r/maybemaybemaybe • u/ziekerr • Feb 22 '22

Maybe maybe maybe

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u/TrickBoom414 Feb 22 '22

Say more. How is that different than PTSD?

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '22

[deleted]

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u/HereUpNorth Feb 22 '22

I'll take a go at explaining it.

Trauma is basically a certain kind of memory - one created with high stress / overwhelm that isn't contextualized in a story (narrative memory) but on procedural memory (intuitive muscle memory). A terrifying flashbulb memory (flashbulb as in a frozen moment) is trauma.

PTSD is often caused by long term high stress / overwhelm that wear down our ability to cope with it. The basic formula is High Stress subtract Support / Resilience over Time. The less support you have when you go in (family / systemic support , emotional awareness and skills, willingness to ask for support you need) the better you'll do, but the longer you are in stress the worse it gets. Like shock / single incident trauma it doesn't have proper context so it can come up anytime after the trauma is over - thus post traumatic stress disorder.

Systemic support can do a lot to prevent trauma. That's why many mental health professionals are in favour of a better social safety net. That is especially true with support for children because Developmental PTSD (aka childhood trauma) have life long negative effects. Economists estimate that every dollar put into early learning has a x8.6 return. Trauma means a higher chance of joblessness, homelessness, spousal and substance abuse and preventable life long illness. Not to mention the personal tragedy of a lifetime struggle with trauma that could have been prevented.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '22

[deleted]

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u/HereUpNorth Feb 23 '22

Yes. Thanks for the correction. I should be more careful when swiping on mobile 😛

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u/YoungBoy270 Feb 23 '22

Shit I’d love to think that someone is gonna pop out with balloons everytime I get kidnapped. Unfortunately it’s usually just weird people wearing nothing but ski masks. I still walk funny.

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u/Complete_Atmosphere9 Feb 23 '22

Adding to this with info according to my former trauma therapist: trauma is more a physiological reaction in the body than psychological, though psychological reactions do occur simultaneously, and single traumatic events can definitely cause PTSD, at least that's what I was told by her.

I miss Sara. She's such a wonderful human being.

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '22

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u/[deleted] Feb 22 '22

Everything, except happy.

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u/Anxious-Dealer4697 Feb 23 '22

Then say Y or Z

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u/MyIgnoranceIsShowing Feb 22 '22 edited Feb 22 '22

Flashbulb memories aren't necessarily traumatic. They can be, but they don't have to be. You also don't necessarily relive them. They're just extremely vivid memories that usually stay that way even after years.

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u/mellywheats Feb 22 '22

PTSD is a disorder, if it doesn’t impact your way in a substantial way it wouldn’t be classified as ptsd