PTSD Survivors Speak: A Trauma Anniversary Story

A really special treat today: Kyla Compton, one of our very own Team Heal My PTSD members, shares her PTSD experience and recovery story. Full of candor, hope and belief her story is one you will recognize and also, one with proactive ideas for how to move forward and beyond PTSD. Thank you so much for sharing, Kyla!

Looking back on all that I have been through is like a WOW moment, in a way to describe it. I have realized so many various things within this year alone that it amazes me. A year ago, I couldn’t tell you who I was and what I wanted. Four years ago, I couldn’t either, for I had no idea who I was and what I was doing and what I saw myself as.

I was lost within the mixes of PTSD, and had no idea that the main reason was the PTSD itself. So much hurt and pain was within me and anger, and frustration, sadness just about every negative thing you could have within you. Back in 2005 I experienced a terrifying event of homelessness.

That experience changed me, completely. Since then, and up until this year, I had no idea who I was, and who I became. I was someone that didn’t feel like me, I was lost, and confused with so many degrees. Before I experienced homelessness I had gone through various abuses and other struggles and had developed generalized anxiety disorder.

So before the homelessness event, I had already had major anxiety, and from the homeless experience I developed PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. My life changed since that experience, and from all of the other traumas I had been through before then and more after the homeless experience. It’s like I was in this big blur, this big fog that I didn’t know how to escape and get out and find the light.

I do not have certain dates in my mind for trauma anniversaries, but I do know when I change and how I get affected, at certain times and holidays. Summertime is my least favorite, as that’s when I was homeless, so for the whole summer I can definitely notice a huge change in me rather than when it’s winter, I feel more happy, and calmer.

It’s definitely strange to notice this huge change at certain times. I have a lot of work still needed in my healing but I am on the right direction that I feel is best for me. Finding my spiritual connection with the Lord has been my healing light so to speak. Before, I had lost such light and faith and, became a person I didn’t want to be, a person I would never imagine I would have become.

This year had been a huge eye opener to me and a huge learning process, of so many things on realization, forgiveness, acceptance, finding out who I am and finding out the truth behind so many things I didn’t see clearly before when I was lost within my mist of fog. PTSD changes you; it changes you in ways you never thought. But, what I learned thanks to Michele Rosenthal and other wonderful ladies is how just because you have PTSD doesn’t mean you cannot heal from PTSD.

It is possible to heal from this disorder and to have your life back, and be who you are meant to be at a spot where you are meant to be at. PTSD may be complex and hard to deal with at certain times, but taking the appropriate steps towards your healing journey will get you far down the road instead of going over countless bumps with dead ends. You can find that light again, and step out of the darkness, believe in yourself and have faith and hope.

The ideas contained in this post solely represent the perspective of the author. To contribute to ‘Survivors Speak’ contact Michele.

Tags: generalized anxiety disorder, homelessness, post traumatic stress disorder, ptsd, Trauma Anniversary