Living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder means living in constant fatigue. Once you have experienced some terrible things, your mind stays alert to anything that might threaten your safety and security. In order to relieve oneself of constant fear, a person starts separating from anything that reminds of that experience.
As many Australians visiting the clinic because of psychological issues state, staying far away from particular places, people, as well as avoiding certain thoughts provides some peace of mind. Although it might seem logical enough to distance oneself from anything reminding of trauma, the technique itself may prove ineffective later on.
Although avoidance strategy allows relieving oneself from fear temporarily, it prevents full processing of everything that happened. Most often realisation of that fact turns out to be the first big step to recovery.
Avoidance in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Firstly, it is necessary to emphasise the protective role of this defence mechanism. For instance, when touching a hot stove, our brain learns that this is dangerous and teaches us to avoid stoves in the future. Similarly, when traumatised by a certain event, we warn ourselves not to put ourselves into a similar situation again.
Thus, having developed such an alarm, those patients whose brain perceives everything as potentially harmful start changing their behavioural routines, avoiding people, television programs, etc. Nevertheless, this reaction comes as nothing but another attempt at protection.
Worsening of the Situation
Unfortunately, the more a person tries to avoid certain events and situations, the more problems they experience. Once successfully avoiding something frightening, fear disappears; consequently, our brain treats such actions as rewards. Trying to protect us from potential threats, it reinforces our beliefs that there is indeed something to fear.
Since the brain fails to see that there is nothing wrong anymore, a person remains trapped in their own fear. Also, since there is no proper treatment, the world of those suffering from PTSD becomes narrower; as a result, they make a list of things that should be avoided.
This vicious cycle of fear will keep going until one decides to deal with it. Unfortunately, as long as avoidance continues, suffering will keep increasing.
Different Types of Trauma-Avoidance Strategies
On the whole, there are three kinds of coping mechanisms that people use. Foremost, avoidance implies staying away from anything that might remind one of trauma; so, people avoid visiting particular places or meeting certain people.
Secondly, cognitive avoidance means forcing the brain to think non-stop in order to push all those memories away. Finally, emotional avoidance involves detaching from oneself and using alcohol or drugs in order to numb one’s feelings.
Emotional Engagement
Undoubtedly, the hardest task to complete here is making oneself accept the idea of facing trauma. However, to fight this fear, one needs to embrace all mentioned types of avoidance. Consequently, this means gradually facing one’s fears in a controlled setting and allowing the brain recognise that the threat no longer exists.
Luckily, there are several specialists who can help, such as PTSD therapy in Melbourne. This one phone call may just change your life.
