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Post action trauma: symptoms and cures
By Meghan, web editor. 27 March. It is not found in most
medical textbooks, but you can be certain it exists: post
action trauma (PAT). The first symptoms of this condition
typically become manifest 24 to 48 hours after a non-violent
confrontation - blockading a timber ship, for example -
though after a prolonged series of actions they can take
longer - several days or even a week - to appear. The symptoms
can vary extremely from one person to another; for some,
they can be almost pleasant to experience, but for others
they are as pleasant as having your head dunked in a toilet
bowl or being strapped to the bumper of a car.
The first thing to understand about PAT is that 1) it is
treatable, and 2) it is of short duration. So for those
of you suffering from PAT, take heart: you'll feel better
soon.
I interviewed crewmembers on the Greenpeace ship Rainbow
Warrior to find out how they have experienced PAT. They
described their symptoms as follows:
"It's like eating four bars of chocolate at once
- it feels fantastic while you're doing it, but you feel
a bit yucky afterward".
"I think it's like hiking to the top of a mountain
and then being too tired to enjoy the view at the top".
"For me it's like being dumped by your girlfriend
- not that I know what that feels like".
"I think it's like the day after your birthday
party, or worse, like the day after New Years when you're
hungover and you didn't have such a great night anyway".
"We're not allowed to talk about sex here, are
we"?
"I actually enjoy it - it's like the evening after
you've taken a long walk. You're pleasantly tired and you
have the chance to sleep. It feels cozy when you get back
home".
In strictly physical terms, PAT results from a deficit
in adrenaline. The symptoms one experiences with PAT are
directly correlated with the amount of adrenaline circulating
in one's body during the time of the action. For seasoned
crewmembers who participate in actions on a regular basis,
PAT can manifest itself as rather pleasant sleepiness or
an inclination to sit in front of the television. Action
neophytes, on the other hand, are often hardest hit by PAT
and may experience feelings of extreme depression or irritability.
If you are experiencing PAT, there are several ways you
can treat it. First, realise that the illness is ephemeral
and will go away on its own. Depending on the intensity
of the action, your symptoms should dissipate within 24
to 72 hours.
That said, there are several treatments that can be effective:
- Escapism. Watch a video or television, or read a book.
By the time you become conscious of your surroundings, you'll
feel heaps better.
- Focus on the positive. If your action was a success -
and of course it was - track down some newspapers or television
clips and watch your colleagues, or yourself, in the media.
Now think of all the people who have learned about the environmental
problem you're fighting to stop through those media clips.
Isn't that nice?
- Cuddle with your sweetie. If a sweetie is not available,
find a stuffed animal (live dogs and cats are preferable,
though they are typically hard to come by on ships).
- Eat happy foods - mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese,
or whatever makes you feel good.
If symptoms persist after a week, please see a doctor.
Meghan
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