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Understanding PTSD

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 Visit us at  Connected Minds By Aayushi Bagga   In the past, PTSD has been known by many names, such as “Shell Shock” and “Combat Fatigue” during World War 1 and 2, but PTSD does not only happen to veterans. PTSD can affect anyone at any age in life, and women are twice as likely as men to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a psychiatric disorder, and it affects people who experience or witness a very traumatic incident like natural disasters, an accident, victims of terrorist acts/war/combats, victims of rape and abuse, or anyone who has had a near-death experience or been threatened with sexual violence. Someone who has PTSD will have intense and disturbing thoughts and feelings for a long time related to the traumatic incident even though it has ended. They keep reliving the traumatic incident in the form of nightmares and flashbacks that make them sad, scared, and angry. These people may also start feeling detached o...
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Feeling shame in PTSD- A common effect

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 Visit us at  Connected Minds By Aayushi Bagga   A very common feeling people go through after a traumatic incident is a shame. Shame can lower an individual’s self-esteem, and make one feel isolated and even depressed. If an individual is feeling guilt or shame after experiencing something traumatic, let me assure you, there are ways to heal from it.   Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD brings out an entire range of negative emotions like fear, anxiety, sadness, and anger in people. Feeling these emotions are completely normal and justified for someone who went through a traumatic event and likely will eventually begin to fade as the survivor of PTSD heals. However, it has been noticed that there is one emotion that creeps up after a while and also makes the recovery process slower- SHAME. If a traumatic event has provoked PTSD in a person, it will cause deep-rooted feelings of shame that will foster in this person. However, shame may not be present from the beg...
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Grounding Techniques for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

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 Visit us at  Connected Minds By Aayushi Bagga   Grounding techniques are strategies that help an individual manage their emotions and memories that are linked with traumatic incidents. The aim behind grounding techniques is to remove an individual from the negative flashbacks and thoughts they face. Grounding techniques decrease the intensity of these negative feelings one would feel by the use of the five senses.   Many with PTSD experience anxiety, panic episodes, dissociation, and hypervigilance. However, grounding techniques have been seen to bring immediate relief at the moment and change the brain’s reaction over time as well. Some examples of grounding techniques could be simply noticing what is around us, listening and trying to recognize the noises in the distance, etc.   How grounding techniques work   Grounding techniques make use of the five human senses, i.e., sound, touch, smell, taste, and sight, that help connect a person with their here an...
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Are you being stonewalled by your partner

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 Visit us at  Connected Minds By Saanchi Khanna   Does your partner cut you off when you're talking about something that bothers you? Do they change the topic? Do they leave you hanging in the middle of a conflict? Do they abruptly end uncomfortable conversations? Do they refuse to listen to others' points of view? Do they refuse to accept compromise or collaborate? Does it feel like you're talking to a wall? Do you feel like there's an invisible stone wall between you two when you try to talk to them?   If the answer is yes, you're being Stonewalled by your partner. Conflicts happen; we all bicker, and therefore communication is crucial in a relationship. Only when you're able to communicate well can the relationship stand the test of time.   What is stonewalling, then?   Simply put, it is when your partner intentionally refuses to talk to you during an argument, commonly known as the silent treatment. It's not like when you leave an idea to calm yourself ...
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When to seek help: Mental health edition

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 Visit us at  Connected Minds By Aayushi Bagga   Mental health is essential, and we talk a lot about the need to take care of our mental health and the different ways one can do it. It is undoubtedly an integral part of our lives, and we need mental health assistance at some point in our lives. But when exactly do you need the intervention of a mental health professional? How can you recognize that you need mental health care? And most importantly, do only those who suffer from an illness or problem go to a professional? I am sure all of us have many more questions about Mental Health and need a therapist. So let us now look at if we need to go to a mental health professional?   Signs to look out for -   1.  Feeling of extreme emotions like sadness, despair, etc 2.  Constant pessimistic thinking 3.  Low self-esteem issues 4.  Being angry a lot 5.  Feelings of loneliness and isolation 6.  Worrying a lot about the future or past 7....
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OCD is more than being obsessed with something

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 Visit us at  Connected Minds By Saanchi Khanna   People use the phrase “My OCD won’t let me,” but many don’t understand that it’s not as casual as one might think it to be. It’s widely used in everyday conversations without a proper understanding of the disorder. It’s more than just repetitive thinking and obsession. It’s more than you want to clean your space often. It’s a mental health disorder that falls under the realm of anxiety disorder. This condition involves distressing, intrusive, obsessive thoughts and repetitive, compulsive physical or mental acts. Having any mental health disorder is not easy. Fighting your mind is never easy. It has profound effects on your daily life and health. It is challenging for people to do mundane tasks, household chores, or even get up from their beds in severe cases.   Someone suffering from OCD typically has thoughts that they feel unable to control, experiences discomfort, possibly involving fear, disgust, doubt, or a convi...
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Panic Attack - How To Help?

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 Visit us at  Connected Minds By Aayushi Bagga   Have you ever experienced a panic attack or seen a loved one go through it? Do you wonder how you could have helped them? In this blog, we will try to cover the topic of panic attacks. Panic attacks can be confusing and scary. Many of us go through difficulties that traumatize and leave a scar in our subconsciousness. Some people are close to us who deal with panic attacks. These are the times when our loved ones need us the most. But, to help them, we need to understand their situation first. We need to know that their panic may be more brutal to make any sense to them or us, but it is accurate, and they need our help and support   What are panic attacks?   A panic attack is a sudden and brief attack of intense fear and anxiety. A panic attack is defined as “An abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort” by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). When a person expe...
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