I read about the attempted kidnapping of a middle aged Nigerian male in the newspaper. I remember feeling terrified and bemoaning the rampant insecurity in the country.
Six months later the said Nigerian was in my consulting room complaining of ‘not feeling like his usual self’ since the incident.
__________________________
The sound of footsteps along the corridor were soon interrupted by the slight squeaking of the consulting room door as it swung open.
Before me stood Mr Teko, a tall, well-built Nigerian man who smiled briefly behind his face mask then sat some distance across from me as we exchanged pleasantries.
He looked well but for the look of sadness and deep worry in his eyes.
What followed was a detailed narrative of the gruelling experience he had endured just 6 months before.
He had been the back seat passenger in his Prado jeep on his way to Kaduna from Abuja for business. The driver had stopped at a roadside filling station, briefly he had intended, just for a top up.
He remembered getting down from the jeep to stretch his legs and get some fresh air. He had been digging in his pocket for cash to pay for the fuel when chaos broke loose, gunshots filled the air and passers-by scrambled for safety.
Six men wearing what looked like Militia uniforms emerged from nowhere brandishing AK-47 rifles. They were barking orders, shooting into the air and walking menacingly about as though they were looking for something – or someone.
The next thing he knew they had surrounded him, all 6 of them, still barking orders and motioning aggressively. He thought the end had come when he spied the driver, alive just seconds before, lying motionless on the ground.
Mr Teko paused, looked at me and said without emotion ‘’my driver was killed just like that. He adjusted his face mask and he had been preparing for his wedding.’’
I remained speechless, horrified by the story he told so effortlessly.
‘’They insisted I go with them but I refused’’ he summarized.
I knew the rest of the story because I had been in the hospital the night he was rushed into the emergency room bleeding profusely.
He had stood his ground before them, refusing to get into their waiting jeep and was shot in the thigh instead. The bloodthirsty group, perhaps suddenly conscious of time, then sped off leaving him for dead.
And he would have bled to death, alone on the ground in that filling station, had it not been for a Good Samaritan driver who was touched by his cries for help.
Mr Teko looked impatient now as he spoke. ‘’It has been 6 months Doctor, he said shifting in his seat. It’s as though I’m a different person’’.
The frustration was evident in his voice when he explained his symptoms. He had lost concentration since the incident and was unable to focus on his work or business.
He no longer enjoyed the hobbies he once loved and felt strangely detached from his wife and family. He got easily angered and startled by the slightest noise.
Then there were the nightmares and what he described as ‘visions’ – times when he felt he was back there again, surrounded by those murderous men in black.
And while not a fearful person by nature, he had been unable to bring himself to travel by that particular road to Kaduna since the incident.
_____________________________________
Beyond the COVID – 19 pandemic, stories like this have unfortunately become commonplace. We hear of people being kidnapped and then released after huge sums are paid. Many have been raped, maimed or have witnessed atrocities being committed to people they love.
What many may not realize is that after these traumatic events about 2 in 10 people are never fully able to return to their normal lives and develop PTSD. (Foa E, Rothbaum O. 1998)
It’s as though they become permanently scarred by the incident and develop uncharacteristic symptoms which leave them (the sufferers), their caregivers and loved ones confused, hurt and deeply worried.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
This is the name given to the group of symptoms experienced by people who have endured or witnessed horrific events frankly ‘outside the usual human experience’ like Mr Teko.
Kidnapping, rape, bloody communal clashes, herd’s men attacks, witnessing or experiencing armed combat during a war are all examples of traumatic events that can cause PTSD.
PTSD occurs when the victim believes that he or she will die or be seriously injured by the traumatic event (no matter what it is).
PTSD can come from being bullied (in person or even online like in cyber bullying).
Mr Teko’s loss of concentration, irritability, and easy startling are all symptoms of PTSD. So are his feelings of detachment from his family and loss of interest in his business and hobbies.
His nightmares and ‘visions’ (called flashbacks – where sufferers feel like they’re literally reliving the trauma), are hallmarks of the disorder.
These symptoms cause confusion, fear and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness in survivors and drives some to even commit suicide. (Houston M. 2017)
Symptoms of PTSD typically last for more than 1 month after the traumatic incident, and can continue for years worsening sufferer’s and loved ones confusion as most believe that the victim should have ‘gotten over it’ by that time.
Why do the nightmares, flashbacks and other symptoms last for so long in people with PTSD?
Symptoms of PTSD are recurrent and long lasting because of the mind’s repeated attempts to process or work through the unprecedented catastrophic trauma (rape, kidnapping or armed combat for example).
The nightmares and flashbacks (the re-living experiences Mr Teko referred to as visions) are the mind’s attempt to replay and analyse the trauma experience so as to integrate it into the consciousness. Like you would go over a bad breakup over and over in your mind to try to understand what actually happened and why.
_________________________________
Mr Teko listened attentively as I explained the meaning of his disorder and the symptoms he had. He looked visibly relieved when I assured him that he was not losing his mind or going crazy.
He understood instinctively when I clarified how his attempts at sweeping the traumatic incident and his feelings under the carpet in an attempt to forget about them and get on with his life, were actually hindering and not helping his healing.
_______________________________
Family members and friends unknowingly worsen a victim’s distress by avoiding discussions related to the distressing event in the fear that doing this might increase the victim’s pain or in the hope that it will eventually all just go away.
While it’s painful to hear and talk about any traumatic event, graded exposure to images, thoughts and emotions related to the event, when done by a skilled Therapist, have been proven to result in the healing of people with PTSD.
Mr Teko recovered fully after treatment with medications and several sessions of Psychotherapy.
_____________________________
We’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment.
Questions? Feel free to ASK The Therapist.
Do you or any one you know have symptoms you think might be PTSD? Please Contact Us or share your story.
Welldone Dr. Chika. The insecurity in this country is really mind blowing.
Thank you Dr Lilian! God help us and bless our country.
You hear the words ‘PTSD’ and probably relate it to soldiers newly returned from theaters of war…As Nigerians we probably go to ‘war’ everytime we leave our homes while searching for our daily bread. With the insecurity in our Country, the horror stories read in our newspapers of atrocities (rape, armed robbery, kidnapping, etc) committed, it’s heartwarming to know that their are trained professionals out there to listen, give a helping hand and guide us through the confusion we may be experiencing. Well done Chi-Chi for a truly informative piece.
Thank you so much Uche! You’re always one of the first to comment. Truly appreciated
Thank God for someone like you in this field of knowledge, I strongly believe that with your help, so many victims of such circumstances will be reintegrated to the society,
May God continue to strengthen you and that your wealth of experience continue to increase in JESUS NAME
Amen to your prayers Oche! Thank you for taking time to read
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