PTSD and Me – Transform Pain Into Power
Introduction
As you might know, I have suffered from Depression, Anxiety and Schizoaffective Disorder now for 25+ years and have accumulated a lot of experience and knowledge along the way. My main purpose in this life is to help others who are suffering from mental illnesses, but I’ve also come to recognise that while I have a good knowledge base about my disorders and illnesses, I don’t have much in the way of experience when it comes to other disorders such as PTSD.
I have recently noticed a lot of people that follow me on my various social media platforms suffer from PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which is a psychiatric disorder as per the American Psychiatric Association and is included in the DSM-5.
It occurred to me, however, that someone in my circle of friends and acquaintances might have that sort of knowledge. So I put out a call on social media and have had a number of people put their hands up to help me and my followers out.
One of those was Jac Newton, who I met through Speakers Institute – If I recall correctly we did their Premier Bootcamp together.
What is PTSD?
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious injury. [1]
What are some of the symptoms of PTSD?
Some of the symptoms from PTSD include:
- Intrusive Thoughts and Feelings
- Avoidance Tactics – Avoiding places, people, activities or even objects which can trigger distressing memories
- Alterations in Cognition and Mood – Forgetting or inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event, negative thoughts and feelings, etc.
- Alterations in arousal and re-activity – Such as irritable or angry outbursts, behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive manner, etc.
These are only some of the symptoms, and you should consult a qualified health professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Chapter Excerpt from Victim to Vixen – Transforming Pain into Power
Jac has been kind enough to provide me with an extract from one of the chapters in her book. I have gone through it and think there is some really wonderful information contained within it, and so with her permission, I have turned that into a PDF document and you can find it below, by clicking on the PDF file icon.
You can find all of Jac’s details and biography below including links to her website and social media.
Jac is also releasing a new book in 2021, “From Victim to Vixen, Transform Pain into Power after Toxic Relationships”. Keep an eye out for it, should be very helpful to many people.
Throughout her life, Jac has experienced many events and challenges which have shaped her life and now make her a source of wisdom and healing for women.
Jac makes it her mission to break the cycle of trauma and violence at a generational level, leaving a legacy of healing and wellbeing.
Jac’s truly inspirational and empowering work has seen her client’s lives change for the better.
Through her boudoir photography business, she is determined to educate, empower, transform and invoke the true magic that exists inside a woman and her extraordinary self.
Jac encourages women to “see themselves in a whole new light” and realise there is life beyond trauma and the stories they tell themselves.
Jac holds a Diploma of Professional Photography and lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Jac Newton
Owner & Principal Photographer
Boudoir Photography Melbourne by Jacinta Mae
Instagram: @boudoirmelbourne
TikTok: @boudoirmelbourne
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boudoirmelbourne (sorry blokes, this one is for the ladies only)
