today i am wondering, and quite seriously, if it is possible to suffer from PTSD as a result of having served as a PCV?
as january weighs heavily upon us, the reality of who we, collectively and individually, have become as a result of living in this country, in this frame of mind, in this specific brew of negativity for two years, is glaring us in the face. while we may be tougher, harder, colder people, it is not necessarily a very attractive reality.
i, for one, feel like i will need some time to unwind and release a lot of whatever it is i've acquired on this journey when i return to the states. this unspeakable ailment makes 5 months seem like 5 years and has my sanity almost in ruins.
is it fair to say, then, that in our own way, we've suffered from the shock of this environment and should let ourselves off the hook when it comes time to untangle the web of frayed threads of emotions?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
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3 comments:
this is something i have wondered about and worried about as well. i think we deserve a chance to unwind and recover from all of this.
and i will let you know how it goes. hang in there, my friend. :)
Some symptoms of PTSD. A warning to all future RPCVs. They should've covered this in PST:
1. Frequently having upsetting thoughts or memories about a traumatic event.
2. Having recurrent nightmares.
3. A loss of interest in important, once positive, activities.
4. Feeling distant from others.
5. Feeling more irritable or having outbursts of anger.
6. Having a difficult time falling or staying asleep.
7. Experiencing difficulties having positive feelings, such as happiness or love.
I think I'm suffering from 3-5 right now.
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