Tags
Grey's Anatomy, Held Hostage, Huffington Post, Michelle Renee, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, Stereotypes
Ah, a new discovery courtesy of Michele from Heal My PTSD!
Apparently Michelle Reneee and her daughter experienced a home invasion, kidnapping, having explosives strapped to their bodies and Michelle was forced to rob her own bank to avoid being killed.
Naturally, they both suffered PTSD, but are for the most part, greatly recovered.
She wrote a book about her ordeal (I’m ordering it), has a website and you can also find her on Twitter.
There’s even going to be a made-for-TV movie based on her book. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’s screened in Australia!
Michelle also writes some thought provoking articles for Huffington Post, including this recent one: Grey’s Anatomy Sheds Light on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(Full disclosure: Yeah, I watch the show and think Patrick Dempsey is kinda HOT. McDreamy over McSteamy any day!)
I also think Grey’s Anatomy is doing a pretty good job in depicting PTSD.
The one thing that irks me is the use of the most common story – a returned soldier as the sufferer. Of course, there are huge numbers of soldiers impacted by PTSD, but they aren’t the full picture.
In not demonstrating how any Joe Blow off the street can end up with PTSD, the stereotype is perpetuated. Which doesn’t help Joe Blow to understand what’s happening to him/her. It doesn’t help with diagnosis and it means that gaining the support of family and friends isn’t as easy as it should be.
I guess though, they can’t have a whole show full of PTSD-ers, although I was recently (and jokingly) discussing the idea of a reality show called: So, You Think YOU’RE Crazy? 😉
Hehe!!
I do, however, like the way Grey’s demonstrates the unpredictability of PTSD, and how hard it can be to talk about what’s going on.
PTSD is silent, it’s deadly and without the right support, it has the potential to kill the sufferer – via alcohol, drugs, suicide etc. Many PTSD sufferers don’t know how to explain how they feel. They can’t and don’t want to tell you because they’re trying desperately to contain it.
The tragedy is that unless the person in question is ready to face up to their trauma demons, I don’t think there’s anything another person can do to help. Except try to be there and offer love.
This is of course what we all need, regardless of our state of mind. A person with PTSD however, won’t make that easy for you. They might really need someone to just give them a hug.
But you’ll be the last to know. And in the meantime, their inner world causes them more terror every single day, than most people could ever imagine.
~Svasti
Svasti: A Journey From Assault To Wholeness 
Great post, thanks for sharing.
Hey Svasti,
This sounds like a fascinating story–I am going to order the book myself.
What you said about being ready to face your demons is absolutely right on–and in fact, my very wise mother-in-law who died a couple of years ago had a great saying that I use all the time, “There’s a readiness for everything.” And this is so true–whenever you are talking about any kind of change. People have to reach a point where what they are currently doing is completely untenable and it is then that they reach that point of readiness.
But we can sometimes do things to help a person become more ready–by supporting emotionally and letting the person know we are willing to listen and to help when they do reach that point of readiness.
I also believe that it is very helpful to read about/hear about other success stories–people like Michelle who was able to face her demons–and then even write a book about it. This gives so much strength to otehrs. And Svasti, you do this too! People read about your own honest and courageous story of facing your past and they think, ‘if Svasti can do this, so can I!.” It’s absolutely true.
Great post as usual.
Melinda
@pandalopes – You’re welcome! Gotta share the good stuff I come across.
@Melinda – I just bought this today via Amazon with another book. Can’t wait to read her story for myself! It is impossible to help someone who doesn’t want your help, but still, those people need support anyway. Which isn’t always as easy as it sounds.
And yes, it is an excellent idea to read about others, and how they managed to extract themselves from trauma recovery.
Thanks Melinda, I can only hope what I’m writing helps someone. If it does, that makes me very happy!
I suffer from PTSD, myself and let me tell you. It’s no easy task to get up every morning and start my day. It’s been seven and a half years since my son and myself’s incident and i remember it like it was yesterday. It doesn’t haunt my dreams it haunts my days sometimes, too. I watched Michelle’s movie just the other day and was amazed and felt horrible for her and her daughter for having gone thru that. People do not understand the trauma one goes thru mentally when something happens to you like that. Especially, after it happens. The nightmares, the stress, the looking over your shoulder every where you go, sitting so you face the doors in restaurants and being very aware of your surroundings(which some are not a bad idea). I have long term and short term memory loss and doctors do not know when they or if they will return, so poeple please take Michelle’s story serious and take the time to be understanding to someone in need for any reason. Who knows they just might need you or you may need them.
Nina
Hi Nina, I understand exactly how you feel. I’ve been there. PTSD is an absolute bastard of a thing. When you are ready, there are treatments that can help you to recover some of your life. I know it might seem impossible right now – I’ve felt that way myself. But as I said, when you’re ready, it will be possible to banish the nightmares, the hyper-vigilance and you might even regain some of your memory (although mine is still patchy).
You should also be aware that what you and your son eat and do with your time is important. The more nourishing foods and activities you can fit into your life, the better.
I wish you all the best in your healing journey. I know that it’s possible because I’ve done the work myself, and so have others like Michelle-Renee and also the woman who runs the Heal My PTSD blog. There’s lots of us out there who find our way out. You have my very best wishes and my love, xx
I just finished watching the movie on channel 7 top movies and coweees to Michelle Renee and daughter for fighting for the truth. Its sad to see the way innocent victims get treatment from authority its not being a victim its if th
ey think you are involved ?