Authored by: @Go Hungry
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder carries with it a great number of difficulties and challenges. At times it can be daunting to carry out one’s daily tasks within the maelstrom of an endocrine system run amok. One of the greatest challenges of my personal journey is memory.
PTSD can have profound effects on an individual’s recollection. Memory is deeply tied to an area of the brain which is known as the limbic region. The seat of emotions and autonomic nervous function, the limbic region was one of the first parts of the human brain to evolve, and it forms the foundation upon which all higher brain functions depend.
The hippocampus is a structure within the limbic region which governs the creation of new memories and the association of stimuli to recover both new and old memories. Unfortunately, it is also a part of the brain which is deeply impacted by trauma and can, in certain circumstances, be permanently altered by PTSD.
But how does this all tie in with the daily life of a PTSD survivor? In my own experience, it was nearly impossible to properly structure my life and career at times due to challenges with memory. Whether rent, bills, birthdays or just common reminders, it was extremely difficult to keep track of anything for long. Some of these challenges remain with me today. At times, it feels as if my memory is made of swiss cheese.
However, I've found that one of the most effective ways of dealing with my own PTSD is to become as organized as possible, and this included an online calendar. There are many calendar apps out there, and finding one that suits your tastes is easy as pie. In my case, I chose to use "Sunrise Calendar," as I could access it anywhere, and also route it through my Android smartphone. Google and Apple also have apps that are readily available.
By using an online calendar, I was able to let go and relax. It does take some work to set up at first, but I found the rewards to be well worth the cost in time. I put everything in there. Rent, bills, work-related tasks, medical and dentist appointments and everything from daily to annual reminders--everything. Today’s existing calendar apps are very robust and allow you to make entries from any computer with an internet connection.
With options for color-coding, alarms, snooze functions, multiple calendars and sharing features, the amount by which I was able to simplify my life was astounding. I now have separate calendars set up for work and play, for family gatherings and game night with my friends. I have different colors for tasks of different urgency. Bills and work deadlines are red, groceries and home maintenance tasks are green, et cetera. By integrating the calendar with my Gmail and Facebook accounts, I have everyone’s birthday already included as well as reminders for meetings of online interest groups. All of these things are now organized and no longer elusively whirling around my brain.
The results were immediate and dramatic. My family appreciates getting calls and e-cards for their birthdays. My boss is very pleased with my increased efficiency at work. My finances are in much better shape, and overall my entire life been benefited. Above all, organizing my time has given me time to organize many other things in my life. It is all a great deal simpler.
Our symptoms are cryptic, sometimes subtle, and always powerful. They can seem overwhelming at times. But with modern technology and the rise of the internet, there are many ways in which we can work around our challenges, and reduce the impact of those symptoms. Organization is the key, and there are many tools available to help us along the way. Merely downloading an online calendar could mitigate some of the effects PTSD has on your life.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder carries with it a great number of difficulties and challenges. At times it can be daunting to carry out one’s daily tasks within the maelstrom of an endocrine system run amok. One of the greatest challenges of my personal journey is memory.
PTSD can have profound effects on an individual’s recollection. Memory is deeply tied to an area of the brain which is known as the limbic region. The seat of emotions and autonomic nervous function, the limbic region was one of the first parts of the human brain to evolve, and it forms the foundation upon which all higher brain functions depend.
The hippocampus is a structure within the limbic region which governs the creation of new memories and the association of stimuli to recover both new and old memories. Unfortunately, it is also a part of the brain which is deeply impacted by trauma and can, in certain circumstances, be permanently altered by PTSD.
But how does this all tie in with the daily life of a PTSD survivor? In my own experience, it was nearly impossible to properly structure my life and career at times due to challenges with memory. Whether rent, bills, birthdays or just common reminders, it was extremely difficult to keep track of anything for long. Some of these challenges remain with me today. At times, it feels as if my memory is made of swiss cheese.
However, I've found that one of the most effective ways of dealing with my own PTSD is to become as organized as possible, and this included an online calendar. There are many calendar apps out there, and finding one that suits your tastes is easy as pie. In my case, I chose to use "Sunrise Calendar," as I could access it anywhere, and also route it through my Android smartphone. Google and Apple also have apps that are readily available.
By using an online calendar, I was able to let go and relax. It does take some work to set up at first, but I found the rewards to be well worth the cost in time. I put everything in there. Rent, bills, work-related tasks, medical and dentist appointments and everything from daily to annual reminders--everything. Today’s existing calendar apps are very robust and allow you to make entries from any computer with an internet connection.
With options for color-coding, alarms, snooze functions, multiple calendars and sharing features, the amount by which I was able to simplify my life was astounding. I now have separate calendars set up for work and play, for family gatherings and game night with my friends. I have different colors for tasks of different urgency. Bills and work deadlines are red, groceries and home maintenance tasks are green, et cetera. By integrating the calendar with my Gmail and Facebook accounts, I have everyone’s birthday already included as well as reminders for meetings of online interest groups. All of these things are now organized and no longer elusively whirling around my brain.
The results were immediate and dramatic. My family appreciates getting calls and e-cards for their birthdays. My boss is very pleased with my increased efficiency at work. My finances are in much better shape, and overall my entire life been benefited. Above all, organizing my time has given me time to organize many other things in my life. It is all a great deal simpler.
Our symptoms are cryptic, sometimes subtle, and always powerful. They can seem overwhelming at times. But with modern technology and the rise of the internet, there are many ways in which we can work around our challenges, and reduce the impact of those symptoms. Organization is the key, and there are many tools available to help us along the way. Merely downloading an online calendar could mitigate some of the effects PTSD has on your life.
