About
Refracting Hope
was created as a response to my frustration as I try to navigate the world, and the frustration of other people as they try to understand me.
The information on this website is a refraction of my experiences - what I have learnt along my journey.
I have found that my history of childhood trauma has a significant impact on my ability to do anything and everything in life. But, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, my PTSD is here and so is the world.
Social, medical, mental health, welfare. PTSD affects my ability to handle them all. But, they also have an impact (positive or negative) on my PTSD. They can heal or harm.
Sometimes they can even re-traumatise.
Something which is difficult to explain to others.
People might know what the symptoms of PTSD are, but not what that actually looks like when, for instance, that person is trying to navigate a hospital stay. Or a party. Or access to mental health services, a relationship with the welfare system, even disasters - personal and global (fires, pandemics, chronic illness). Etc. They act surprised at the nitty gritty complicated parts of a relationship with someone with a history of childhood trauma. Perplexed at those sudden, seemingly inexplicable, off centre behaviours and beliefs. And the complications they cause. They react, I react and well-meaning becomes trauma.
The responses of people matter. All of us (I admit that I am no angel).
These resources are for medical and mental health professionals, policy makers, educators, as well as those who simply want to know about the impact of childhood trauma and what PTSD is like, and perhaps a “oh, that might help me too” for those who live with it.
Refracting Hope is for anyone and everyone.
Whether you agree or disagree with me, I hope as you read that even one of my words improves your understanding of PTSD, ignites ideas, starts discussions:…a bit of “I need to think about this more”, “I get it now”, “I never knew that”, “we can use that bit of info”, “let’s consider”, “that might just work”, “should we change …?”
What would I like?