Slavic Christians and PTSD
Dear Slavic Christian,
How much trauma does an individual have to go through in our homes, churches, marriages, and families to verbally freeze and feel guilty when trying to talk about their pain instead of courageously seeking and receiving freedom from their deep-rooted pain?
I have encountered many individuals in and out of my private practice who fit the description above, and it pains my heart because many of these individuals don’t see support as being something ”safe” that they can receive.
These individuals self-isolate emotionally and physically; they guard themselves from love and being known by others. For those that do allow people in, they often reenact the trauma that they experienced, further continuing the cycle of trauma.
These patterns occur because my Slavic Christian community is living in the unknown of what trauma looks like and what can be done to prevent it from continuing.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined as “a disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.” (American Psychiatric Association)
The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions.
Symptoms of PTSD include -flashbacks (feeling like the trauma is happening right now) -intrusive thoughts or images
-nightmares
-distress at real or symbolic reminders of the trauma
-physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea, or trembling
-avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event. Avoiding places, activities, or people that remind you of the traumatic event
-negative thoughts about yourself, other people, or the world
-hopelessness about the future
-memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
-difficulty maintaining close relationships
-feeling detached from family and friends
-lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
Dear one, do you or someone you love struggle with most of the symptoms above related to an event or experience that you may have never told anyone about or were told never to share?
Maybe you were abused repeatedly by your parents, sibling, or person at church physically, sexually, emotionally, spiritually, or psychologically. Tell yourself, “It’s not safe to trust or talk to someone about what I went through because I’ll get hurt again.”
I want to encourage you and say that despite your experience up to this point, that doesn’t have to be the case for every relationship and interaction moving forward.
Healing is available if you want it.
Healing is available if you desperately seek it.
Healing is available, and I’m proof because I’ve experienced some of which I’m speaking about, and God used professionals to help me receive it.
Our Slavic Christian community could heal if we would acknowledge the pain that we have experienced.
We can move forward in freedom instead of remaining silent and in bondage within our bodies, homes, and relationships.
There is hope, no matter how great the pain has been. If you want healing, freedom, and hope, please contact me, and I want to help you get there.