233: PTSD | What It Looks Like + Why It’s So Prevalent for Disability Parents w/ Amanda Griffith-Atkins

<p>A hospital admission. A seizure. A certain time of year. Sometimes your body can react to medical trauma long after the moment itself has passed. But when does that become PTSD, and what does that look like when the trauma is tied to your child’s medical care?</p><p>In today’s episode, Amanda Griffith-Atkins joins us to break down the difference between PTSD, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and other trauma responses, plus why things like hypervigilance, avoidance, feeling trapped, and physical reactions to reminders can show up so strongly for medical parents.</p><p>We also dig into what makes trauma especially complicated when you have to keep returning to the hospital or facing new medical crises, how treatment options like EMDR and medication can help, and why you don’t need an official PTSD diagnosis for your trauma to deserve attention.</p><p>And a big thanks to our sponsor for this episode, themakers of the incredible documentary, <a href="https://www.thezebraandthebear.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Zebra &amp; The Bear!</a></p><p><strong>Links:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.thezebraandthebear.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Watch The Zebra &amp; The Bear</strong></a><strong></strong></p><p>Listen to <a href="https://therarelife.org/show-notes/ep-185-medical-parent-trauma-dealing-with-triggers-ongoing-trauma-w-rosey-schaefermeyer-lcsw" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ep 185: Medical Parent Trauma.</a></p><p><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfngJAzL1UjQ9FOKHwpLSNzj3nBXIKLZXYSbCYounjfqLxD5Q/viewform?usp=sf_link" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Fill out our contact form</strong></a><strong> to join upcoming discussion groups!</strong></p><p><a href="https://the-rare-life.ck.page/07651b55d9" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Join The Rare Life newsletter</strong></a><strong> and never miss an update!</strong></p><p>Follow Amanda on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanda.griffith.atkins/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@amanda.griffith.atkins!</a></p><p>Follow us on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_rare_life/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@the_rare_life</a>!</p><p><a href="https://therarelife.org/donate" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donate to the podcast</a> or <a href="https://therarelife.org/contact" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_bla