A Day in the Life: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder https://au.reachout.com/articles/a-day-in-the-life-post-traumatic-stress-disorder (intro music plays) Jack: Hey, this is Jack from Reachout.com and today we're meeting Sam. Sam is 17 and leaves in rural New South Wales. Three months ago he lost his best mate in a car accident. Ever since then, Sam's been experiencing what people around him refer to as PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder. Although the accident wasn't anyone's fault, Sam is still dealing with the weight of the accident every day. This is Sam’s Story. (music stops) Sam’s Mum: Sam! Sam! Will you get up! You’re going to be late! Sam! Sam: Alright, God. (sounds of Sam getting ready for school) Sam’s Mum: Have you seen the time? Sam, I just don't want you to principal on the phone again. Sam: It’s fine. Sam’s Mum: Bye! (sound of keys and car door opening and closing, sound of heartbeat grows louder) Sam (to himself): I’ve got 5 minutes to get there, it's a 10 minute drive. What if there’s a hold-up? What if I’m stuck in traffic? There could be an accident on my way. I'd be stuck in the car for like 45 minutes. I’d be late. You’ll go to the principal's office. He’s gonna kill me. (thoughts become more and more frequent, urgent and overlap with one another) Sam (to himself): May as well walk. How long could it take? 20 minutes? 25? Half an hour max. I'll walk. It's better. Safer. I'll walk. (voices calm, heartbeat stops, footsteps walking away) (school bell rings) Teacher: So the homework is to read chapter six and break it down using the same structure that we use today by Friday guys. Sam: Hey, sorry. Teacher: Sam. Where were you? Sam: Yeah. Um, I just had a… Teacher: Yeah, but you're 40 minutes late. You've missed the entire class again. Sam: My car wasn't working so I had to walk. Teacher: Sam! Sam: Yup. Principal’s office? Yeah. Teacher: You know what? No. I want you to see Miss Jeffrey. Sam: School counselor? Teacher: You know where she is? Sam: Yeah, fine. Whatever. (knocks on door) Miss Jeffrey: Come in. Hi Sam, Please take a seat. How are you doing today? Sam: Fine. Miss Jeffrey: Okay. That's nice to hear. I thought it might be good to have a chat about how you've been going. I know you took a break from school to let your leg heal. How's that feeling? Sam: Fine. Yeah. Still a bit sore. Miss Jeffrey: And how do you think you've been coping in general? Sam: Coping? Uhhh, Yeah, fine. I guess. Miss Jeffrey: What about today? Sam: Not Great Miss Jeffrey: And right now? Sam: Same. Maybe a bit better. Miss Jeffrey: Are you okay to talk about the accident? Sam: (sighs) Yeah. Yeah. Nothing much to say. I mean, it happened, broke my leg and three months off, back to school. Miss Jeffrey: Are you okay to talk about what else happened? Sam: (struggled breathing) I don't, um, I don't really want to talk about that. Miss Jeffrey: That's fine. We don't have to. How are you feeling right now? I can tell your breathing is getting a bit fast. Sam: Yeah. Yeah. It's just... I just don’t like thinking about it. Miss Jeffrey: It's tough. Is that something that happens often? The difficulty breathing? Sam: Hmm.... Yeah. Hmm. Miss Jefrey: Do you know when it happens? Sam: I don't know, just what I'm thinking. Miss Jeffrey: Do you feel it in your chest at all? Like a tightness? Sam: Yeah. Yeah. I get that and like my heart pounding. Miss Jeffrey: When does that happen? Sam: At night when I... when I can't sleep. Miss Jeffrey: What do you think it is that's keeping you up? Sam: Thoughts and that. Like… in a loop in my head. Worst thing is when I finally get to sleep, I just dream about it anyways. Wake up, sweating and shit. Miss Jeffrey: Do you mind sharing some of your thoughts? Sam: It's just like keep thinking about that night. I feel like I'm still there. I remember everything. The music on the radio, what we were talking about before it happened. I remember blacking out and the sirens. All of it. It just keeps going around right in my head. Just tired of it. Miss Jeffrey: Well that sounds really rough, Sam. Does being at school help you take your mind off things? Sam: No, I don't want to be here. I mean, I never want to go to school usually anyways, but I really don't want to be here right now. Miss Jeffrey: Is that why you've been late a lot? You finding it hard to get the motivation to come to school? Sam: Yeah. I don't want to be here. Miss Jeffrey: Are you having a hard time with friends? Sam: Huh? Everyone's being really nice. It just… kind of annoys me a little bit. Miss Jeffrey: Why? Sam: (sighs) Because... I don't want people to be nice. I don't want to feel like I have to be nice. I can't deal with it, it just pisses me off the more nice they are. Miss Jeffrey: Try taking a deep breath for me. In (Sam breathes in deeply). Out (Sam exhales deeply). In… and out… Feel a little bit better? Sam: Yeah. Yeah, a little bit. Yeah. Thanks. Miss Jeffrey: That's okay. I can tell you a feeling pretty upset and anxious at the moment, which is completely normal. Sam, you're allowed to be angry. You're allowed to be upset and sad. Sam: Yeah. I just, I don't like talking about it. I don't want to feel like I'm complaining all the time. People are thinking that I can't take it. Miss Jeffrey: Do you feel better after talking about it now and doing some breathing? Sam: Yeah, I do. Miss Jeffrey: That's a good one to remember... and you know, there is nothing wrong with wanting to feel better, especially if you know you're not well. There are things you can do and people you can see to help you. Sam: Like what a therapist? Miss Jeffrey: Yeah, like a counselor or a psychologist. I know the idea of talking about it seems really hard, but most people find it hard dealing with tough memories and dreams. Working through it with someone who understands, means you're not doing it alone. There are people who specialize in treatment for what is called post traumatic stress disorder. Have you heard much about that before? Sam: Oh, I've heard of it. I think. But I don't really know much about it. Miss Jeffrey: Basically, PTSD can happen after someone goes through a traumatic event, like a car crash. People with PTSD often feel really anxious, have trouble sleeping and avoid things that can remind them of the trauma, like driving for instance. Seeing a mental health professional, someone who works specifically in that area, may be really helpful for you if you're dealing with PTSD. They could give you some ideas about how to deal with the anxiety, like today, with those short breathing exercises. You'll have a chance to talk about your memories and work through a lot of what you're feeling. Do you have a family doctor? Sam: Yeah. Miss Jeffrey: Okay. Well that'd be able to get you in contact with someone who's right for you. In the meantime, I can give you some stuff that you can check online to help you understand a bit more about what's going on, some breathing and meditation tips. Does that sound okay? Sam: Yeah. Yeah. Thanks. Thank you. Miss Jeffrey? Miss Jeffrey: Yes. Sam: You're not going to tell anyone, right? Like not even my Mum and Dad. Miss Jeffrey: Nope. Not even your Mum or Dad. Sam: Cool. I want to tell them when I'm ready. Miss Jeffrey: Okay, that's fine. That's a really good idea. Sam: Thanks. (Outro music plays) Jack: Thanks for listening to our podcast. For more information on tough times and wellbeing, be sure to check out www.reachout.com.