PTSD & Other Conditions: Understanding the Whole Picture

 


Because the Body Keeps the Score

By the time I was 35, I had been diagnosed with endometriosis, multiple sclerosis, and migraine disease — three conditions that can all be triggered or worsened by prolonged stress and inflammation. In my case, it was growing up in a violent home as a child.  I didn’t struggle with a diagnosed mental illness, but I did meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We just weren’t talking much about that back then.


Looking back, I can see how my body had been carrying the burden of stress for years — long after the danger had passed. That’s the thing about trauma: it doesn’t just live in your memories.


It lives in your body.


PTSD & Physical Health Diagnoses

Research shows that up to 80% of people with PTSD experience chronic inflammation (Michopoulos et al., 2017). When we live through repeated or extreme stress, our bodies release pro-inflammatory cytokines — chemicals meant to help us fight infection. But when they stay elevated, they begin to affect mood, cognition, and immunity.


Continue Reading

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GRACE: A Framework for Healing from Chronic Stress and PTSD

Image
The Weight of Unhealed Trauma Healing from chronic stress and PTSD isn’t just about moving forward—it’s about breaking free from patterns that keep us stuck. If you’ve ever struggled with shame, self-doubt, or the feeling that healing is impossible , you’re not alone. Shame often creeps in when we start doing the hard work of healing. It tells us we’re too broken, too flawed, too unworthy to truly change. It makes the weight of trauma heavier and, for many, leads to self-sabotage, avoidance, and giving up. But here’s the truth: You are not broken. You are not beyond healing. You have already survived, and that means you have the strength to move forward. That’s where the GRACE framework comes in—a foundation for navigating healing without shame, self-criticism, or perfectionism. Continue Reading... 
Read more

Common Myths about Child Abuse - What You Need to Know

Image
Common Myths About Child Abuse – What You Need to Know When you grow up experiencing abuse or neglect, it can be difficult to separate myths from reality when it comes to the lasting effects of trauma. Misconceptions about child abuse often prevent survivors from seeking support, lead to self-blame , and contribute to the stigma surrounding abuse. Let’s clear up some of the most common myths about child abuse and get to the facts . Continue Reading...
Read more

Refinement: How Hardship Can Become a Catalyst for Healing

Image
  What Can Make Hard Times More Overwhelming? When you're going through something challenging, it's easy to feel consumed by its intensity. When life seems unfair, we tend to notice every additional thing that goes wrong, amplifying the difficulty. Soon, we're not just struggling with our current issue—we're adding every disappointment or discouragement, making our burden heavier than ever. I think of it as the “piling on effect” or “kicking yourself while you’re down.”  Read More...
Read more