1 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and welcome to stuff 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: I've never told you production of I Heart Radio. So 3 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: before we get into this one, a quick trigger warning, 4 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: UM free functions of deaths around COVID, UH, sexual racial trauma, 5 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: eating disorders and suicide because um, we are talking about PTSD. 6 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 1: June is PTSD Awareness month. Yeah, so we thought we'd 7 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: talked about what PTSD looks like, especially during what is 8 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: a very trying and traumatic time right now. If you 9 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: already deal with PTSD is very triggering time. COVID itself 10 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 1: is traumatic, and then pandemic and quarantine, and then the 11 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: racial trauma the Black community continues to face. It's particularly 12 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: raw right now. And I know I've seen many posts, 13 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: especially from black women talking about being very fatigued, UM 14 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: and trauma fatigued, and I can completely one understand. And 15 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: also domestic views has gone up, and suicide hotlines are 16 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: being saturated at this point in time. Yeah, and I 17 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: read some interviews with people who run those hotlines and 18 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: this is a particularly traumatic time for them as well, 19 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 1: because we're all going through this on some level, Like 20 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: obviously some people are going through other things on top 21 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 1: of being in a pandemic with a lot of uncertainty, 22 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 1: and UM all the protests in our country and the 23 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:42,839 Speaker 1: uncertainty around that, so there is that level of almost 24 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: connection there that perhaps people who operated the suicide hotlines 25 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: didn't have before, but now it's like kind of a 26 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: shared thing. UM. And we've talked a lot about post 27 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: traumatic stress disorder PTSD on this show is something that 28 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: we both experience student past sexual assault and abuse, and yes, 29 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: because of the constant undercurrent of uncertainty, of anxiety, the 30 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 1: disruption of routine, the isolation, it is a very triggering 31 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: time around a lot of things. For me personally, I 32 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: have been really triggered lately. I've had nightmares and flashbacks 33 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: like racing heart UM, trouble breathing normally hardcore zoning out, 34 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: inability to sleep, dramatic emotional shifts, crying UM. And and 35 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: for people with eating disorders like me, all the talk 36 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: around food and weighed about groceries and having enough food 37 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: or not having enough food or not having their right 38 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: food is very triggering to UM. And because of that, 39 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: I've started having virtual dinners with friends and that helps, 40 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: but it's also really scary and really vulnerable because I 41 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,519 Speaker 1: UM hadn't shared with a lot of friends that that 42 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: was something that I dealt with, So that was something yeah, yeah, 43 00:02:55,760 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 1: And I finally reached the point where I was frightened 44 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: and I had to tell people. Um, so that's scary, 45 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: scary too, right, I think that definitely understand all of that. 46 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: I have been going through a lot of roller coasters 47 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: between guilt and fatigue, and I've also gone through sleeplessness. 48 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: But I also go the overboard. I think I told 49 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: you recently, I'm like, I'm pretty sure if I went 50 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: to a doctor about knockcolepsy, I may qualify because I 51 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: get so overwhelmed that I have to sleep like I 52 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: am immobilized and immediately mustli because I'm so drained and 53 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: so overwhelmed. Um. And that also goes into I have 54 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: also done the emotional shifts and crying and zoning out 55 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: and just trying to take my mind off things, but 56 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: also the guilt of knowing I am privileged to be 57 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 1: able to take my mind off things and that should 58 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: not be the case for me. Right now, I've had 59 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: this new overwhelming feeling. I guess it's the best way 60 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: to put it. With the fact that I've been raised 61 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: by a white family, and and the whole level of 62 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,839 Speaker 1: what it looks like to be a woman of color 63 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: in Atlanta in these times when talking about loyalty and gratefulness, 64 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: and the line between what I was taught growing up 65 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: to what I know is right and wrong and to 66 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: what I've always known was right and wrong, and always 67 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: feeling conflicted and always feeling like an outsider, to being 68 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: on the outside on every course, including within the Asian community. 69 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm an outsider within the white community. 70 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: I'm an outsider within this um, these movements and protests. 