Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has probably affected people since the beginning of time. It’s only been an official medical diagnosis since 1980, though, and because PTSD has so many symptoms, it’s still misdiagnosed too often today, too.
The general public doesn’t know much about the trauma, either, unfortunately, and even though (and maybe even because) PTSD has been in national news in recent years. Media haven’t told the whole story.
While we can’t claim to have all the answers, Liberal America thought it should at least respond to a few questions about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which we offer below.
1)????? It doesn’t happen to military alone.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was a widely-covered news topic on the U.S.’s recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. And with good reason ? between 11 and 20 percent of all who served in those arenas developed PTSD, according to the Veterans Administration. The stress on soldiers is long-lasting, too; five active-duty soldiers attempt suicide daily while serving during conflict, but the suicide rate for veterans after they come home has been as high as 18 every day.
But PTSD happens to about eight percent of the U.S. population overall. Vehicle accidents, injuries, assaults and threats of assault, natural disasters, diagnosis of life-threatening medical conditions, and other tragedies can cause PTSD, not just combat alone.
2)????? Many Americans suffer from it.
It’s not exactly common, but it sure isn’t rare. About 5.2 million American adults undergo Post Traumatic Stress Disorder every year, according to the PTSD Foundation of America. The number may seem high, but that’s only 3.6 percent of the nation’s adult population. A majority of the population has (or will have) experienced a traumatic event in their lifetimes that could cause PTSD, though.
3)????? Its effects produce other wounds, too.
The stress doesn’t go away, as the constant states of depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety caused by PTSD clearly indicate. Many afflicted by this disorder consistently live on the edge, known as ?increased emotional arousal,? leading to outbursts of anger and even violence when the slightest thing goes wrong or off-schedule. PTSD also affects sleep and concentration as a result of that emotional status.
Others can be affected by someone with the disorder, and not by emotion-induced violence alone. Many with PTSD try to stay away from stressful circumstances (?avoidance?), for example, and can become non-responsive to their own and others? emotions (?numbness?), making them appear distant, disinterested, and uncaring to friends and family.
The way other people respond to their circumstances adds to PTSD anxiety, too. Consider Vietnam veterans who faced public rejection and animosity upon return from war. In another example, some drop blame not on rapists, but on women who were victims of rape.
To deal with their circumstances, many with PTSD resort to alcohol and drugs. These abuses, combined with the other stress-induced effects, lead many to divorce and unemployment. The consistent stress leaves one at greater risk of acquiring other medical disorders, too, recent studies find. Suicide is very high amongst PTSD victims, as well.
4)????? It (possibly) affects women more than men.
About 10 percent of all women in the U.S. will become subject to PTSD at some point in their lives, according to the Sidran Institute, while only about five percent of men are reported to acquire the affliction. That could be due to females? unique?subjectivity to stress, such as miscarriage and post partum depression, as well as?greater risk to threats such as rape and spousal abuse. This is especially true in the military, too; 23 percent of women in the Armed Forces have been subject to sexual assault, and 55 percent faced sexual harassment versus only 38 percent of military men, the Veterans Administration admits.
Their rate isn’t higher because women are weaker, however. Females are more likely to seek help for their traumas, and are thus more likely to receive the PTSD diagnosis, according to PyschCentral, which could in part explain the higher rate.
5)????? It also happens to children.
While at a lower rate than adults, children can develop PTSD, too, and not just from the same tragic events that make adults subject to the disorder. Witnessing spousal abuse can cause PTSD in kids, for example, but so can problematic toilet training, and even just a lack of regular contact with parents during their formative years.
Children also may show different symptoms than adults, but that will develop into the same adult-types of stress as they grow older. For example, drawing pictures of violent images and telling of horrific stories is a sign of PTSD in children of elementary school ages. Physical aggressiveness as well as false complaints of physical abuse can indicate PTSD in older children.
6)????? It can recur.
Many who overcome PTSD might suffer from it later in ?flash back.? Women who have overcome spousal abuse or rape might have a relapse of the disorder when they see news of other women suffering from the same attacks, for example. Combat veterans can relive the events that caused their PTSD simply by hearing fireworks or a backfiring vehicle. Anything that brings back memory of the initial stressful incident ? even sounds and smells ? can make Post Traumatic Stress Disorder start all over again.
7)????? The trauma that causes it doesn’t have to happen to you.
You don’t have to be victim to tragedy to develop PTSD; the malady can affect those who simply witness negative events. Seeing a terrible automobile accident, for example, can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Persons who respond to victims of tragedies, including police, firefighters, and emergency medical service providers, can develop PTSD.
It can also develop in persons who believe someone close to them, like a relative or close friend, is in danger, especially if they can’t provide personal aid. For example, PTSD is known to affect parents of soldiers who are in combat.
8)????? It can be treated.
There are multiple methods to successfully treat PTSD, according to data provided by Screening for Mental Health, Inc. Cognitive behavioral therapy may be the most effective counseling, and there are prescription anti-depressants that effectively aid those PTSD, too. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (or ?EMDR?) ? an eight-phase approach that helps persons cope with and overcome disturbing memories ? is also an effective treatment, and is promoted by the U.S. Dept. of Defense.
9)????? It’s not treated enough, unfortunately.
Many with PTSD don’t recognize it ? or don’t want to recognize it ? or don’t want others to recognize it. Their anxiety could be a natural reaction to the stress they recently faced, and doesn’t need treatment, some may self-diagnose. When the anxiety remains, some try to become numb to it, hoping it will eventually fade away, and continue to avoid seeking therapy. Others who recognize their PTSD are concerned that they could lose their jobs if they begin psychological counseling, so they don’t get help.
Because PTSD is still a rather new diagnosis, many who have sought treatment weren’t getting the right one. Its symptoms could fall under many different diagnostic categories, and many sufferers of PTSD have received treatment for those symptoms and not the disorder itself, the Sidran Institute reports. As a result, PTSD can be undiagnosed and even overlooked.
And when it comes to military, only half who request help for PTSD are getting the counseling they need, according to Expedition Balance, a group dedicated to helping veterans.
Do you think you might have this disorder? Take the PTSD Foundation’s ?Self-Assessment Test? (click HERE.)
Tell us your thoughts on PTSD on Liberal America’s Facebook page.
