PTSD: Trauma and the road to recovery.
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Sam DeSilva has been blogging about PTSD since being caught in the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. More of his writing can be found here.
In July 2015, Dr Jennifer Wild and I were asked to be featured as guests on the Chrissy B Show. The week’s episode was focused on trauma & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
In the segments that Dr Jennifer Wild and I were featured in, we discussed several issues regarding my experience of trauma and subsequent treatment that I received from Dr Wild, at NHS Maudsley & Oxford University.
Key Discussion Points:
- The initial trauma of being caught on Koh Phi Phi island, Thailand, when the waves of the 2004 Asian tsunami hit and lead to 24 hours of helping the injured as a first responder before we received help from the mainland.
- The years of misdiagnosis and mistreatment by the NHS. How GPs often fail to recognise trauma sufferers due to it’s complex nature of the condition, instead trying to treat the symptoms of PTSD, but not the actual route cause of the distress.
- What the actual therapy that Dr Jennifer Wild delivered during our treatment sessions and how and why the trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy helped me so much.
- The incredible support that I have received internationally, since sharing my story on social media and how that has helped me with my road to recovery.
My aim for ptsdjedi.com has always been to raise mental health awareness for PTSD in order try to highlight the countless men, women, and children who suffer trauma in silence. And, how with greater understanding, and early, accurate diagnosis, we can genuinely support those that suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I hope by watching the show so you can better understand my journey.
The following description is taken from www.chrissybshow.tv
The Chrissy B Show is all about improving mental health and being happy from within. Whether you are going through a mental health issue or just want to watch some happy and inspiring TV, then this show is for you.
On this show, Chrissy delves into the subject of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence:
“Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops following a stressful event or situation of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature, which is likely to cause pervasive distress in almost anyone. PTSD does not therefore develop following those upsetting situations that are described as ‘traumatic’ in everyday language, for example, divorce, loss of job, or failing an exam. PTSD is a disorder that can affect people of all ages. Around 25–30% of people experiencing a traumatic event may go on to develop PTSD.” https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg26/chapter/1-Guidance
We bring you two different stories of individuals who both ended up developing PTSD. Chrissy’s first guest, Sam De Silva, is a tsunami survivor, and the show’s resident fashion stylist, Cynthia Liza Gregoire, a burns survivor. Chrissy also interviews world-renowned Psychologist, Jennifer Wild about PTSD and also resident GP Dr. Rob Hicks about how to best treat burns.
Chrissy also shares her tips on how to help a loved-one who has been through a traumatic experience.
The Chrissy B Show airs on SKY 203 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10pm in our cosy living room studio in the heart of London.
For more information visit www.chrissybshow.tv
Facebook: The Chrissy B Show
Twitter: @chrissybshow
Follow the presenter on Instagram: chrissyboodram
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This article originally appeared on PTSD Jedi
Photo credit: Getty Images