and social care charities. Make physical activity part of your life and especially during the lock down. Find some inspirational stories through the link below and join us on our adventure.
Learning As We Battle
It’s very easy at the moment to see and think in a negative and unhealthy manner when the world is at war to conquer the battle against COVID-19, businesses are going under, the streets are empty and people are forced to stay inside. However, this does give us an opportunity to learn. That could be on a personal level by completing a course online that you like the look of, there may be some craft materials in the house that you’d love some inspiration to utilise and complete. This blog will take you there as we at Time To heal explore our new found pastimes and extension of others through the internet, TV, Exercise world and more.