Page 102 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2018

HEALTHY LIVING coping with anxiety
HELPING YOURSELF
These suggestions will help you cope:
1.
Follow your health professional’s instructions and remind yourself that it takes time.
2.
Take care of yourself. Get enough rest, eat a balanced diet, exercise and take time to relax. Avoid caffeine and nicotine, which can worsen anxiety.
3.
Don’t self-medicate. Turning to alcohol or drugs to numb your feelings isn’t healthy and can lead to more problems and prevent real healing.
4.
When you feel anxious, take a brisk walk or get involved in a hobby to re-focus.
5.
Talk to someone. Stay connected to family, friends or others.
a time when many of us are reminded of Hurricane Katrina and all the chaos and destruction she caused. For some, the memories and anxious feelings can be overwhelming and interfere with everyday life — Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.
“Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a diagnosis that one may receive as a result of a traumatic experience,” says Angie Fields, MSW, LCSW, director of clinical services for Gulfport Behavioral Health System. “An experience is considered traumatic when a person witnesses or is confronted by potential death, serious injury or other threats to one’s self or others and results in wounding of a person’s emotions, sense of security and loss of dignity.”
The Coast experienced a devastating natural disaster in Hurricane Katrina. “Many of us felt overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness and hopelessness while trying to get back on our feet,” Fields says. “However, there are so many day-to-day situations in our community where trauma is experienced. Any one of us can experience trauma dependent on our ability to cope, available support system and community resources.”
PTSD is a mental health issue involving the brain in which the memory or experience produces severe anxiety or panic reactions. Often, the result is a sense of panic, making it almost impossible to move forward — something that may be misunderstood.
“A primary symptom of PTSD is the experiencing of flashbacks or dissociative episodes. This involves having occasions by which the individual re- experiences the trauma that can be triggered by anything that reminds them
of the traumatic situation. Triggers can be anything involved in the original traumatic experience, such as a sound, a smell, the environmental factors of the location, etc.,” Fields said. “Clients have reported feeling like they are ‘right back’ in the traumatic experience and ‘paralyzed by the fear they feel.’”
Unfortunately, many people are confused by what they are experiencing and are afraid to seek help because of what others might think or because they do not understand what is happening to them. “Ignoring the pain will inevitably take its toll in damaging our bodies and minds, both of which give out under the stress,” Fields said. “A necessary part of healing is therapy, and therefore it’s important to act early to get the necessary treatment. Most people will come to realize they are not alone.”
102 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • July 2018
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story courtesy of Gulfport Behavioral Health System