Yes I can relate to that Marydean. I think PTSD doesn't fully kick in while you're still in shock. I tend to have delayed reactions anyway. I found while I was still in massive survival mode, I didn't notice the PTSD. That came later. I self-diagnosed it. Because I had some Psych training I recognised it. I also had some spectacularly unhelpful advice from counsellors who should have known better, such as "don't be a victim"; "you are re-traumatising yourself" (how can I be "re-traumatising" myself if no inital trauma has even been acknowledged to date???) and "just scream into a pillow, that's what I did."
????
I decided that I had PTSD because some of the weirder feelings I realized were a bit beyond feeling stressed and blue over what had happened.
Just that acknowledgment was the first step to healing.
Marydean how are you doing now? Are you feeling OK? Were you able to find effective help and support? I think your experience of going to a place of death and having to make a choice to live is very real and significant. I tend to think that was a spiritual event more than a psychological one.
Love and strength to you.
Ryn, I'm really moved by your courage in forcing off the mask of the "perfect" mother. That takes guts for anyone, especially when you're already feeling vulnerable. More power to you.
Berry I like this: "The woman should be able to direct the session around what she feels is important and is impacting her." Very true. We need woman-centered, woman-led birth and woman-centred, woman-led birth review. (I believe it is self-evident that this is what is safest for our babies - as Marsden Wagner articulated so well).
We have got a lot of work to do but I hope we can come up with something that will be helpful and sensitive.
Last edited by Julie Doula; July 2nd, 2007 at 10:55 PM.
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