PTSD facts: Hard truths about PTSD and how to face them

PTSD facts
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Today are going to share some PTSD facts and hard truths to help raise awareness. PTSD – also known as post-traumatic stress disorder – is not something limited to any age or gender or environment. Perhaps it is safe to say that anyone can fall prey to any type of trauma which ultimately leads to stress disorders. Persons from any background are prone to experience any traumatic event which ultimately results in anxiety and depression among other psychological issues. PTSD is treatable with proper guidance and care but the problem arises when ill-conceived myths are followed in place of proven facts.

The demarcation between trauma and PTSD has to be clarified. Trauma is any stressful event that can lead to PTSD but not always. A significant proportion of people don’t develop PTSD after going through a trauma. But some may feel its effects even after years of the actual incident. The support systems in our life in addition to therapy often act as a bulwark against any post-traumatic stress. In case, PTSD starts to disturb normal life functioning, treatment is to be sought based on facts and not myths.

Below we have produced some PTSD facts and hard truths often neglected by people and how you can face them.

PTSD facts and hard truths

Causes of PTSD are numerous

Sometimes, believing Hollywood, we think that only soldiers or veterans who have seen bloodshed, have experienced trauma, and are vulnerable to PTSD. There is no denying that soldiers are very likely to develop PTSD based on their traumatic battlefield experience. There are even specific lawyers who fight to secure veterans’ disabilities support to help with their recovery – find out more here.

However, PTSD is not just limited to veterans. Civilians too are vulnerable to a very wide range of traumatic events like witnessing domestic violence, the loss of a loved one, or an accident. Recently the most common cause of PTSD in women is a sexual assault that tends to haunt them for long years. In short, no specific criteria can be assigned for those who are prone to developing PTSD symptoms. Military people do have a higher risk of exposure to traumatic events but it can happen to people from all walks of life.

PTSD is not synonymous with weakness

Guardians of some patients may attribute the symptoms of PTSD to sensitive or childish behavior. Some patients try to avoid reporting the symptoms for they take it as a sign of weakness. Trauma is not voluntary and a person doesn’t have any control over it most of the time. Only with outside help can he be able to get over it completely. Traumatic experiences initiate behaviors and responses which are the brain’s way of protecting a person. In such cases, a fight or flight mechanism is initiated which is all part of the mental processing. To associate PTSD with weakness is inherently wrong and will only hamper the patient’s recovery.

Trauma doesn’t always lead to PTSD

In simplest terms, trauma is any stressful event that makes a person fearful of his life or safety. Trauma is indeed the prerequisite for PTSD but it is not always so. Not all traumas lead to PTSD. Research has found that many young people never showed any stressful symptoms after going through traumas. PTSD symptoms are visible only if the severity of the trauma destroys the person’s ability to cope. The threats sensors become overactive and cause irritations in everyday life.

PTSD is often subjective

The trauma seldom affects everyone on the same lines. It has been found that disorders after trauma are very subjective and are not the same among persons experiencing it. Their effect varies from person to person. One reason for this subjectivity is the varied ability of people to cope with them. Similarly, treatments differ. For some therapy is enough while others require more intensive arrangements.

Children & teens need special attention

Children and teens are often at higher risk of trauma and PTSD subsequently. Their symptoms may not appear in the same way as adults. The mental processes of children and teens are not fully developed so they are often more vulnerable to traumas. In addition to actually experiencing traumatic events, children can develop PTSD by exposure to threats of violence or bullying. Moreover, the criteria for children to be diagnosed with PTSD is rather low in comparison with adults. Parents/Guardians often have to be extra vigilant as children themselves are unable to articulate what they are going through.

Teen PTSD requires somewhat different criteria for diagnosis. Most teens exhibit strong emotional changes, irritations, and recurring narration of events. They often require a constant reminder of support and patience from their handlers.

Stigma is a major impediment in the way of treatment

There is no denying that people with PTSD are often stigmatized which is one of the biggest hurdles in the way of their effective treatment. People start treating them abnormally which increases patients’ alienation towards opening up. They are often tagged with labels like violent, dangerous, crazy, and much more.

It is the need of the hour to understand that these disorders are not of the patient’s own making. Instead, they need understanding, help and support to help them cope with PTSD and deal with their trauma.

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2 comments

  1. Great blog post! I also suffer ftom PTSD. I know too well how it effects you. It has also bought on a range of other health issues through it, in my case

    Mine is what they call complex PTSD as it is whole of life trauma. You can learn to manage it rather than it manage you however it does involve a lifetime of on/off therapy and life long medication in my case.

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