FIREWORKS AND PTSD
by Sarah Nevelus | Wednesday, Jul 22, 2020
Setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July is a long- standing tradition meant to celebrate America’s freedom . However, for those struggling with PTSD, it can be a nightmare. “ Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event ” (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2019). Symptoms may include nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts about the event, severe anxiety, depression, irritability , and hyper-vigilance . There are many different causes , and it affects everyone individually . N ot every person living with PTSD is affected by fireworks, but it can be a trigger for many, especially veterans and those affected by gun violence.
On a more personal note, my mother has PTSD due to being present while my twin brother took his life with a gun. Loud, sudden, and unexpected noises are a trigger for her and can be anything from a doorbell ringing to an object falling. Fireworks are especially a trigger because the sounds are very similar to a gunshot.
Last 4 th of July—7 months after my brother’s death—was my mother’s first experience with fireworks . We weren’t sure how she was going to handle the sounds, but it soon became clear that she was seriously affected. Regular headphones weren’t enough to drown out the sound of the neighborhood fireworks, and as a result s he spent most of the night cowered in a corner crying, shaking, and yelling. The loud, sudden, and never-ending booms of fireworks make her feel like she is under attack and seem s to cause a physiological fight or flight response , which is difficult to calm down from. It was heartbreaking to see her in so much pain, but even more heartbreaking to know that I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t make the fireworks stop and I couldn’t shield her from the noise. It was clear the fireworks weren’t going to end anytime soon, so around midnight , not knowing what else to do, I went to Walmart and bought expensive noise cancelling headphones . They seemed to help, but she was still very shaken from the hours of fireworks she had to endure. E ventually , she was able to fall asleep while wearing the headphones which helped her get through the night.
While l ast year was particularly difficult for her, this past 4 th of July was a little more manageable. She had a better idea of what to expect and was already equipped with the noise cancelling headphones. She found it helpful to use as many sensory functions a s possible , such as
listening to music/watching a movie, singing/talking, and moving around/doing something with your hands. Doing all these things simultaneously can help to “override” the senses so you aren’t as overwhelmed by the sounds of the fireworks. This year she listened to music and sang along/read the l yrics while working on some artwork. Focusing on another task can really help to distract your mind and lessen your reaction to the fireworks .
T his year was definitely better than the last , however it still wasn’t perfect. In the week leading up to the 4 th , s he was really anxious and kept thinking about the things she would do to cope , knowing how bad it had been t he year before. Even with the noise cancelling headphones, she still heard the boom of fireworks in between songs and at several points screamed out in frustration. She still finds listening to fireworks a very raw experience and had to go to bed wearing the headphones like last year in order to get through the night . We are hopeful , however, that in upcoming years it will become easier for her to handle fireworks and that her reactions will be lessened.
As someone who doesn’t struggle with PTSD, there are many things you can do to support those who are negatively aff ected. If you do plan on setting off fireworks, opt for low noise fireworks that make a crackle/fizzle sound instead of a gunshot-like sound. Also, talk with your neighbors about when, where, and for how long you will be setting off fireworks. Be considerate of others , because you never know who in your community struggles with PTSD.
In the coming years , I urge the country to rethink the tradition of having fireworks on the F ourth and hopefully come up with an alternative to support those who struggle with PTSD. It’s important to be mindful , because for a lot of people it’s not fun and games—it’s traumatizing.
References:
National Institute of Mental Health (2019). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder . Retrieved July 8, 2020, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml .