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PTSD and Depression - Part One - Page 2

© Cheryl Foote

The first scenario seems to have the most hope. This woman has some idea of what "normal" is, or was, for her. She can use this as a basis of what she wants her life to return to. Call it a blueprint so to speak.

The second scenario seems to be the most heartbreaking for me! It is one that the women I speak to most often talk about. Many have been molested as children, and abused in other ways, unaware of relationship skills, enter abusive relationships as teens, or in marriage. These women teach themselves life skills with which to live by, often these skills will get them by in life to a point. However, as they get older these skills no longer work for them. When they do finally go for help they really have no idea of what it is they want to return to because for them what they thought to be "normal" was far from it! For these women part of the healing and recovery process requires defining characteristics they wish to keep, and then almost redesigning a life based on her life's lessons, and what she feels in her heart to be true. At this point, cognitive therapy may be necessary to unlearn negative self talk and feelings of herself.

With scenarios one and two, depression may set in during the therapy and recovery process, although it has been there most of their lives to some degree. Some of the reasons women have related to me are:

• Grieving for their original personality
• Grieving a life that was stolen from them
• Frustration with therapy
• Anger because of the medications they must take
• Anger at the frequent changes in medications in the beginning to find the right mix
• Anger at the person who caused the trauma
• Frustration with Insurance Companies if the condition causes disability
• Frustration with a partner or family members who are not supportive
• Fed up with anxiety
• Anger or embarrassment due to the stigma of mental illness
• Financial difficulties if the woman is unable to work during her recovery time
• The financial burden of medications, therapy, hospitalization and physician visits.

One thing I have heard often is the unfairness many women feel because they feel they are paying for something someone else did to them, the years that have been robbed from them, the feeling of being the only one to be going through "all of this".

Yes, depression is a large part of PTSD, and one that needs to be arrested if one is going to recover. But how is this to be done? There are excellent anti-depressants on the market now, however, this is only part of the recovery equation. Next week I will discuss some of the therapies and methods available to recover from depression.

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