Treating PTSD: What Happens When We Change Our Perceptions

Trauma happens, and then we make assumptions, decisions and choices based on our post-trauma impressions. Only problem is that sometimes these post-trauma mechanisms aren’t always functioning up to par. We get stuck in them and forever after see the world incorrectly.

Unless, of course, we face those misperceptions head on and point ourselves in another direction. The funny thing is, this isn’t even difficult to do. The mind wants to be happy and free. It’s perfectly willing to entertain any suggestions that will take it there. However, we do have to make the effort. As we would for a toddler moving in the wrong direction we must pick up our mind, face it in another direction and then set it down and let it go. Someone’s got to be the wise parent in all of this PTSD childishness; may as well be us.

Last night I received a phenomenal email from, actually, a parent. Since her words have everything to do with perception – and how we can actively and with great creative power – change our perceptions I want to share the story with you.

I met Maria in an online support group for people who survived Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome (TENS), the illness that caused my PTSD. Maria’s six year old son, Ian, survived TENS about 18 months ago and (no big surprise here) his behavior and emotions have been affected by the experience. Ian has a younger brother, Andre, who’s suffering his own fallout, so Maria is trying to heal not one but two young boys’ reactions to trauma. Not an easy task and I admire her incredibly for the way she continues to follow through.

Here’s what I love about Maria and her husband: they constantly find creative ways change the family’s perceptions from negative to positive. An example, in her own words:

You can see a great improvement [in Ian]. Now I have to work on his little brother, too. I think we have focused so much on Ian but Andre needs our help, too. We have been there for him but maybe not as much as we would like to or maybe he needs us more… But you have to help first who needs it most. Ian is on his way and Andre needs to work a little bit more. Sometimes he says, “Why don’t I ever get sick?” … he knows that if he gets sick he will get lot of our attention.

The other day Ian had to take blood tests so we said, “What can we do so Ian feels comfortable?” and my husband had the brilliant idea we could all take blood tests together. Ian was happy because we all were taking blood samples and of course, Andre was the most excited because he was going to get what his brother was getting. Can you imagine a 4 year old being so brave and happy because he was going to the doctor and having blood samples taken like his brother?

Here’s an entire family taking their negative perceptions of illness and turning them upside down, making an unpleasant trip to the doctor a fun family event.

Now really, if two adults and two children can reframe such a negative event so completely I think each of us should seriously consider how we can think out of the box and change our own negative perceptions. All it takes is turning the prism a little to the right…. and practice.

(Photo: sinistersworld)

Tags: change, Changing Unhealthy Perceptions, perceptions, posttrautic stress, ptsd, symptoms, TENS, toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome, treat