Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
I mentioned about a week ago that my darling daughter came home from an Ukrainian orphanage with PTSD. She has been home for about 6.5 years now. She is a happy and loving 10 year old with an average IQ.
Her neurological issues and her mental illnesses are invisible to most folks. Heck, some were invisible to me. Natasha picked up a couple of new labels in the last two months.
Both Natasha and I have always seen her as a worrier. She worries that the fire on the TV news show will somehow hurt her. As a third grader she worries about growing up. Will she be able to find a job? What happens to her when she gets an F in 5th grade. (Right now she gets 1, 2, and 3 for grades.)
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
When Natasha is exhausted she regresses to old worries. Will the Bad Luda be able to find her and drag her back to the orphanage? (Natasha’s orphanage caretaker was abusive. This helps explain why Natasha came home with PTSD.)
And she always worries that I will get lost when driving. This is actually a valid concern. I am directionally dyslexic. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
After Natasha was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder I went to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) book. I have learned to always verify information provided during a doctor’s visit. And reading the information helps me digest the diagnosis more thoroughly.
The American Psychiatric Association publishes the DSM to standardize the diagnosing and treatment of mental health issues. It is used in the United States and many countries around the world.
The essential feature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is excessive anxiety and worry
From: DSM-IV-TR
Also the anxiety has to happen for more then 6 months. And it isn’t focused on one particular event or subject. Natasha has all this, so I scheduled an appointment to start cognitive behavioral therapy.
The idea behind this therapy is thinking differently will make the patient feel better. This is very similar to reframing. Hopefully this will help my darling.
