A letter from the Occupy Portland Medical Committee

Dear brothers and sisters,

We got our asses kicked on 1 MAY.

Already some of our fellows have been experiencing symptoms of PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder).
Criteria includes: direct personal experience or witnessing an event involving death or threat of death or serious injury. It can even include hearing about an event that involved a loved one. First response could include fear, helplessness, or horror. Symptoms can manifest as intrusive thoughts re-experiencing the event, avoidance, isolation, numbing of general responsiveness, and an increased sense of arousal (not the good kind).

The symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupation, or other important areas of functioning. Let’s not forget nightmares, dissociative states, amnesia, psychic numbing, feeling detached, sense of foreshortened future, difficulty concentrating, irritability, emotional outbursts of anger. Also triggering i.e. when an event resembles or symbolizes the trauma such as the weather or a smell or a sound. Sleeping disorders and restricted range of emotion are common.

Do not despair. Symptoms usually resolve. If you are still having symptoms after a month you should consult a professional (moms and grandmas are not good at treating all the aspects of PTSD). You are not crazy (well some of you are but not because of this). This condition involves changing neuronal pathways to protect us from this insult to our mortality and sense of well being. Although possibly adaptive to traumatic events it is not the way we want to live our daily lives.

It will destroy relationships and meaningful lives. Let’s not let this dysfunctional pathway get ingrained in our brains. If you are affected it is probably a good idea to stay away from contentious events until you are back on your feet. Let’s help each other. Let’s protect each other. We are one. You are not alone. nihil illegitimus carborundom
(don’t let the bastards grind you down)

Peace

The Medical Committee of Occupy Portland

Here is a list of resources for those experiencing trauma.

Mental Health Crisis Services

Call-In
Multnomah County Crisis Call-In Center

Toll-Free 
24 hours a day

Walk In
Cascadia Urgent Walk-In Clinic
Serves adults, children and families
2415 SE 43rd Ave
Use west entrance on SE 42nd/Division
Hours 7am-10:30pm, 7 days a week
Bus#4

House Calls
Project Respond Mobile Outreach
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Throughout Multnomah County
Call Project Respond at 

Medical Resources

Outside In Medical Clinic
1132 SW 13th Ave Portland

Must be homeless and under the age of 30 to be seen at this Clinic

Old Town Clinic
727 W Burnside St Portland

The Wallace Medical Concern
West Burnside Street

OHSU Richmond Clinic
3930 NE MLK

SW Community Health Center
7754 SW Capital Hwy Portland

Mercy and Wisdom Healing Center
2 NW 3rd Ave Portland

Quest Center for Integrative Health
2901 E Burnside St Portland

This entry was posted on May 25, 2012 at 8:26 pm and is filed under Direct Action, Events, Medical, Needs, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.