What PTSD Is

[ysabetwordsmith]

Here's a brilliant post about the kind of PTSD that builds slowly, a pervasive shift in worldview, rather than the kind that comes from a sudden major shock.  This is how it can form in people who aren't front-line soldiers but rather support crew, or cops, or people living in poverty or neglectful relationships.  

Now look at the part where it talks about society not being a safe place, everyone's out to get each other, no trustworthy connections, no safety net if something goes wrong, nobody to care if you live or die.  That's what we're making our world into every time we cut public services and support.  We're making it more like the place inside a PTSD sufferer's head.  "Every man for himself and devil take the hindmost" isn't a society.  It's madness.

Comments

[cmcmck]

My familiarity with PTSD comes via military history and it goes back a lot further than the acronym.

Shakespeare's Falstaff as the old soldier who's seen one arrow storm too many?

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>My familiarity with PTSD comes via military history<<

That's one branch of mine too.

>> and it goes back a lot further than the acronym.<<

I keep an eye out for previous terminology across times and cultures.

>>Shakespeare's Falstaff as the old soldier who's seen one arrow storm too many?<<

That's one of the better-known examples, yes.