Greetings!
For many people, the month of June signals the time to celebrate fathers and fatherhood. I was blessed to have a wonderful and loving father who, in spite of his childhood tragedies, was grateful to be alive. Everyone loved him, from the grocery store owner to distant family. He had a huge heart. He didn't like seeing people upset or sad and would bring light into everyone who crossed his path. I learned many lessons from my father. It makes me sad to realize that he died at the age I am now. Way too young. Losing him taught me to appreciate loved ones while they're around, because we're all visitors here and could be gone at any moment.
June is also PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Month. This is a condition that was not spoken about when I was a young girl. We all had good days and bad days and had good things and bad things happen to us. Today, therapy is more commonplace, as are certain medications, supplements, and modalities that help people deal with physical and emotional traumas from their past.
Symptoms of PTSD vary from one person to another, but some of the more common symptoms include difficulty concentrating, anger and aggressive outbursts, feeling tense or stressed, being easily startled, and difficulty sleeping. While these can be vague symptoms of other ailments, they're ones to pay attention to if PTSD is being considered. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you might want to seek professional help or counseling. We are lucky to be living in a time when there are many opportunities and resources for assistance.
Until next month, stay healthy and happy!