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Getting pierced with PTSD

Getting pierced with PTSD

Robin Heinrich
PTSD, Mental Health, healing, blog, empathy

Getting pierced during a pandemic is interesting in itself. But add in getting pierced with PTSD, and it becomes a whole different ballgame. From trusting a new shop and a new piercer to wondering if the whole experience is going to trigger me. I wrote this to show people how “normal things” can affect someone with PTSD, not to mention the after effects from a car accident.

PTSD and the 4th of July

PTSD and the 4th of July

Robin Heinrich
healing, PTSD, self care, Mental Health

The 4th of July is something most PTSD survivors have circled on their calendars every year. And not in a good way. My anxiety intuitively goes up about a week before the 4th, preparing my nervous system for “Hell week”. Because loud, random noises (i.e. fireworks) and PTSD do NOT go hand-in-hand. Most of us have an arsenal of tips and tricks to get us through the 4th because our fight-or-flight response is more easily triggered than most. I logically know that those noises are fireworks. But when my nervous system is triggered, the logic goes out the window and the PTSD goes, “We’re all gonna die!” So as you can imagine, the 4th of July is not my favorite holiday for that reason.