IT's Figure It Out Friday!

Today is Figure It Out Friday at Aortic Hope!

PTSD is real and happens to Survivors and Caregivers. Whether you have had an emergency dissection, are in the watch and wait with an aneurysm or if you have had aneurysm/valve removal surgery, trauma to the body can create trauma within the mind.

From Active Beat, by kgeorge, this article titled PTSD - The Signs & Symptoms has some very important information:

"According to mental health professionals, post-traumatic stress disorder (or PTSD) is a mental condition that results in a series of emotional and

physical reactions in individuals who have either witnessed or experienced a traumatic event.

Events that cause the individual to fear for personal life and well being—such as a car collision or other accident, a physical or sexual assault, long term abuse, torture, a natural disaster, living in a war zone, or life-altering experiences like the death of a loved one—can all spur the following PTSD symptoms…”

Physical Pain

Flashbacks

Depression or Anxiety

Withdrawal

Emotional Numbing

Irritability

Guilt and Shame

Behavior Changes

Mood Swings

are just some of the symptoms listed. If you have experienced any or some of these Symptoms and they have lasted Longer Than 3 Months, you should consider sharing this with your physician.

Check out the article by clicking HERE for more information but remember, don’t feel embarrassed to share this information with a medical professional. Your emotional well being is just as important as the physical!