"Living After the Storm: Understanding PTSD in Men and Women"

"Living After the Storm: Understanding PTSD in Men and Women"

Not all wounds bleed. Some stay hidden beneath the surface, waiting for silence to scream.

That’s what Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) does. It affects both men and women, no matter their age. Whether you’ve lived through the battlefield of war or the haunting pain of abuse — your story matters.

On Haven of Minds, we don't ignore pain. We give it a voice, and we walk through it with healing in mind.

🧍 Short Story — “Daniel & the Shadows” 

Daniel never returned the same.

He had survived the battlefield, but at night, the sounds came back. Loud. Unseen.

Sarah never went to war, but after what happened, she never smiled the same again. A touch, a smell, a word  it all took her back.

Different stories, same haunting echo.

They smiled at work. Laughed in public. But every night, they faced the storm alone.

(The names used are pseudonyms)

💥 What Causes PTSD?

PTSD can arise from:

War or combat experience

Sexual abuse or assault

Domestic violence

Car accidents or natural disasters

Witnessing trauma or repeated emotional abuse

Even long after the event ends, the mind keeps reliving it  in dreams, flashbacks, and fears.

⚠️ Effects of PTSD in Men & Women

While symptoms can vary, common signs include:

Nightmares or flashbacks

Emotional numbness or sudden rage

Avoiding places/people that trigger memories

Panic attacks or sweating without warning

Trouble trusting others or feeling safe

Guilt or shame, especially after abuse

Men may often bottle it in.

Women may often blame themselves.

Both deserve healing.

🛠️ Healing Solutions: CBT & Trauma Care

🧠 1. Name the Fear, Don’t Run From It

Avoiding triggers may feel safe, but CBT encourages gentle exposure.

Work with a therapist to slowly revisit memories without fear controlling the moment.

Practice: Write down the memory. What happened? What emotion returns?

Then add:

> "That moment happened. But it no longer controls me. I am here, and I am safe."

💬 2. Grounding Exercises

Use CBT-based grounding when flashbacks hit:

I.Count 3 objects around you

II.Say your name and the date out loud

III.Touch something cold (water, ice, metal)

IV.Say: “I’m not there anymore. I’m here now.”

🧍‍♂️ 3. Therapy + Support Groups

Talk therapy, especially trauma-informed CBT, is highly effective.

Some also find strength in sharing with others who “get it.” You are not weak for seeking help. You are strong for trying to heal.

✨ Healing Poem “The Storm Isn’t You”

> The storm may shake, but it won’t define,

You’re more than flashbacks trapped in time.

You breathe, you stand, you made it through 

The storm was fierce, but it’s not you.

📖 Bible Verse for Courage & Comfort

> “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

- Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

Even what the world doesn't see, God repairs.

🧭 Haven of Minds Quote to Carry With You

> "Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else."

Healing is not about forgetting. It’s about freeing yourself   again and again, with compassion.

PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you’ve been strong for too long.

You don’t have to keep surviving.

Now, it’s time to live.

Haven of Minds is a place where no trauma is too old, and no pain is too big to heal.

Ask yourself today:

> “How far am I willing to go to reclaim my peace?”

One breath at a time you’ll get there.