2023-08-06 21:37:23
For many people, they are synonymous with festivities and celebrations. For others, they bring back painful memories and can trigger symptoms related to post-traumatic stress. The fireworks are, for some, a reminder of their experience in a zone of war or armed conflict.
The 1is July 2008, 15 years following serving with the Canadian Armed Forces in Bosnia, Katia-Isabelle Boivin became aware for the first time that she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She is sitting in her living room as the fireworks, celebrating Canada Day, begin.
“That’s where I experienced my first flashback,” says the former medical technician in the army. From the first detonations, Mr.me Boivin feels the symptoms appear: increased heart rate, cold sweats and heat.
“I felt like I was going backwards in a vortex. I found myself in a day in Yugoslavia where I was being shot. At the same time, I was aware that I was on the carpet in my living room. All I might think of was opening the patio door and running away. »
At this moment, the state in which the former soldier finds himself is called reminiscence. This has the effect of bringing a person back into the state of stress that they have been in before — a battlefield in this case.
“Traumatic stress is a normal human reaction to intense experiences, which can trigger feelings and memories related to traumatic events,” says Brian McKenna, National Strategic Advisor, Atlas Institute. Loud, unexpected noises, such as fireworks, are most likely to cause post-traumatic symptoms for combat survivors, he said.
It’s not just soldiers in this situation. For several years, Canada has welcomed refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine who have also been marked by war trauma. This is the case of Maisan Al Masalkhi, originally from Syria, who arrived in Canada in 2015.
“It looks like a bombing or something serious is going to happen. It’s a normal reaction to trauma. You can’t control it, and it happens often. We cannot live normally,” she says.
For meme Al Masalkhi and his entourage, other loud and sudden noises are likely to act as a trigger. “The storm, for example, resembles the sound of bombardments. As with fireworks, it’s scary for us, ”she adds.
For his part, M.me Boivin remembers that one of his reactions was triggered by the sound of a party balloon bursting: “I went into flashback. And it was my party. I experienced a big dissociation. I put a hand on my heart and said to the person in front of me “excuse me there, but I’m not well”. »
strong reactions
Fireworks actually act as a trigger for people who have lived in a context of war or armed conflict. According to anthropologist Servane Roupnel, they can bring back bad memories to all soldiers because of the noise and the detonation. On the other hand, the consequences are longer and more serious for people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
“It can last for months, and even trigger dangerous reflexes. Sometimes they will dive to the ground or drop their spouse in order to protect her or even hit someone. It is the reflex of the fighter. They can go to extremes. They are trained to defend and protect others,” emphasizes the anthropologist.
Even following years of treating PTSD, some people may experience physical reactions triggered by fireworks. “As soon as a firework is set off, I fall into hypervigilance. Today, I manage very, very, very well, but there is still a moment of dissociation that happens. The body still reacts. There is always stress before June 24 and the 1is July. I’m sure it’s [comme] this for all the veterans who suffer from PTSD,” says Mme Boivin.
Undoubtedly, the most damaging aspect of fireworks for people living with PTSD is the surprise effect. “When it’s a show, it’s okay. But when it’s sudden, it’s really heavy. Sometimes neighbors play with the fireworks and when there is a sudden sound, for us it is very difficult,” says Ms.me Al Masalkhi.
The surprise effect is indeed the worst, according to Servane Roupnel. “Even we who don’t live with PTSD will jump and be surprised. The surprise effect is multiplied by ten for post-traumatized military personnel,” she adds.
According to the president of the Atlas Institute, Fardous Hosseiny, when the date and time of the fireworks are known, this makes it possible to put in place strategies to avoid triggering a state of shock or causing a nobody inside. For example, some will leave the premises or block out sound and light.
Raise awarness
Everyone agrees that it is not necessary to ban fireworks. “I wouldn’t suggest banning them, because many people get great pleasure out of them,” says Hosseiny.
“People can be considerate in a number of ways: using them at predictable times, limiting use to reasonable times so you don’t interfere with someone’s sleep, and, if you know you live near a veteran , notify them or their family members in advance,” he adds.
In the United States, where the population of veterans is seven times greater than in Canada, several municipalities are raising awareness of the fact that not all citizens are in the mood for celebration on the eve of July 4th.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs website reminds the public: “For veterans, fireworks may bring back memories of battles or explosions, and certain military-related celebrations may also cause distress. For others, fireworks may be reminiscent of intense fires or gun violence. »
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