It's been a long time since the fire, but I am struggling with PTSD.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

It's called post-traumatic stress disorder.

About three years ago, there was a fire at the house I live in.

I witnessed a fire scene and personally reported it to 119, but it has been 3 years.

Although time has passed, the scene of the fire at that time and the thick smoke

I am experiencing PTSD symptoms such as anxiety, nightmares, and fear of fire, due to the terrifying memories and fear from that urgent time.

 

PTSD refers to an anxiety disorder that occurs after a severe trauma, such as experiencing or witnessing events like war, natural disasters, traffic accidents, fires, violence, or sexual assault.

 

PTSD symptoms

Re-experiencing trauma through dreams or repetitive thoughts.

Avoids or becomes numb to situations related to trauma.

Easily startled due to autonomic nervous system hyperactivity. Decreased concentration.

Sleep disorder. Irritability also increases.

 

The reason I experienced PTSD is because of an incident that happened three summers ago.

While lying in the living room, I saw thick black smoke outside the kitchen window... I thought, "Huh? That's strange, it's summer, so no one would be turning on the boiler, so what is that smoke?" and I opened the front door, only to find black smoke pouring out directly from the rooftop above.

 

I was so shocked that I frantically knocked on the door of the house next door and the one below, shouting that there was a fire. People came out, grabbed the fire extinguisher, and went up to the roof. I called 119, but I was so startled that my hands trembled and I barely managed to press the button.

 

Since it's a small town, the 119 emergency service responded immediately, and following the fire truck, the ambulance and police car all waited with sirens blaring, causing quite a commotion.

I evacuated outside my house.

Firefighters went up to the rooftop and worked on extinguishing the fire for about 20 minutes, and fortunately, the flames did not spread further and were contained.

I was truly terrified until I managed to put out the fire.

 

 

The house I live in is a five-story mansion.

My house is on the 5th floor, and the rooftop is right above it.

Because the building is old, there is a leak on the roof.

The floor had been treated with leak-proof urethane foam.

 

However, on the very day the fire broke out, someone was smoking on the rooftop.

He smoked and extinguished the cigarette by pressing it into the urethane foam installation.

The cigarette was not completely extinguished, and the fire caught on the urethane foam.

 

I'm glad I was at home then, otherwise if no one had been there...

Oh, the more I think about it, the more I shiver and find it horrifying.

The fire incident has been resolved, but the problem lies with me.

It has appeared.

 

Even a small smell makes me very sensitive, and I become nervous. My anxiety worsened, and when a fire occurred, the situation appeared as a nightmare, eventually leading to insomnia.

 

I had to go to the hospital for a consultation, and they said it might be PTSD. They prescribed a calming medication for a few days, but whenever I took it, I felt very weak and sleepy, so I stopped taking it afterward.

 

Since that day, I rarely leave the house for more than a day due to an overwhelming sense of anxiety that the house might catch fire.

It has improved a lot now, but back then I was overwhelmed with anxiety and fear.

 

PTSD causes so much disruption in daily life.

I especially experienced my mental health becoming very exhausted.

 

Treatment for PTSD involves supporting the patient, allowing them to talk about the trauma they experienced, and teaching coping strategies.

Since then, it is said that medication and psychotherapy are helpful.

PTSD that can occur in anyone after a serious trauma.

I still occasionally have nightmares, but with the help of my family and those around me.

I am overcoming it while consulting with the doctor.