June is PTSD Awareness Month
National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month
June is National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. The month is intended to raise public awareness about issues related to PTSD, reduce the stigma associated with PTSD, and make sure that those struggling from the invisible wounds of traumas receive proper treatment. This month is intended to show that there is help and there is hope for people experiencing this condition. Although treatments are effective for PTSD, many people do not seek the help that they need.
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-Traumatic Stress Order (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that some people develop after seeing or living though an event that has caused serious harm, or death. Traumatic events include accidents, assaults, military combat, and natural disasters. Symptoms include sleep problems, irritability, recurrent dreams about the trauma, anger, intense reactions to reminders of the trauma (s), disturbances in relationships, avoidance of things that remind them of the trauma(s), negative thoughts, and even isolation. Some may recover and others it may take a lifetime. PTSD is rather common, and treatment is available. Treatment often includes trauma-focused psychotherapy such as Brainspotting (BSP), EMDR, Cognitive Processing therapy, as well as medications to manage symptoms. In 2020, NAMI reported that PTSD affects 3.6% of the U.S. adult population – that is, about 9 million individuals are suffering with a disorder that can be treated (NAMI, 2022).
The American Psychiatric Association added PTSD to its manual of mental health disorders in the 1980s, bringing it to the public eye. However, the concept – which was previously referred to as, shell shock, soldiers’ heart, combat fatigue and war neurosis – has been around for centuries, even being described in poems referencing flashback dreams of battle trauma by Hippocrates. During WWI and WW2, issues in the military personnel became prevalent when discharged veterans returned home with crisis that related to PTSD.
How Common is PTSD?
PTSD can happen to anyone – it does not discriminate. PTSD can occur in all people, of any ethnicity, nationality, or culture, and at any age. About 10 out of every 100 women -10% - will develop PTSD sometime in their lives compared to 4 out of every 100 men (or 4%) (BrainLine, 2023).
Some factors that may promote recovery after trauma include:
Seeking out support from other people, such as your peers, friends, and family.
Finding a support group after a traumatic event.
Developing a sense of control and take action for what you can control along with support and even treatment.
Being able to act and respond effectively, despite feeling fear.
Help is available. If you or a loved one need assistance, please reach out and schedule an appointment or contact the resources below:
- Call 911
- Go to the nearest emergency room.
- Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1800-273-8255
- Veterans Crisis Line: 1800-273-8255
- Send a text message to 838255.
Written by: Lital Diament, LMFT, MT #56973