In May this year, Lady Gaga revealed that she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a sexual assault that happened during the earlier years of her career. After a hospital visit for pain and numbness, she was surprised when she was sent a psychiatrist rather than a medical doctor.
“I realised that it was the same pain that I felt when the person who raped me dropped me off pregnant on a corner, at my parent’s house, because I was vomiting and sick. Because I had been being abused, and I was locked away in a studio for months.”
Trauma can have lingering effects on most people, and for some, the exposure to extreme traumatic experiences such as vehicle accidents, rape, assault, and robbery can cause PTSD, with effects on mental health such as anxiety, hyper-vigilance, repetitive nightmares, flashbacks, and more. If any of this sounds familiar, consider speaking to a professional and get a diagnosis of your experiences.
So, how do you know if you have PTSD?
We speak to Asher Low, founder, executive director, and senior social worker at non-profit organisation Limitless on recognising the symptoms and how loved ones can help.
Limitless is part of Safe Circle, which is a newly formed platform that aims to build a safe, nurturing, and trauma-informed community through educating parents, teachers, young adults, and helping professionals. A partnership between seven local agencies, it offers training via complimentary talks and workshops for those who want to give a helping hand, empowering them to be more trauma-informed and to better support trauma survivors.