victory_road | text | anon as possible

They don't get to win. Yeah. That would kind of defeat the purpose of getting away from them, huh?

Exactly.

And yeah, you'll still have bad nights. Even when you do manage to get things mostly under control. Because things that give you nightmares that bad will stick with you.

But if you keep trying, then yeah. I'd say that's winning against them.

Wasn't this bad a while ago.

[And then the ~~Fire Nation~~ Nihilego attacked.]

Things... happened. Brought a few memories back.

That makes sense. I had something happen once that pretty much sent me back to square one.

[When you have to kill a cult member who breaks into your house and tries to kidnap your five year old daughter and then get arrested for it, it tends to set you back.]

You just have to start again.

I'm sorry That's ... not something anyone should have to deal with. You just start all over?

No, but life is like that sometimes.

And yeah. Just start again. Maybe it takes a while to get back into it, but it's worth it.

I know it makes it sound simple, but believe me. I know its really not.

I believe you. And I appreciate the effort.

Well, I hope some of that helped.

Good luck. It's going to be hard but it's better then doing nothing and letting it take over your life just makes things worse.

Oh, and this was something that was never really an option for me. But talking to people is always a good idea. Especially if it's people you trust.

It helps knowing... it's not just me. That |

[He pauses, there. It's a while before he's able to continue typing. He's doing this anonymously. This is Harry Mason he's talking to.]

[If either of these things weren't true, then this wouldn't be something he could say.]

that it's not just something they broke in my head

I've had similar thoughts in the past myself. So I do know that's not true.

The experiences that least up to this might be different but night terrors, ptsd and the like happen to a lot of people. It's normal. ....horrible, but normal. You're not alone.

[Coming from a place where reality would warp and he'd black out and wake up in a new one. Harry hadn't ruled out the idea that he'd simply lost his mind, for a while. Luckily he had a kid to look after....and he was good at research.]

PTSD That's Just something soldiers get though. Isn't it?

I used to think so, but no. From the research I've done on it in the past. It's most known for being had by soldiers but anyone whose been through a traumatic situation can develop it.

[He knows Henry has it. And he might have had it in the past, given what he was like after the town. And even now there's things he avoids. Like radio static, fog, radio static in fog, sirens in fog. Snowy days in fog. ....fog is a big thing he remembers about the town.]

I didn't know that I thought it was only soldiers |[There's a name for it. He didn't think there ever would be. That other people know what it is. What it means...]

That's how it most shows up in pop culture. But it can happen to anyone.

A traumatic situation is a traumatic situation. They don't all have to be the same to get similar reactions or behavior patterns. Nightmares, flashbacks, persistent memories, avoidance of things that trigger memories.

....I broke so many radios when I was younger. Couldn't stand the static.

I Didn't even know there was a name for it. Or anything like that. I was all right for a long time here but then that night at the prom

[Because if Harry's admitting to smashing radios, he may as well admit to something himself.]

I hope knowing helps, even a little. And yeah. I can understand why that would set someone back.

That was....terrifying.

[Second worst vacation, ever.]

Yeah. Me too. it was like like being back home watching something happen all over again

Yeah. I can't say I've been through something like that....precisely. But it was....something.

I'm sorry to hear it hit so close to home for you. It's no wonder sleep is more difficult after that.

it might be easier if I knew if I knew it wasn't going to happen again - that it couldn't happen again. Now I'm just here. wondering when I'm going to look up and see it

That's understandable.

But it's also not good to have stuck in your head. Sometimes there are things we just ....don't know. And unless they find out more about those things then yes there is a chance they might show up again.

But.....we're all spread out now. If they show up again it's also possible that you might not be there. Or maybe in the future they'll figure out what brought them here and they will be able to say that it won't happen again and be sure about it. It takes time. And I know that doesn't help you at the moment, or maybe it does just a little.

But you aren't alone here. If your anonymous post has shown anything it's that people want to help others. Even if they can't fully make the exact situation stop for them.

But you should try to avoid spending all your time thinking about it. If you have any hobbies or anything that you can do to take your mind off of things, I'd suggest that.

Oh, and don't isolate yourself. It only makes paranoia worse. I know that one from experience.

[True he'd sort of had to as he was in hiding but he's well aware now that it didn't help his mental state.]

I don't Actually know if that will help or not. Not yet. It isn't that I don't appreciate it. I do. I Don't really know what I'm saying. Aside from "thank you".[He wishes he were better at this. But explaining your brain hangups wasn't something you learned how to do while trying to lead a team of space freedom fighters.]

That's okay, I understand.

And you're welcome. I hope things get easier for you. Feel free to text me if you need to talk sometime. I don't mind.

[He's more then familiar with not being able to explain brain hangups and to some extent he'd never really had to. It was more trying to explain them to himself. Which is why here, he always stresses talking to people. He'd never been able to do that back home with the cult after them and having to sound sane enough that they wouldn't take his kid away from him. But it's different here.]

I... will try to take you up on that. When I think I can talk about this, more personally.

[And he hopes he will be able to. Because, truly, he's grateful for Harry -- that he's trying so hard. That he's making an effort. He does want it to work.]

[But only time will tell.]

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