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Parenting The Chronically Ill: PTSD
It’s a monster
The idea that kids who are not abused do not have enough life experience to have true PTSD is mind boggling.
Bit is 8, she was diagnosed with PTSD at 2. She woke up during her first surgery. Since then medical scenarios can be a complete nightmare or a piece of cake, there is no middle ground.
PTSD at 2 was interesting, she could not articulate what was wrong. After her surgery I would try to take her to the grocery store and within moments of walking in she would be on the floor, inconsolable. It was only after removing her and giving her time to calm down that she became herself again. This went on for almost 2 years, and as a single mom, it meant I had to get creative with groceries.
Her therapist worked it out with her, we established the lights and the low hum of the coolers set her off. It was like waking up in the OR, awake but unable to speak.
She did better for awhile. Then she got sick again. Then it started when she saw blue gloves. You know the kind. So pretty much every hospital, doctor or dentist appointment was a nightmare.
Bit is logical, she always has been. However, when she gets in to one of these situations, she shuts down. She cannot logic. Her fight or flight response kicks in. She screams, she physically tries to get…
