Impact of Stressful Event on a Bear (Case Study)
Disclaimer:
the following post is a narration of an experiential experiment by an
eccentric bear, and does not apply to humans; please do see a mental
health professional if you are experiencing mental health issues.
The car accident offered me not only an opportunity to evaluate the
priorities in my life but also an opportunity to study myself on the
psychological aftereffect of a stressful event.
In case, you are
wondering (especially for those of you who studied Psychology), I did
monitor myself for symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for
the past few weeks.
The first few days were emotionally tiring,
I experienced the arising of anxiety and fear whenever I am on public
transportation e.g. buses or taxis. I clutched tightly to the handles on
the buses, especially when the ride was bumpy. I asked taxi uncles to
start driving only when I put on my seat belts and drive slow on public
roads even if the roads are empty. I was hypervigilant when I am on the
road. I experienced anxiety arising when I read news of accidents.
I avoided the site of the accident as much as I can. In the event, I
have to go past the road, anxiety
arises accompanied by similar
emotional memory.
I managed by meditating, I focus my attention
on the physiological signs of the anxiety e.g. increasing heart beats as
it arises and falls, slowly spreading tension throughout the body and
then slowly ebbed away.
It was overwhelming at first but slowly, I
began to get the hang of it. Watching the physiological signs every
time it arises and falls, and over time, watching also the accompanying
thoughts e.g. fear of the repeat of the accident as it arises and falls
with the rhythm of the heart.
I monitored my motivation in my favorite activities, my productivity
and concentration at work, my social interactions for signs of
declining interest, dysfunctionality. There wasn't any salient changes.
I monitored my dreams for flashbacks. There wasn't any.
The hypervigilance and avoidance continued for the next few weeks but
it slowly gotten lesser and lesser in frequency and intensity.
After the first few days, when I slowly got myself being increasingly
aware of the arising of anxiety and fear, I began to systematically gain
control of my body by putting it in a more relaxed state and also
reinterpreting the event memory by imbuing the memory with feelings of
gratitude for everyone being fine, for having a second chance to
practice being a human.
Slowly after, the anxiety and fear
decreases in their frequency and intensity and every time, after filling
my thoughts associated with the event memory with gratitude, I started
filling the following thoughts with loving-kindness, wishing for all to
be well and happy.
This is the fourth week. I am feeling much
better now, having been able to reach a state in which I can write about
the experience. My body doesn't react as intensely as it did during the
initial period after the accident.
This too shall pass.
May all be well and happy.
With Loving-Kindness
Simple Bear 14.03.2016.