I want to add one thing, that we should all keep in mind whether we are here as trauma survivors, supporters, researchers, critics or skeptics.
When talking about conditions that are described as a mental health conditions- whether it be PTSD or not- that there is much that science can not answer for. While doctors and medical researchers have put in their time and efforts to best explain why the human brain reacts to situations in the manner that it does, much of their findings have not been conclusive. In some cases, there simply is no explanation. What it means in a real life, day to day setting is that each human being will respond differently, sometimes with extreme variations- to the exact same set of circumstances. What one person sees and believes should not be labeled as trauma, another person indeed experiences real trauma. Why? There is no answer for why, but regardless it bears truth.
Now bear in mind (it will seem off topic, but I promise it is absolutely relevant) that in research they are (to present date) only able to identify 9 percent (that is not a typo- only 9) of what our genetic make-up actually does. In that 9 percent it includes physical characteristics, physical and neurological function, etc. But what is in the missing 91 percent? Well, that remains a large mystery. However- research and studies have proven that the basic genetic coding DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is altered when experiencing trauma, and a fetus can undergo the same basic DNA changes while in utero. Real life scenario- An expectant mother suffers a trauma and the related post stress accompanying it- the mother and the fetus suffer a DNA change that may cause difficulties after the birth of the child- the mother may have an increased level of anxiety while the child may suffer from increased anxiety well into his or her adulthood but may also develop more honed instincts. The same is true of the mother if the trauma is experienced prior to conception of the fetus. So what we experience, what changes occur in our life, physically change us. And we pass it on. We may well develop PTSD because there is some little coding that was altered well before we were born and have a predisposition to it- making some events that do not seem to fit into the trauma category a traumatic event for the person experiencing it. It brings up an excellent question, I think, when I read the post about the woman who gave birth, perfectly normal childbirth, perfectly healthy baby- what if in her DNA something is triggered that is not yet understood by science because it falls into that 91 percent category, and brings this anxiety of trauma out? Could it be that her mother or grandmother experienced difficulties in child birth, and that the woman who suffered no trauma had the basic instinct of her DNA kick in and complicate the experience for her? Probable, no, possible, yes- there just is not enough information, evidence or science to de-code it.
Sorry for rambling, I just had to get that out since it is applicable to the topic, and it should give us all something to consider as we venture forward and try to hold on to our ability to have compassion for one another. Just because it doesn't make sense, does not make it any less so. Is that not what PTSD is all about in the end? Making sense of the things that do not make sense.
