Recognizing that June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, we are challenged to look at PTSD not only as a clinical disorder, but as a form of traumatic grief. It is the body, mind, and spirit carrying profound losses that have not yet found a safe place to be fully mourned. After a traumatic event, individuals certainly grieve the person or people who died, but they also grieve their own sense of safety, trust, identity, innocence, faith, or the future they once thought they would have.

This reframing matters deeply. Too often in our society, symptoms are treated as inconvenient problems to be tightly controlled, instead of messages from deep pain that simply need companionship. Rather than forcing someone to “move on,” true healing is about slowly building an environment where they feel safe enough to tell the truth of what happened, name exactly what was lost, and be witnessed without judgment.

When a person is navigating PTSD and traumatic grief, the nervous system remains stuck in survival mode, trying to protect them from what once overwhelmed them. You might notice:

– Flashbacks or intrusive memories

– Intense anxiety or panic

– Emotional numbness or detachment

– Sudden anger or irritability

– Sleeplessness and chronic exhaustion

– Avoidance of people, places, or reminders of the trauma

For families, friends, and communities, understanding this connection means realizing we do not have to “fix” someone’s grief or trauma. We do not need to have all the answers.

Instead, we can listen. We can stay present. We can encourage professional support. Most importantly, we can remember that behind many intense trauma responses is a grieving human being who desperately needs compassion, connection, and time.

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Resources for Help and Hope

In Columbiana County, we want our neighbors to know that you do not have to carry the weight of trauma or grief alone, and professional support is available for you 24/7.

– CALL OR TEXT 988: Reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7 for free, confidential support.

– CRISIS TEXT LINE: Text “HOME” to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor.

– EMERGENCY: If there is an immediate risk of harm, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you are grieving a suicide loss or sudden, traumatic loss, you do not have to walk through it alone. The Columbiana County LOSS (Local Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) Team provides immediate, peer-based emotional support and connections to local resources. To request support or learn about volunteer opportunities, contact Lynsi Beagle at 330-424-0195 or lbeagle@ccmhrsb.org.

This article is brought to you by the Columbiana County Suicide Prevention Coalition. To learn more about our resources, local initiatives, or how to get involved, please visit https://tinyurl.com/Suicide-Prevention-Coalition and follow us on Facebook @ColumbianaCountySuicidePreventionCoalition.