PTSD or PTSG?

Chris standing up outside at a park

 I read an interesting statement this morning. The author was talking about trauma and having PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Personally, I think all caregivers probably suffer from post-traumatic stress on some level. We just don't always have time to pamper ourselves, and we often live in survival mode. There's no time to get an official diagnosis. And even IF we did, when would we have time to “treat” it? I laugh - but it's not funny, really.

The author made a really good point. She said that she shifted her focus to how much she'd grown since the trauma in her life. That made me pause and think a little bit. 

Has caregiving been difficult? YES! Has the journey been the hardest thing in my life, so far? Absolutely. But I have to admit that I have grown as a believer. I call my journey a redefining of faith. Nothing looks like it did - absolutely nothing. And even though I didn't get the answers I've prayed for, I have to acknowledge that I view faith differently post-trauma than I did before. 

Has my relationship with God changed? LOL - yes!!! In spite of, or as a result of the trauma, my trust in God has matured. I have to admit that I have changed A LOT since I became a caregiver. I've grown a lot in faith, in the word, and in my relationship with God. So while the trauma behind caregiving did cause stress, it also caused growth.

I love how God just keeps walking with us no matter what. Those times I was so angry with Him for letting this happen, and the times I really wanted to give up and throw in the proverbial towel - He remained faithful. What a faithful God He is! 

Here we are on this side of trauma and in the midst of caregiving, still chasing the God who is chasing us! What a beautiful picture!

Today, I will reflect on this traumatic journey. But this time, I will focus on the growth instead of the stress. I'll think about how God has continued to nurture trust and faith. My meditations will be on how the Creator continued watching over my heart in the most difficult trials of my life. When I looked my ugliest - during those ugly cries - He remained right there with me and didn't even think about leaving me emotionally stranded. He's seen me through some challenging times and He will remain with me no matter what comes. Today, I'm so thankful, and I believe I can trust Him with another day. Will you join me?




Cover of "Peace Out It's in the Bible!"

 Peace Out! It's in the Bible is a 31-day devotional that is focused on letting God's peace reign in our hearts - no matter what. You can get the eBook from my shop at Buy Me A Coffee. Or the print and kindle versions are available in my Amazon Shop.





Comments

Post a Comment

Our Most Popular Posts

Find a New Hobby for These Surprising Benefits

Image
   Hobbies can help us connect to our creative side, spend quality time with our loved ones , and boost confidence, and, as EverydayPower.com notes, they can also promote mental and physical wellness . Whether you’re learning something new from a class or taking the initiative to tackle a project at home, practicing a hobby can improve your quality of life enormously. Looking for something fun to do with a friend or loved one?   Here are a few suggestions when you’re ready to find a fun new hobby to try:   Choose something that boosts your health   It can be challenging to take care of your overall wellness at times, especially when you’re busy taking care of family obligations. Learning to focus on your physical and mental health needs is much easier when it’s fun, however, and that’s where a hobby comes in. Look for one that helps you get active , such as a yoga class, or consider starting a walking group or joining a local organization that allow...
Read more

But I Have Today

Image
Do you ever have days that are just heavier than others? Of course, you do - who am I talking to? Saturday was Chris' 37th birthday. For some reason, it was unusually hard as I thought of where all his friends are today. You know, married, having kids, and enjoying their careers. I cried more than once that day. I grieved over what should have been, what could have been.  I hugged him a little tighter and thought about the progress he's made recently. The other night, I am certain he "sang" to me after I got him in bed. It was the sweetest thing and I posted it in his Facebook group where I share things I don't feel I can share as "publicly." He's moving more and initiating more of his movement on his own. There are many things to rejoice about. At the same time, I am getting older. My joints hurt and I wonder how much longer I can take care of him. I fear the day that I won't be able to. This is the way the rest of my life looks, and I am okay w...
Read more

No Get Out of Jail Free Cards?

Image
  Do you ever feel like life just doesn't let up? Sometimes it seems like caregivers should get some sort of exempt card. You know? Something that lets us stay in the cave without having to deal with all the craziness that's going on in the world. Well, it was just a thought. I guess there are no "get out of jail free cards" in life. A pandemic rages on and we didn't get an exempt card, did we? Political and civil unrest didn't qualify us for one either. We have to deal with all the craziness in the world plus our caregiving responsibilities. Isn't caregiving enough? Dealing with aids who don't show, people and family who do not know how to help so they avoid us, and the traffic of health care professionals of all sorts is enough for any given day. Yet it happens over and over again. How do we stay sane?  Caregivers are resilient - we just keep going. Every night I go to bed feeling like I failed. I didn't get enough done. It's easy to focus on...
Read more