what you choose

  What with the Will Smith incident, and a lot of other things going on in the world, I am thinking about triggers? That was a warning I heard on the newscast this morning. Warning, this story may contain triggers and disturbing images. You might get upset! They went on to show pictures from Ukraine, the results of a war. Yes, it is disturbing to see bodies lying in the streets and the destruction surrounding them. Fortunately, I wasn't triggered, no PTSD from life. Isn't that the cause of those triggers? PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder. It has gone by other names, battle fatigue and shell shock. It is estimated that seven to eight per cent of all Americans will experience PTSD in their lifetime. With people that have been raped or are combat veterans, between ten and thirty per cent. Post traumatic stress disorder, more accurately described in my opinion, by calling it a sensory overload. That, in my opinion, is what happens, that's what triggers people. When your mind can't process the sensory information it is receiving fast enough to react. 

 It's a form of panic. Your only defense is training and practice. That's why we have fire drills and the like. To train your mind to respond in an emergency situation without really having to give it thought. You are programmed to react. But you can't really be prepared for everything, for an onslaught. Post traumatic means the aftereffects, when your mind attempts to process what happened. The trainings' purpose is to achieve a positive outcome. When we can reconcile our actions, our experiences with a positive outcome, we won't be triggered. When we can not, that's when problems begin.  

 The world we are living in is a lot smaller than in years past. It's the information age after all. And that is contributing to that sensory overload, too much information, too fast, and we are incapable of dealing with that. It doesn't help a bit when we use that for an explanation either. PTSD requires professional treatment, it's something you can do nothing about on your own. You should not be held accountable for those actions. In years past we would say the person snapped! Today it is because someone triggered you, their fault, not yours. The blame is not on you at all. A transference of responsibility. That's why the "warning" before broadcasting the news, MSN doesn't want to be sued for triggering you! You were warned.

 The question is, are we training our young people to handle life? What reactions are we teaching? I'd have to say we are creating a more hostile environment than in years past. By the insistence that we have a "right" we are assaulting others. It's a mental assault, not a physical one. The words used to convey the message set the tone. That is true when giving a speech and in everyday communication. Consider the words we use today, as a matter of course, that would have incited outrage in the past. The infamous "F" bomb is one example. It is frequently heard these days, not that shocking anymore. And what reaction are we teaching when we are assaulted? We demand justice! And what is justice? The compensation you deserve. IE: money. That's the reaction being taught, simply sue the person or entity that wronged you! If you suffer a traumatic reaction from that wrong, that's worth more compensation, perhaps a lifetime of it.

 After WW2 about eight million combat veterans returned to America. Statically speaking about eight hundred thousand of then would suffer from PTSD. Battle fatigue back then. My father was among them, although I don't think he had PTSD, he most certainly carried disturbing images and thoughts with him until the day he died. His only comment being, war is hell on earth. I wonder though how it could be that we had all those returning veterans that had just gone through such traumatic experiences and yet created the greatest boom in American history.

  I'm a baby boomer, a product of that generation. As for my training? I was taught a few basic truths. There will always be people that have more than you. You will get what you earn, not necessarily what you deserve. You can change your situation but you can't change circumstance. Stand your ground! When you shake a mans hand, look him straight in the eye. I was told I won't always be right, but to be honest in my wrongs. Mostly I think the lesson was to be independent. Everything is built upon that foundation, the foundation of who you are. And who you are, is solely your responsibility. That is where the reconciliation must take place. Despite the trauma, the injustice and the outrage over other peoples actions, you must reconcile that with your own. You alone control that! You can walk away or stand and fight. Don't expect others to join you in either choice! You can not assume responsibility for what others do unless you join them in that action. You are responsible for what you choose.