This June, join Maryvale in observing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. PTSD is a widespread psychological disorder that can develop in anyone – regardless of age, occupation, or background – after a traumatic event at some point in their life. By helping our extended community understand the causes and symptoms of PTSD, we hope to clarify common misunderstandings, alleviate stigmas, and empower the friends and family of those who suffer to act as effective allies and support systems.
How Does Someone Develop PTSD?
While PTSD was initially observed in combat soldiers during World War I and World War II, anyone can experience PTSD. The disorder can occur in people of all ages, including children. PTSD affects about 9% of Americans at some point in their lives. Women, Latinx people, African Americans, and indigenous people are at a higher risk for PTSD than others. PTSD is a pervasive issue that often goes unnoticed, untreated, or is worsened through ongoing negative life experiences.
A PTSD diagnosis must be linked to a traumatic life event, such as war, rape, assault, a serious accident, injury, or natural disaster. In some cases, a person’s experience of trauma is first-hand, and in others, it is indirect. For instance, witnessing a violent action or death can certainly cause PTSD, as can hearing an account of violent death, especially if a loved one is killed.
Here are some common symptoms to look for if you suspect that a friend or loved one is suffering from PTSD:
- Flashbacks. If a person has a flashback, nightmare, or drifts off into a distant mental state that takes them out of the moment and causes distress, they likely have PTSD.
- Withholding information. PTSD can be confusing to identify because a suffering person will avoid disclosing their feelings in many cases – or might be suffering from memory lapse. This is particularly notable for teenagers or those with a tough exterior who prefer not to appear vulnerable. Not only do people with PTSD avoid talking about their trauma – they might resist thinking about it at all in order to cope.
- Mood swings. If a person is frequently sullen or withdrawn, they may be suffering from PTSD. It is not unusual that PTSD renders a once-happy person blank, removed, or unable to engage in easygoing activities.
- Aggression. Reactive, angry behavior is the most commonly portrayed symptom of PTSD in movies and pop culture. In confirmed cases, people with PTSD are less likely to act out in a group setting or with a partner. They are more likely to behave destructively or show signs of paranoia when they are alone. Keep watch for a tendency to be startled or tense if you suspect that someone you know has PTSD.
- Difficulty sleeping. People who have PTSD often experience insomnia. Prolonged sleeplessness means they might be groggy, irritable, have difficulty concentrating, or might fall asleep at a strange time.
- Memory Loss. If a person does not want to remember troubling things, there is a chance they’ll lose touch with details of the event – and may seem forgetful or disengaged in general.
- Substance use. Many people who have PTSD will turn to drugs and alcohol to cope and dampen the harshness of their feelings. People who are diagnosed with both PTSD and a substance use disorder are referred to as “dual diagnosis”patients and face mounting obstacles in treatment and rehabilitation.
How To Help Someone with PTSD
Do you want to provide support to someone with PTSD? If you are aware of a traumatic event that is likely to cause psychological damage to a loved one, help them find a treatment path that makes sense. If a traumatic experience happened in secret, intervention starts by observing changes in a person’s ability to make decisions and care for themselves. If you notice an abrupt shift in a loved one’s energy, willingness to have fun, sense of accomplishment, or desire to be around other people, try talking to them. Help to re-integrate someone with PTSD into the life they know and love. Take them on walks, errands, and positive activities. Make time to talk, listen, and support their emotional journey – and show your optimism by inviting them on uplifting outings. As much as possible, stay positive – avoid complaining or showing annoyance. Be vocal about how much you love and support them. Sharing your time, enthusiasm, and outpourings of positivity can significantly affect a victim’s outlook and desire to heal.
There is no one-size-fits-all cure for PTSD. Each person’s symptoms and experience are unique depending on the timing and the intensity of the traumatic event. Therapy, medications, support groups, trauma-informed methods, and a lasting care plan can de deeply restorative. For those coping with a combination of mental health and substance use disorders, Maryvale is launching a dual diagnosis treatment program that will offer holistic, multi-level care.
Many people will be diagnosed with PTSD at some point in their lives – but there is hope for recovery. Learn more about Maryvale’s community-based approach to mental health services.
