CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION IN REAL-TIME
Gain a fresh perspective from a friend you haven't met yet
Join the community and meet people from different industries, disciplines & cultures when it suits you.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) impacts the lives of many in our community, not just the individual but also those trying to support them. Mark Weisman is a modern-day Shaman who works with Military personnel and First Responders who live with PTSD.
In this episode, Mark describes the strategies and tactics he uses, including SABTAS, a practical model for on-the-spot intervention during PTSD triggers.
#Resilience #VeteranSupport #FirstResponders #PTSDAwareness #StrengthInChange #HealingJourney #MentalHealthMatters #ChangeMaker
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Living with PTSD can be a crippling experience, resulting in emotional numbness, recurring nightmares, and difficulty coping with everyday life. For individuals who have undergone extreme psychological stress, such as military personnel and first responders, these symptoms can be even more severe. In this article, we’ll explore how those who face heavy psychological trauma can find balance, manage their energy, and ultimately discover a path to healing.If there seems to be a disconnect at any point, it’s perfectly acceptable to seek alternative therapists who can provide the connection and understanding required for effective treatment. Remember, therapy is about building a global family of change-makers, bridging cultures, and transcending borders – a process that demands openness and trust from all involved.
PTSD not only affects the individual on an emotional level but can lead to physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, excessive sweating, and muscle tension. The traditional therapeutic approaches to treating PTSD might not resonate with everyone, especially those with a “tougher” or “alpha” mentality. It’s fundamentally important to provide mechanisms to these individuals, allowing them to adjust and grow into their new reality post-trauma. Since PTSD alters one’s sense of self, professionals in the field encourage the acceptance of this change, recognising that returning to a pre-trauma state is unlikely. Embracing the new self and learning to be content within this new context is crucial for moving forward.
One critical aspect of recovery is helping the affected individuals accept change without fear. For many, the thought of change can be intimidating or paralysing. However, by embracing their altered state post-trauma, individuals can embark on a journey that leads to growth after experiencing traumatic events. It is a complex process that entails debunking the emotional overload and working towards understanding these emotions to avoid being conquered by them.
The importance of connecting with one’s ancestry and heritage has proven to be beneficial in the healing journey of PTSD patients. For those providing support, like Mark, having a Scandinavian background helps establish a common ground with patients who might resist traditional forms of therapy. Discussing ancestry can foster a sense of strength and resilience, drawing from the wisdom and experiences of past generations to face current challenges. This connection often provides an entry point to discuss broader topics, such as the significance of embracing cultural legacies in personal growth and recovery.
Traversing across the state allows caregivers like Mark to interact with diverse cultures, tapping into multiple experiences and perspectives. This enriches the therapeutic process and helps patients see value in their unique backgrounds and utilise them as a foundation for their healing. By appreciating one’s roots, individuals find additional support when navigating the complexities of PTSD and recovery.
When defining PTSD beyond clinical jargon, Mark suggests visualising the human brain as having a limited bandwidth for processing sensory inputs and emotional responses. Traumatic events consume an immense portion of this bandwidth, often leading to cognitive overload. When the brain reaches its limit, it can start discarding information to cope, resulting in memory loss or emotional numbness. Part of the therapeutic process involves unpacking these ‘little things’—the accumulations of stress and unprocessed emotions—so that bandwidth is freed up to engage in cognitive thought and healing.
Moreover, PTSD influences not just personal well-being but also interpersonal relationships. It can create a constant state of hypervigilance, making social interaction and previously effortless bonds much more challenging to maintain. It is common for individuals with PTSD to resort to self-medication or engage in harmful behaviours as coping mechanisms. In more extreme cases, feelings of hopelessness can become overwhelming. This underlines the importance of finding hope and creating paths forward for those affected by PTSD. It’s about becoming what Mark terms a “karate ninja” of the mind, learning to manage, deflect, or even extinguish overwhelming emotional energy to reclaim clarity and commence the healing process.
For people who haven’t experienced trauma, it’s possible to get overwhelmed by everyday stressors without realising how precariously this sets them up for a mental health crisis should a significant traumatic event occur. Therefore, understanding the effects of PTSD is critical not only for those who suffer from it but also for society at large, ensuring empathy and appropriate support for everyone navigating the aftermath of trauma.
