Just because you overcame cancer doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods. You still have the distressing symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
Because you had an event that threatened death or serious injury, you have the core situation that results in PTSD.
But it wasn’t just one incident. With cancer, treatment-related events happen over and over and each time, the trauma and terror is reinforced.
The diagnosis, installation of the medi-port, every infusion of chemotherapy, every scan and procedure is yet another opportunity for trauma.
Many cancer patients experience avoidance and the flashbacks of the events for a decade.
Odors pose a real hazard. The smell of plastic tubing and syringes can cause panic. The sense of smell is a very powerful force in triggering flashbacks.
Surviving cancer is one aspect of the fight. Don’t surrender to the trauma.
Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch.
At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question.
Sign up for the Sunday newsletter. Don't miss a thing!
Because you had an event that threatened death or serious injury, you have the core situation that results in PTSD.
But it wasn’t just one incident. With cancer, treatment-related events happen over and over and each time, the trauma and terror is reinforced.
The diagnosis, installation of the medi-port, every infusion of chemotherapy, every scan and procedure is yet another opportunity for trauma.
Many cancer patients experience avoidance and the flashbacks of the events for a decade.
Odors pose a real hazard. The smell of plastic tubing and syringes can cause panic. The sense of smell is a very powerful force in triggering flashbacks.
Surviving cancer is one aspect of the fight. Don’t surrender to the trauma.
Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch.
At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question.
Sign up for the Sunday newsletter. Don't miss a thing!
