Wow...It was PTSD

I never thought I would be someone who struggled with PTSD.

Even after the accident—the one that took my husband’s life and my left leg—I didn’t put a name to what I was feeling. I told myself I was just grieving. That what I was experiencing was normal after something so devastating. And in many ways, it was. But there was something more happening beneath the surface that I didn’t yet understand.

I was overwhelmed in ways I couldn’t explain. My body would react before my mind could catch up. Certain sounds, places, or even small moments would trigger intense emotions. Anxiety would come out of nowhere. Sleep didn’t come easily. Some days, it felt like I was moving backwards, even when I tried so hard to move forward.

At the time, I didn’t know these were symptoms of PTSD.

I thought PTSD was something that happened to “other people,” or that it looked a certain way—something more obvious, more extreme. I didn’t realize it could look like quiet battles, internal struggles, or emotional waves that didn’t seem to make sense.

It wasn’t until I started learning more—really understanding what PTSD does to your mind and body—that things began to click. The hyper-awareness. The emotional highs and lows. The exhaustion. The way your nervous system stays on high alert, even when you’re safe. Suddenly, what I was going through had a name.

And having a name mattered.

It didn’t fix everything overnight, but it gave me clarity. It helped me stop questioning myself so much. It helped me realize I wasn’t broken—I was responding to trauma.

If there’s one thing I would say to anyone reading this, it’s this: talk to someone.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. Whether it’s a therapist, a psychiatrist, or even just opening up to someone you trust, speaking about what you’re experiencing can make a difference. There is strength in acknowledging what you’re going through, even when it’s hard.

Healing isn’t linear. It doesn’t happen all at once. But understanding is a powerful first step.

For me, learning about PTSD didn’t define me—it helped me begin to find my way forward.