71 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: I'm definitely an outsider. And it's just such a weird 72 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: place for me because nothing I feel like I've been 73 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: doing or that we do is good enough or on 74 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: the right track. And I know you have been on 75 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: the receiving end of me having a panic attack about 76 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: what we're doing and what we're not doing. My partner 77 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: has been poor thing has been around for the entire 78 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: time of being losing and stressing over the level of 79 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: what is right and what is wrong, being terrified that 80 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: I'm not representing things to uh fullness and to its 81 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: honesty and to its truth, as well as acknowledging the 82 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: fact that there's this feeling of betrayal that I cannot 83 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: let go of, even though it's not completely true. There's 84 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: this whole underlying thing that has triggered and openly uh 85 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: opened up these wounds from my past of things that 86 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: I try to hide away from or tried to things 87 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: that I played away from or even believed that I 88 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 1: was doing the right thing because I just needed to 89 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: be a part of something or at least be invisible. 90 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: And that's not that's no longer something that we can 91 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: afford to just go under the radar and to be 92 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 1: invisible and to be quiet. So yeah, it's definitely been 93 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: a hard time. UM And speaking for medical professionals failing 94 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: daily exposure to COVID, I cannot imagine seeing all the 95 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: articles they seeing all the articles and first person accounts 96 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 1: from these medical fields, UM about the fact that they're 97 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: seeing more illness, more death, and sometimes being has to 98 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: facilitate final conversations between loved ones seeing the refrigerated truck 99 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: of bodies not having the protective gear they need, having 100 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 1: to actually be a part of counter protests to those 101 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: who felt like these quarantines were infringing on their rights 102 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: to get a haircut. And I know that's a generalization, 103 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: but the fact that they had to be not only 104 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 1: are they on the front lines for this, but they 105 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: have to fight to have people to be healthy, to 106 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: ask them to be healthy. Uh, this is a particularly 107 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: traumatizing time for them. There's also something called moral injury 108 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: not being able to abide by deeply help beliefs like 109 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: not having ano ventilators for patients, or perhaps even not 110 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: being able to protest when you're unable to for whatever reasons. 111 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: And that's definitely something that has come into our conversations 112 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: that you're not talking about whether we should go to 113 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 1: these protests, what protests to go to, UM, feeling guilty 114 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: if we're not there UM. But it's also a traumatic 115 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: time for those who contract the virus and experience social 116 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: ice relation and fearful their life. When they're admitted to 117 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: the hospital, the fight or flight responses triggered, and some 118 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 1: patients received an injection of adrenaline, which ripples out to 119 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: those that care about them. The self quarantine that medical 120 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: professionals and people were covering from the virus that separates 121 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: from families and friends only increases the risk of developing 122 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: PTSD are making symptoms worse. Yeah, and I have lost 123 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: family members during this and the choices you have to 124 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: make of being there are not um around the funeral 125 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: are really really brutal, and it's it's awful not being 126 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: able to say goodbye. And and like I said in 127 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: recent episode, um, I've seen it. And my mom she 128 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: has a PTSD now or around people dying suddenly because 129 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: of everything that's happened and all the people she's lost 130 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: in less than a year. When I told her I'd 131 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: been to the protest, she started crying, and not because 132 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: she was upset that I went. She said she was proud, 133 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: but she was so scared for me. She she's afraid 134 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: that I was gonna get it and die. Right, And 135 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: that's definitely a part of the conversation that my parents 136 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: and I don't have. Uh. We kind of keep our 137 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: conversations very short, wellness checks and kind of move on 138 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: because we are absolutely at the different spectrums of beliefs, 139 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: especially politically but also with well. I guess COVID could 140 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: be considered political now because of the way it's being used. Um, 141 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: