Understanding PTSD- Part 4, Avoidance of “the thing”

So here we are, talking about another group of PTSD symptoms.  We have discussed what happens in your brain during traumatic times, worked to understand triggers, talked about those horrible intrusive symptoms, and now we are at a place to look at what is called avoidance symptoms.  As far as symptoms go, this group is the shortest list. 

PERSISTENT AVOIDANCE OF "THE THING"

If you have PTSD, or know someone who does, you will understand this scenario.  You hate talking about the thing…you know the thing I am talking about.  When people bring it up, you cringe, walk away, maybe even suddenly get angry.  You have noticed these changes in yourself and that discomfort, so you don’t even want to go around those people that remind you of the thing and do everything you can to avoid any reminders of it. 

 THE “TECHNICAL” SYMPTOMS

Avoidance symptoms are classified as experiencing one of these two things:

1. Avoiding, or trying to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or even feelings about or closely related to the traumatic event(s).

   1. aka….you hate having those memories pop up, so you stay busy and keep your brain focused on something else so you don’t have to think of it. Have you ever seen Iron Man 3? Oh yes…I love me some marvel. Tony Stark “tinkered” with the machines, in part, to keep from thinking about almost dying in NYC that time (his trauma)

2. Avoidance or, or trying to avoid, external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated to the traumatic event(s)

   1. aka…you get that horrible feeling when someone talks about that city you lived in when that horrible thing happened. So you make sure to avoid any conversations about it. Think Iron Man 3 again. Hearing someone even mention the place “New York City” reminded Tony of the time he almost died in an alien invasion, which results in an anxiety attack, so he told that kid to not mention it again.

This only makes sense, doesn’t it? 

Who wants to be reminded of what robbed them of their sense of safety?  Who wants to talk about what they see as their biggest mistake, fear, or regret?  We do not want to feel that pain, fear, loss of control, or whatever the emotion may be again…so we avoid the thing that makes us feel that. 

How do we change this symptom?

• Desensitize yourself to those generalized cues

  • Make those things to avoid go from general (any medical facility) to specific (a certain facility).

  • Create positive experiences surrounding those general things you avoid, eventually creating positive experiences around the more specific things (as you feel safe to do so).

• Get help from someone you trust to work through these fears.