Poor Babies: Occupiers Claim They Are Suffering From PTSDThen again, living in constant fear of being raped or murdered by someone in a Guy Fawkes mask while protesting against the evil 1% could take a toll on you.Quote:
All of that daily pouting and shouting can really wear on a soul, they say. And the best way to deal with it is to have a good cry.
One document published by Occupy Chicago, titled “Responding to Trauma in Protests and Mass Mobilizations: Supporting Yourself and Others to Cope with Traumatic Incidents,†begins:
“Factors that place us at greater risk for post-traumatic stress are having a history of abuse, not getting support that we need from our allies, and being separated from others, either during or following the action. Because abuse is pervasive in this culture, learning to heal from and integrate our traumatic experiences in action can empower us to live our lives more fully every day.â€
Occupy Chicago explains the warning signs in another document titled, “Crisis Fact Sheet: 10 Ways to Recognize Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,â€
Feeling “emotionally numb.â€
Crying uncontrollably.
Isolating oneself from family and friends and avoiding social situations.
Relying increasingly on alcohol or drugs to get through the day.
Feeling extremely moody, irritable, angry, suspicious or frightened.
Feeling overwhelmed by what would normally be considered everyday situations and diminished interest in performing normal tasks or pursuing usual interests.
Feeling guilty about surviving the event or being unable to solve the problem, change the event or prevent the disaster.
Feeling fears and sense of doom about the future.
All of those pretty much describe the Occupy crowd. But the self-important audacity of Occupy shines through in another document, titled “Trauma and Healing. It calls for a healthy dose of self-pity and weeping to overcome the effects of PTSD.