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Originally Posted by Evelyn How do you know that someone is in shock - what do they look like – their body movements, posture, speech patterns, their eyes, what do they say or what don’t they say, and what do you think they would be thinking etc……really think about it. |
I think shock is a natural response to a living being, when it loses place in time, and does not know what to do. Generally, the body movements are disorganised, posture not really affected, speech can have no relevance to anything you ask, or even no speech at all, their eyes are generally relaxed and confused, and generally, someone is shock isn't thinking at all IMHO.
I've seen it, and experienced it in war zones, and generally you lose recognition of everything around you, and generally become a danger to yourself, and others.
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Originally Posted by Evelyn Have you experience shock at some stage? If so, was it sudden or gradual, what were the circumstances? Did you know at the time you had PTSD? How could you answer the above questions about yourself - What do you think you looked like when you were/are shocked etc.? How does that make you feel to think of yourself like this? |
I had no bloody idea of anything around me, nor what was going on at the time, until a mate brought me too, even though I was awake. It was like a complete void in my life for a couple of minutes, where I needed protecting from the elements around me, as I couldn't do it myself. It was sudden for me. No, I didn't know I had PTSD at the time. I know from experience, the person generally looks dazed and confused, with no idea what is going on. The brain ceases to function on a thought perspective, and only functions to keep the body alive, and not much else. It doesn't personally bother me that it happened, but I don't particularly like not having control within a war zone at all times.
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Originally Posted by Evelyn As I mentioned in one of my previous posts PTSD symptoms are experienced because it’s like having an alert switch left ‘on’ all the time. Do you think this alert switch is the same or different to shock? |
Shock certainly doesn't make you alert, and I don't think it is anything like PTSD, in relation to being alert. Shock is generally an instantaneous feeling, where you've been injured, or something quite traumatic has just occured around you, or with you... but doesn't raise an alertness within you from being in shock. With PTSD, the symptoms are generally gradual, whether you get it from war zones or a major car accident. The incident may off been instant, but the affects are slow, and gradually take over you as your life functions, or you attempt to function, in the same way before the incident. The alert switch is generally something that also builds gradually IMO.
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Originally Posted by Evelyn I’m not quite sure about that answer because I’m thinking that shock is initially experienced but I don’t know if it is continuous (always on) or intermittent (flicking between on and off because of various triggers). What do you think? |
I agree, I don't think its always on... its more a moment event, not continuous.
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Originally Posted by Evelyn For those with PTSD, is shock over time experienced at the same intensity as your initial experience of shock or does it eventually ease? Again I am very unsure of the answer to this question. It is a very recent question for me. |
I am assuming your relating shock to flashbacks, and those kind of things? Not all traumatic events endure shock, however; the ones that do, for me anyway, I don't feel the shock of the incident anymore, even within a flashback, as its different. Even though a flashback puts your mind back in the time and place the event happened, its like, you still know your not absolutely their, as everythings not exactly the same. The smells aren't present, and things like that. I don't honestly think I have kept shock as such, more just memories of events, which tend to be relived. The times I had been in shock, I haven't felt like that again, except when actually in shock in another incident.
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Originally Posted by Evelyn And a final question relating to shock. (This one is mainly for me to learn from you.) If you were to see me or another therapist for counselling would it be relieving or confronting to hear that your body responses were a sign that you may be experiencing symptoms of shock? Do you think your response would be different if the session was very recent after the event (within the first 2-3 weeks) or delayed (6 months or more after the event)? How would you respond at the time if I said this (angry, cry, shake, no response) and how would that make you feel (relieved, shocked, nervous, numb)? |
I would probably want to know how exactly! I guess my outlook on shock, is how it has happened to me. Basically, as my emotions disappeared, things played even less impact on me as time went along. Being shot at, didn't flinch me anymore... instead had the opposite affect, where I stood looking, and went at it, instead of hitting the ground. I don't see it myself as shock, but more the fear has disappeared for me. I no longer fear things that are dangerous, and life threatening. Death doesn't bother me anymore.
I think the only thing I would get from a recent session, compared to a delayed session, would be the ease of memory to the event. Its hard for me personally to relate I guess, as I've had PTSD for so many years now, and not known about it, I still think to some degree, some things I do are normal, though they are not. I know having absolutely no fear is not normal. People fear things, even the extreme sports people, they generally don't want to die, where it doesn't bother me anymore, as my feelings and emotions towards death are gone.
I guess if shock contains "no response" and "numb", then I fit in it, but thats all just another name to me, for something that already has multiple names.