Recovery from PTSD often hinges on the presence of a supportive community that understands the nuances of the condition. People who have walked the path from trauma to healing can significantly influence others who are struggling. It’s an invaluable form of peer support, as evidenced by Mark’s experience with veterans and military members. Members of a platoon or company who share a common background and possibly similar traumatic experiences can serve as critical anchors for each other.
The process of healing does not occur in isolation. As more individuals in the community become aware of the symptoms and potential warning signs of PTSD—such as withdrawal from social circles, pronounced personality changes, or the turn to self-medication—they can play a proactive role in offering help. This is not just an initiative for those who understand PTSD firsthand but for family, friends, and the wider community to create a network of vigilance and compassion.
Education is pivotal in the fight against PTSD. Learning to recognise the onset of triggers and how to manage them can provide much-needed control to those affected. The acronym SABTAS, which stands for Stop and Breathe, Think, Act, Support, is more than a catchy phrase—it’s a condensed lifesaver, a model of conscious intervention that can halt the cycle of trauma replaying in the afflicted individual’s mind.
By overtly taking a deep breath at the onset of a trigger, individuals can shift the focus from the negative stimulus to the act of breathing itself, thereby addressing both psychological and physiological needs in the moment. Recognition of safety and rational assessment of the environment allows for a more informed response to the situation rather than succumbing to fight-or-flight instincts.
One of the challenges in the recovery process is addressing the needs of individuals who live alone without an immediate support network. Loneliness can exacerbate the symptoms of PTSD and make the journey to healing a much more daunting task. However, even in solitude, empowerment is the key. Even without direct support, individuals can exercise their innate authority to say “no” to the negative energies and choose a different mental and emotional path.
Encouraging involvement in support groups, connecting with friends, or participating in community activities can help individuals build new support networks. Furthermore, instilling the idea that one can change their mind and emotions is vital. By recognising the personal power to reject fear and negativity, individuals reinforce their autonomy and the belief that they can engage positively with the world around them.
Mark’s holistic approach underscores a fundamental truth: while the traumatic event may never completely disappear from one’s psyche, it does not have to define one’s existence. Celebrating each small victory is a crucial part of the process—acknowledging progress, no matter how minute, compounds into a powerful affirmation of resilience.
This journey is not linear, and individuals may face setbacks. However, having the tools and understanding provided by the SABTAS model can make a significant difference. It gives individuals a framework to navigate the complexities of PTSD. More importantly, it gives them hope—a reminder that even though the past cannot be changed, the future still holds endless possibilities for happiness and fulfilment. Through these paradigm shifts and the implementation of strategies learned, people can reclaim their lives, one hopeful step at a time.
The enduring effects of PTSD may involve recurrent nightmares or triggers that unexpectedly cause distress. Navigating these challenges requires an approach that borrows principles from the military and first-responder sectors, where individuals are trained to function efficiently under stress. By adopting similar methodologies, those affected by PTSD can apply a disciplined framework to manage their symptoms.
This begins by cultivating the same mental toughness and preparedness ingrained in soldiers and emergency personnel. For instance, the techniques used in high-pressure situations—such as strategic disengagement and measured responses—are repurposed to deal with PTSD triggers. This approach becomes another layer of survival training, not in warzones or burning buildings, but within the tumultuous terrains of their own minds.
Throughout history, successful cultural integration often required adopting and adapting local traditions. Likewise, Mark’s ethos in providing therapy integrates the preexisting cultural narratives and practices of those he assists. This tailored approach mirrors how religions historically grew and flourished by incorporating elements of local cultures to resonate deeply with the community.
Using this principle, Mark’s approach is attentive to the individual’s culture, traditions, and beliefs, creating a therapy practice that is effective, familiar, and comforting. This relevance fosters a stronger connection between the healing process and the individual, which can be crucial to recovery. Understanding one’s heritage and personal history is often a foundation upon which to build a new, healthy future.
