I have recently told my story to a journalist to help raise awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The story got picked up by the Mail Online and you can read it here.
The whole point of this process, and I haven't received any money for this story, is to help other women who have been through birth trauma. And I should not have read them but there have been some downright nasty comments. I am sure none of these small minded people will read my blog, as they are too busy with their own perfect lives however, I really want to just get it out!
One of the reasons it is believed I got Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is due to layering. My psychiatrist explained that sometimes previous trauma gets all messed up with the current trauma, which is what happened to me. My flashbacks weren't just about the events surrounding Joseph's hospitalisation, there was other stuff all mixed in. It was a really terrible time and it took a long time to get help.
However, and I really want to say this, I haven't been sitting around moping for the past 2 years, and I don't go on about it. I was approached by a journalist who picked up the story arising out of the MAD blog awards. I naively thought it would help to get it out there.
Anyone who knows me will know I am 100% behind the NHS and immensely grateful I have a healthy toddler. I am not bitter or twisted, I had a medical condition.
Psychiatric disorders can happen to anyone. It has nothing to do with strength or character or anything else, its chemical. Some people have bones susceptible to fracture. Some people have underlying heart problems. We don't tell these people its all their fault, and neither should we say that to people who have mental illness.
I didn't choose to feel like shit when Joseph came home. And in fact, I tried my hardest to be happy and positive. Anyone who would like to criticise, you try living with non stop nightmares, flashbacks (where you are right back in the situation) and intrusive thoughts.
And I just hope that there are no Daily Mail readers to tell you to just get over it and pull your socks up.
The whole point of this process, and I haven't received any money for this story, is to help other women who have been through birth trauma. And I should not have read them but there have been some downright nasty comments. I am sure none of these small minded people will read my blog, as they are too busy with their own perfect lives however, I really want to just get it out!
One of the reasons it is believed I got Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is due to layering. My psychiatrist explained that sometimes previous trauma gets all messed up with the current trauma, which is what happened to me. My flashbacks weren't just about the events surrounding Joseph's hospitalisation, there was other stuff all mixed in. It was a really terrible time and it took a long time to get help.
However, and I really want to say this, I haven't been sitting around moping for the past 2 years, and I don't go on about it. I was approached by a journalist who picked up the story arising out of the MAD blog awards. I naively thought it would help to get it out there.
Anyone who knows me will know I am 100% behind the NHS and immensely grateful I have a healthy toddler. I am not bitter or twisted, I had a medical condition.
Psychiatric disorders can happen to anyone. It has nothing to do with strength or character or anything else, its chemical. Some people have bones susceptible to fracture. Some people have underlying heart problems. We don't tell these people its all their fault, and neither should we say that to people who have mental illness.
I didn't choose to feel like shit when Joseph came home. And in fact, I tried my hardest to be happy and positive. Anyone who would like to criticise, you try living with non stop nightmares, flashbacks (where you are right back in the situation) and intrusive thoughts.
And I just hope that there are no Daily Mail readers to tell you to just get over it and pull your socks up.
