Post-Combustion Stress Disorder

Lasting effects from magical combustion

I know someone who suffers from PCSD. Such a sweet young man. After the blast he was troubled and paranoid, always worried he was going to get a second explosion. He refused to be near children for many years, just in case. Years of counsel finally did something though. He still has his demons, but now he seems to be coping with them. He even began showing up in the town-square!

— Elderly lady

Post-Combustion Stress Disorder, also known as PCST, is a subtype of the well-known mental disorder PTSD. It is seen in individuals who have suffered from Magic combustion and survived. Most people who suffer from the causing illness either die from the blast being too big or they don't notice it happening because it's so weak.

Type

Mental

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Extremely Rare

Affected Species

• Humans
• Iwachi

Important information

Cause

When a person has a high magical potential, the magic builds up inside them. Usually, one would go to a shrine where the natural blockage within the individual would be removed, and the problem would be gone.
Now though, there's nothing to do but wait and hope for the best. Most shrines in Morlea was ruined during The Second Great War. The last one to work, The Shrine of Aralican, has seemingly disappeared and all other shrines in the world have lost their powers.

Magic combustion in itself isn't that rare, though the type ending in a blast is. Many get the feverish symptoms but don't notice the miniature explosion.
There are quite a few people with PCSD, as most people who get a blast either get a tiny one or one that injures them so badly that they die. Generally, the public is quite accepting of individuals who suffer from PCSD, as they know the dangerous part of their experiences is past them.

When a person experiences magic build-up, it results in Magic combustion. For many, it's harmless. This is because they have almost no magical potential, and as such the explosion is minimal. Those with a lot of magic potential will often explode and take those near them with them into the afterlife. Those who are right in the middle of those two extremes are the ones who get PCSD.

Symptoms

Generally, people who suffer from PCSD have many of the same symptoms as those with PTSD, because it's a variation of that disorder. Though there is one major difference: People with PCSD are also sensitive to magical energies in the surroundings and often feel trapped because they can feel the magic in items, people and other living things all around them.

I just want to sleep, I do!
But whenever I close my eyes, horrible images flash through my mind. I usually wake up screaming.

— Woman who suffers from PCSD

General symptoms Difficulty sleeping Decreased or increased appetite Emotional numbness or hyper emotional (might change) Paranoia and jumpiness Often irritated and angered quicker Nightmares Re-living the trauma (explosion) Outbursts often linked with the feeling of being trapped. Flashbacks or deja-vu Increased chance of anxiety and depression Avoidant of people and places with many items, due to the magic they contain Increased self-hate, often believing themselves to be bad (especially seen in those who's blasts injured someone) Persistent fear, anger, guilt, or shame Less interested in activities they used to enjoy. Reckless or self-destructive behavior Difficulty focusing

Treatment

There is no cure for PCSD, the only thing that can be done is to relieve some of the symptoms. This is usually done through calming tea and substances, some stronger than others. Many who suffer from disorder get something to help them sleep, though that could end in substance abuse and addiction.
Most people agree that counselling and conversations about the trauma might help. Often the patient needs someone to convince them that the negative thoughts are wrong. It's important to try and ensure that the afflicted doesn't fall into a deep depression.

Prognosis

Post-combustion stress disorder does not kill those who suffer from it, not directly at least. There are some who live their life until they die of old age. But there are also those which a much sadder ending.
Many lose themselves in drugs or alcohol to try and relieve themselves of the symptoms. Others end up taking their own life because they cannot deal with the nightmares and sleeplessness any longer. Though lately, more people seem to live longer with PCSD because of the initiative from their surrounding communities.