Trauma has a way of rearranging the soul. It interrupts the rhythms of our body, the peace of our mind and the safety we once took for granted in our own lives.
Recently, I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - a mental health condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a deeply distressing or life-threatening event. PTSD often affects the way we think, feel and respond to the world. It can appear through flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbness or physical symptoms that seem unexplainable but are in fact rooted in the body’s memory of trauma.
For me, the symptoms began subtly - and then all at once. My body was speaking what my mind could not yet process. I experienced uncontrollable shivers, sharp pains across my chest and ribs, and a constant tension in my pelvic area that mirrored the emotional wound I was carrying. My feet would tremble whenever I thought about what had happened. Sleep became a stranger. My appetite disappeared. I was in tears most days and rage or anxiety attacks would rise out of nowhere.
Even ordinary routines suddenly felt unsafe. Driving alone, being in my house, even being in silence - things that once symbolised independence now triggered fear. I began to feel like a stranger in my own body.
When I finally sought help and my psychiatrist diagnosed me with PTSD, I remember feeling relief. Relief that it had a name. Relief that there was a way to understand what I was experiencing. And most importantly, relief that it could be treated.
Having a name gave me permission to separate myself from the illness. I began to understand that I was not my trauma, and that my body’s reactions were signals - not failures. That awareness changed everything.
Through my treatment, which involves a world-class collaborative clinical care team, I have been able to regain control of my mind, body and emotions. Some days have been harder than others, but the progress is real. I have learnt to recognise my triggers, communicate my needs and track where I am improving. Healing has helped me rebuild my confidence - piece by piece, breath by breath.
Understanding and Treating PTSD
PTSD is more common than many realise and it doesn’t only affect survivors of war or major disasters. It can follow any experience that deeply violates one’s sense of safety or bodily autonomy - including violence, loss or abuse.
Treatment for PTSD often includes:
- Trauma-focused psychotherapy, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
- Medication, prescribed by a psychiatrist to help stabilise sleep, anxiety or depressive symptoms.
- Somatic and occupational therapies that help reconnect the mind and body.
- Support groups or trauma-informed communities, which help survivors reclaim belonging through shared understanding.
In South Africa, there are several places where professional PTSD treatment is available:
- Vista Clinic – Centurion
- Palm Tree Clinic – Cape Town
- Papillon Recovery Centre – Johannesburg
- Life Path Health Group
- SADAG Trauma Support Line: 0800 020 402
Reflection
Healing from trauma is not about forgetting what happened; it’s about learning to live freely beyond it. Every day I remind myself that recovery is not linear. Some days I soar, other days I stumble but I am no longer lost.
Naming my diagnosis helped me reclaim my narrative. It helped me see that healing isn’t about returning to who I was before; it’s about becoming someone new - someone softer, wiser and more self-compassionate.
To anyone living through silent pain, please remember: you are not broken, you are healing.
Please seek help early. Trust professionals who see beyond your symptoms and believe that recovery is possible, because it is.