Mark stresses the importance of empowering those dealing with PTSD to set their own pace for recovery. Symptomatic of his respect for individual agency, he rejects the notion of a cookie-cutter treatment schedule. Instead, he fosters a culture where individuals inform him of their needs, determining the intensity and frequency of their “gathers” or sessions. This approach instils ownership of the treatment process in the individuals themselves. It places the responsibility for recovery in their hands, aligning with the belief that they are the ones who will enact the change they need.
This personalised modality removes unnecessary pressure, allowing for a more organic healing process. Individuals can request additional support whenever they feel it’s required, which can be a powerful motivator. It also helps build a rapport rooted in trust.
Mark’s commitment to service extends to a readiness to connect with those in need at any given moment, indicating a deep-set dedication often reflective of military culture. His readiness to adapt to various situations—whether meeting in an outdoor setting to embrace the earth’s energy or providing guidance through virtual means—underscores the adaptability required in healing PTSD.
The undying message is clear: there is hope and many paths forward. People who struggle with mental health issues are often told they are not enough: not smart enough, not strong enough, not capable enough. Yet, Mark’s message is an emphatic counterpoint to those destructive ideas. Each person is enough, capable of overcoming and moving towards a happier and healthier life. This unwavering optimism recognises hardship and assures that there’s a possibility for a better tomorrow. The tools and support provided are not just a conglomeration of practices but are imbued with the belief in progress, understanding, and inherent strength.
Lastly, Mark emphasises the paradox of strength, where true might is found not in physicality but in love, emotion, and vulnerability. Genuine growth and happiness flourish in the abandonment of negative stereotypes and the embrace of one’s authentic self. It’s the acknowledgment that seeking help is not a weakness but an incredible act of courage and self-awareness.
The journey towards healing and happiness is complete with a deep personal understanding of what these concepts mean to each individual. Recovery entails not only the process of healing from past trauma but also discovering what brings joy, what fuels passion, and what constitutes a meaningful life for oneself. Mark inspires those he works with to cast aside inhibitions and false preconceptions, to find their own version of strength, and to walk a path paved with hope, resilience, and love.
Cultivating a profound understanding of oneself stands at the core of Mark’s philosophy on recovery and growth. It is the belief that self-awareness is the gateway to substantial healing and authentic relationships. As individuals delve into the depths of who they are, they often uncover strengths and qualities that their trauma or societal expectations have overshadowed. In this deep self-reflection, a person begins to appreciate their value, laying a foundation for self-love and self-respect.
Mark advocates for building a relationship with oneself that is as compassionate and nurturing as any other loving relationship. Developing self-love requires patience and, often, dismantling negative self-talk and destructive beliefs about oneself. It’s a therapeutic process, where each step is a step toward embracing one’s intrinsic worth.
Once an individual has begun the process of self-affirmation and self-compassion, they are better poised to engage in more meaningful and loving relationships with others. Authentic connections are formed when people interact from a place of self-understanding and when they can offer the same level of respect and love they have cultivated for themselves.
Through the exploration of self-love and vulnerability, Mark lays out a pathway not just toward personal recovery from PTSD but toward a life enriched with self-empowerment, profound connections, and the courage to be authentically oneself in all facets of life.
Whether it’s through offering resources, sharing a message of support, or broadcasting stories of change and inspiration, each contribution carries incredible potential for driving positive change. Let’s keep this conversation going.
Mark Weisman is a modern-day Shaman and sworn 53rd generation Úlfhe∂nar to his ancestral Gods, Ó∂inn and Freyja in Asgard by Norse legend. As a former Pastor with the Christian church, he has studied religions extensively throughout the world, and ultimately being called to a Shaman, he arrived at his cultural, spiritual home of the Celtic-Norse. With several advanced academic degrees, he has developed successful methods of dealing with psychological trauma thereby helping his friends to build living mechanisms to get back to their lives filled with joy and comfort. As a sworn Úlfhe∂nar, his primary mission is to use his gift from his Gods to help friends and family overcome their obstacles and see their way to a successful life’s journey. He produces a simplistic message of love, peace, and hope, by the teaching of, and the demonstration of, the wisdom of his ancestors.
Join the community and meet people from different industries, disciplines & cultures when it suits you.