things to know about ri.ck fl.ag and his ptsd. ʘ‿ʘ
long term exposure to high stress environments can cause physical ramifications on top of long-term mental ones - rick is especially prone to colds / flus when returning from deployment, and is often sick the first week or so when returning home despite his best efforts. chronic stress can cause suppression of the immune system.
another issue he faces when he comes home, as a lapse of chronic stress and disrupted dietary habits, is a particularly sensitive stomach. the flight or fight style anxiety that can come with ptsd coupled with general stress and poor diet can make it hard for him to stomach food for awhile. appetite decreases, and his ability to eat without feeling sick goes up.
ptsd, despite media portrayal, isn’t consistent meltdowns revolving specifically triggered memories. cptsd is especially odd in some cases, because there are no notable trigger points. rick can narrow down some, like children crying or dense crowds, but some of them don’t have warnings. furthermore, a lot of time his outbursts come in the form of anger - which was only aggravated when he suffered a mtbi. he is never / has yet to become physically combative, but he can get extremely mean. it is worth noting, however, that he’s aware of this, and will often carefully isolate himself from other people when he can feel himself shifting into another mindset.
because he’s never been formally diagnosed due to the nature of his job / how that diagnosis would get him separated with the military - any of his tactics of management come from internet searches or quiet confidants / retired friends. the most active method combating it on a personal level lies in journals and letter writing. he has a hefty stack in his gun room / office that are filled with an array of things; from letters, to hand drawn maps, to frantic scribbling. it’s a very interesting thing to go through, though it’s not advised (when he’s home at least).
rick deals with intrusive thoughts and distinctly acute paranoia. he isn’t fond of having his windows open if they don’t have to be, he sleeps on his back / is a generally light sleeper, doesn’t like to sit with his back to doors in establishments, and is often hyper-aware of his surroundings. he’s decent at stifling, however, the outward projection of dealing with intrusive thoughts and / or paranoia - and is high functioning in this regard when it comes to the public. however, typically, he will excuse himself from situations if it becomes overwhelming, which in his humble opinion… often feels embarrassing.
i had more but ,,,,, i can’t remember them rn so yeet.
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