but even our understanding of what COVID is and how 142 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: high risk it is to the effect of this protest, 143 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: and we have not even brought up that conversation because 144 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: we are so argumentative and on the opposite spectrums that 145 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,079 Speaker 1: it has become a point of dissent. Then we've had 146 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: to stop. But yeah, it's just I know that for them, ay, 147 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: they want to know that I'm safe, be they don't 148 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. But 149 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: even like my partner his he gets a daily call 150 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 1: now asking because he's been to a few tests too, 151 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 1: are you there now? Are you okay? Are you safe? 152 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 1: To make sure that he's not getting hurt as well. Yeah. Um. 153 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 1: And of note, experts have said that social media may 154 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: make all of this worse. They think that's one way 155 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: it sets it apart from previous pandemics and protests. And I, 156 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, I noticed such a huge difference when 157 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 1: I stepped away from social media for a bit. So 158 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 1: I know we advised this and almost every other episode. 159 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 1: But you know, if you need to take time limits 160 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: through your mental health checks, do these things to take 161 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 1: care of yourself, because if you get to the point 162 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: where you're just overwhelmed, you can't do anything. You're not 163 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: helping anyone, right, it has definitely become a disruptive part 164 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:47,319 Speaker 1: of my life where I have always had issues staying 165 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: off the phone. And I say that always as in 166 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: when we've gotten the interwebs in our hands, but especially 167 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:57,679 Speaker 1: because of everything that's going on. I get the variety 168 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: of my news from things like Twitter and columns and 169 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:06,679 Speaker 1: articles because I hate listening to the things that infect 170 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: my brain like so news is awful to me, and 171 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: anytime I hear the President speak, I get physically nauseous 172 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 1: and I get angry and I have to leave the room. 173 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: I just cannot hear these things. So reading it at 174 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: least I can, you know, um, control a little bit 175 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: of what I'm having to read it, how far I 176 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: have to read, and what you know, all of that 177 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: control of that part. But because of that, I have 178 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: a hard time putting that down because I'm afraid that 179 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna miss information. I'm afraid i'm gonna miss an event. 180 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:38,560 Speaker 1: I'm afraid that things are slipping under the radar, and 181 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 1: therefore cannot let go of social media, cannot stop. But 182 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: I have had to go to the point that I 183 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: actually physically turn off my phone for a couple of 184 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: hours at a time. And I say a couple of 185 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,679 Speaker 1: hours because that's all I can do away from it. 186 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: And it's been a whole kind of WorldWind just seeing 187 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: how much I depend on what is being written in 188 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: social media or the columns or the articles that I 189 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 1: want to read, and the fact that because of things 190 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: moving so quickly, so fast, and so many things happening, 191 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: that if I do step away from it from a 192 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: little while, that I'll miss miss something big. Yeah. I've 193 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: definitely seen that too, and I think it is compounded 194 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: by the fact that we're all inside right like, so 195 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: we're sort of in this nervous, anxious state where we 196 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,679 Speaker 1: feel like we can't control anything, and the news is 197 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:34,680 Speaker 1: just constant. So yeah, I would just advise checking in 198 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: around that and and maybe putting in some times that 199 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: you particularly do it. I know for me, I don't. 200 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: And this is also in my pursuit of one day 201 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: sleeping well for an hour before I go to bed, 202 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: I'd usually try not to be on anything electronic. I 203 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 1: don't always succeed, but usually, right that's way better than 204 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: I do. I've been doing that for years and people 205 00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 1: are like, we know you're awake, why didn't you answer 206 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: my test? I'm like, I'm trying to sleep though I'm 207 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: trying so hard. Yeah, I have learned that most likely 208 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: you have turned it off, which I really am proud 209 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: of you because I wish I had that fortitude. Well, 210 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: when you're the levels of like not sleeping, I do. I. 211 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: I bet that's right. We need between the two of 212 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 1: us we have the perfect sleeping habit. Then yes, again 213 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: we're like a transformer. Um. Some doctors have written about 214 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: how some people with PTSD or c PTSD which is 215 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: complex PTSD or O c D or something similar, might 216 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 1: actually do relatively well during this time some people, not everybody, 217 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: depending on their coping mechanisms and how your symptoms manifest 218 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 1: because like, for instance, if you're untrusting, hey, that works 219 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,439 Speaker 1: perfectly for social ting. Um. The work of managing your 220 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: symptoms is often now a valuable resource for friends and 221 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: family who didn't have to deal with PTSD before having 222 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: this sort of constant anxiety. People who previously didn't understand 223 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 1: p T s D, you can now understand it better, 224 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: um that they now that they can have now that 225 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: they do have their own feelings around lack of control 226 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: and panic and fear and emotion regulation. So I have 227 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: seen articles from some people who have PTSD ars something 228 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: like that saying I almost feel like a superhero now 229 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 1: because everyone's reaching out and I have all these coping 230 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,719 Speaker 1: mechanisms and tips that I can share. So there is 231 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: that aspect of it. Yes, UM experts predict surprise, surprise, 232 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: a huge wave of PTSD in the wake of COVID ninteing. 233 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 1: They're urging that services and funding like mental health screenings 234 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: be made available for healthcare workers in the frontline hotlines 235 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: and expanded access to telehealth services. And I've ever been seen, 236 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: especially with the things that are happening UH in the 237 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: black community and them in the continued trauma that they're 238 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: having to witness, whether it's videos, whether it's from the protests, 239 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,839 Speaker 1: whether it's you know, all of that, UM, whether it's 240 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 1: just the bigger news coverage, which because we all know 241 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: it's been happening, this has been happening, so we can 242 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: go ahead and say that, but now it's being amplified 243 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: ten times more, twenty times more UM for the rest 244 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: of the community, the rest of the country, the rest 245 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: of the world to see, but which packs on even 246 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: more PTSD for that community. And I will say right now, 247 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: the bigger question and the argument is coming for specifically 248 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: for black women and children and the impact this is 249 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: causing on them as well. Um and I have seen 250 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: funds coming together to provide more access and more mental 251 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: health care, which I love to see, but still not 252 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: enough because we can also again talk about disparagement in 253 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: health care and mental health services for the Black community, 254 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 1: for Black women, for Black children and all of that 255 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: and how it is not afforded to them, and why 256 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: this is an atrocity in our community and our country 257 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: and our health care and our society that only holds 258 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: up in regards to white people. Uh almost even the 259 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: Asian community more so than the other. Women are in 260 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: that obnoxious and unjustifiable and absurd sorry, um and And. 261 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: A study out of Wuhan, China recently conducted found that 262 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: seven recovering COVID patients surveyed out of them, of them 263 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: had symptoms of PTSD, so this is a very founded concern. 264 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: Another found that of patients that undergo the traumatic experience 265 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: of being on a ventilator developed PTSD. Um It also 266 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: found that for patients that left the i CU with depression, 267 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 1: they had a forty seven percent higher risk of dying 268 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: within two years as opposed to those that left without depression. 269 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: And if we do look at police brutality and protesting, 270 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: that can cause PTSD or be triggering for people who 271 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: already have it too, which means it disproportionately affects Black 272 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: people in this country. Seeing those images and videos of 273 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: police brutality can be incredibly traumatizing, even if you personally 274 00:15:55,480 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: haven't experienced it, which is called vicarious victimization. UM. Yes, 275 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: I always think about that before you post. Not saying 276 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: don't post things, but think about how it'll label it 277 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: to warn people get permission things like that, um. And 278 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: watching these videos can have physical effects due to the 279 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: release of the stress hormone cortisol, which can make you 280 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: feel wiped out, that your heart is racing, that you 281 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 1: can't quite catch your breath. Actually, a recent study suggests 282 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: that nearly two million of the protesters in Hong Kong 283 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: have developed PTSD, and that's almost one third of the population. 