GRIEF PTSD

GRIEF PTSD has a funny way of sneaking up on you months and even years after you think you’ve recovered from the loss of your loved one.  Whether it’s reliving the trauma and circumstances of the death of your loved one or struggling with guilt or regret with decisions you had to make, you will more likely than not experience PTSD in the years ahead.  Our minds are incredible computers of recall that can remember details and circumstances, especially when they are traumatic in nature.  The mental images that can occur whether in dreams or in the moment, can be just as vivid as they day they actually happened.  Add to that, our minds reflecting upon the myriad of situations and what could, would or should have happened to prevent their loss.  We want to reimagine what could have taken place differently so that our loved one is still alive and living with us. A few seconds in time can change the entire outcome of a life; yet we can’t take back those moments nor change what actually happened.  That is reality and that reality is what brings such recall forward stirring up intense hurt.   It is grief PTSD that returns caused by the mental reliving of those afterthoughts that spark a multitude of emotions and disturbing memories within.

Afterthoughts, whether reliving guilt or regrets are just that:  afterthoughts.  You can’t change the outcome.  Yank yourself back in the present time and focus your mind on remembering that the sum total of their life is not about how your loved one died, but how they lived.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new, right spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:10

For more information visit https://www.chaplainmary.net/
Or check out my book:

https://www.amazon.com/Skirting-Thin-Veil-Meaningful-Life-Changing

Photo by Chaplain Mary


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