Page 281 - Total War on PTSD

throughout our lives. It is during our rehabilitation when we reach down and draw upon them to help get us through, but first we must get over our fear and anger in order to access them. We could avoid a lot of future emotional struggles if the individual were assessed immediately after the life threatening event with PTSD, and even if there were not any symptoms present at that moment, there were some follow up appointments made at six month intervals for a two-year period to assess if there were any delayed manifestations of PTSD.
Additionally, I have discovered, it is the same process with intimacy, sexuality, and trust. As individuals, we do not lose our sexual drive because we have endured damage to our bodies. We may lose our self-esteem, self-worth, and our self- confidence thus preventing us from having romantic and sexual moments with our partners, or even worse, initiating any type of romantic engagement with our spouses, but the sexual drive is still within us. Unfortunately, I have seen it manifest in some individuals with PTSD in an unhealthy manner, from inappropriate interactions between hospital staff and caregivers, to solicitation, and an unhealthy amount of time spent pursuing sexual online activities, unfortunately whether married or not. Please do not misunderstand. I support a healthy self-image with healthy flirtation if proper respect for personal boundaries is maintained. And for those who are married or in a committed relationship, maintaining a proper acknowledgement of your loved ones emotions is included here. I have no moral objection to a healthy inclusion of creative sexual practices in one’s lifestyle if both partners find it exciting. What I am talking about are the unhealthy activities I have previously observed that end up damaging an otherwise healthy romantic relationship.
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