284 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 1: Also triggering for those that have experienced domestic violence, and 285 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: we already know those numbers have gone up. But a 286 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: question is how often is it being reported, especially if 287 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: you look at the black community, and whether or not 288 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: they have the ability to contact or get help and 289 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: who they're calling us. Obviously the police are not trusted 290 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: right now, right right. Um. So these are emotionally trying 291 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: times for a lot of us. And if you have PTSD, 292 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: maybe you've had it for a while or maybe you've 293 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: developed it recently as a part of all of this, UM, 294 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: it can be particularly isolating and frightening. So some things 295 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 1: I've been doing, yoga, meditation, virtual hangouts, UM, and I 296 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: have been trying to be open with what I'm going 297 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 1: through and what I'm concerned with, even if I just 298 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: say like, look, this is what I'm worried about, this 299 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: is what I'm dealing with. I don't really want to 300 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:25,719 Speaker 1: talk about it, but I want you to be aware 301 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: that it's happening. And that's why I feel like I 302 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: need to have at least a set hang out, however 303 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: many times a week or whatever. UM writing, oh my god, 304 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: the fan fiction is so much fan fiction. The fan fiction, 305 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 1: but also journaling, dancing, gaming, limiting my time on social media, 306 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: trying to be mindful of where your feelings are coming from, 307 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: where thoughts are coming from, why I'm doing things. Yeah, um, 308 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 1: and I've always been one of those that love rewatching 309 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: things that are familiar and cozy to me, and if 310 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: Green Gables one of those. Um, I think one of 311 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: the problematic things is what has aged well and what hasn't, 312 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: So I have to be mindful of that right as 313 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: a person who does deal with anxiety and does not 314 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 1: like change. Repetition of shows like that for me is 315 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: always a good thing. Um. And of course if there's therapy, 316 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: that is a good, great option. I need to get 317 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 1: back in because I've been out for a minute because 318 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: of costs and affordability. But yeah, it's it's time. I 319 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 1: think it's a good time if that again is available 320 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 1: to you, if you're able to afford it. Again, there 321 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 1: is some assistance out there, so maybe if you have questions, 322 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: we can link you up. Um. If not, there are 323 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 1: a lot of resources online, including apps. Again, this is 324 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: very limited to people who have accessibility. And that's a 325 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: whole other conversation that makes me angry and I want 326 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: to go on a rant on, but I will stop. Also, 327 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is if you need 328 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 1: it one eight hundred two seven three eight to five five. 329 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: You can also find it online as well. UM. It 330 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 1: is something to know, and I know I think I 331 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: just tweeted the other day and I'll retweet it on 332 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: our social media. There was one specifically for the trans 333 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: community because it is really important right now as the 334 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 1: transit community is under attack by the US government in 335 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 1: itself and oftentimes even just people. Yeah yeah, um U J. K. Rowling. 336 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:30,439 Speaker 1: Definitely look those resources up when you're like feeling in 337 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 1: a good place and go ahead and put them in 338 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: your phone. I've called it before, UM and I'm so 339 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: so glad I had it my phone already. UM. So yeah, 340 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 1: please take care of yourselves. We're thinking of you, we 341 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 1: love you. If you need to reach out to us 342 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: for whatever reason, we're happy to provide whatever relief. Are 343 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: silly jokes in my case, um or Star Wars facts, 344 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 1: so many um that we can. You can email us 345 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: at Steff Media, mom Stuff at I hired media dot com. 346 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:02,239 Speaker 1: You can find us on Instagram at Stuff I Ever 347 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: Told You, or on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast. Thanks 348 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 1: as always to our super producers J. J. Posway and 349 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 1: Andrew Howard, Thanks Shell, and thanks to you for listening. 350 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: Stuff I've Never Told You production of I Heart Radio. 351 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from i heart Radio. It's the i 352 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to 353 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.