A Night To Forget

By Azeeza Adeowu

“Your mom said robbers once came to your house. Can you talk about what happened that night?” Doctor Edith asked me.

“I can’t remember,” I lied because I don’t talk about it.

“I want you to try to remember her because your symptoms; the panic attacks, the rage, the anxiety and the sleeplessness may be linked to that night,” said Doctor Edith.

I looked at her pleading eyes, why would she want me to tell her a night I always try to forget?

It was the night I lost my father. 3 armed robbers with masks broke into our home that night and stole from us. But it didn’t end there, they shot my father and he died of the gunshot.

It was 3 years ago and everyone thought I should have moved on. My mother doesn’t like talking about that night. Since then, I couldn’t sleep at night. Every noise startles me and every time someone knocks on the door, I panic. I’m scared, I’m scared that the robbers would come back to shoot me too.

I told Dr. Edith that I don’t want to talk about the night and she didn’t argue with me. Before I left her office, she gave me a journal and said to write about that night and how it makes me feel. She said writing down your feelings sometimes helps relieve PTSD symptoms like anger and anxiety.

Post Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD), that’s what Dr. Edith called my condition. She promised that it may take time, but I’ll get better. That gives me joy because I want to get better. I want to be able to sleep better. I want to stop being angry at the world for moving on after I lost my father.

Lessons Learnt:

• People can suffer PTSD after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
• Seeing a professional is the best well to diagnose and get treated for mental illnesses
• Journaling helps to reduce mental distress.