PTSD emerged as a diagnosis after the end of the Vietnam War. Accordingly, we often associate it with the violence of war, but the truth is PTSD is fairly common. In addition, people sometimes think of PTSD as a failure to be ‘tough enough’ or psychologically strong.

PTSD is a natural reaction to extreme stress. Many studies indicate roughly 8 in 100 people experience PTSD at some point in their lives. You probably bump into several people every day who, knowingly or not, are carrying their trauma with them. Undoubtedly, many of them have no idea they’re suffering from PTSD. They feel bad they haven’t “gotten over it” without really understanding how “it” impacted them in the first place. Without acknowledging it, there’s no way to deal with it.

It’s important for us to give ourselves room to hurt, so we have the tools we need to heal.

What Is PTSD?

PTSD begins as trauma resulting from exposure to a terrifying event or experiencing long-term stress in a dangerous living situation or unstable environment. Whether you experienced a sexual assault, went to war, or grew up in poverty, the traumatizing effect is the same and you may suffer from PTSD.

PTSD may differ from other types of trauma in that it can linger on for years, with symptoms getting worse over time. Generally, PTSD symptoms are grouped into four areas:

• Intrusive Memories

• Avoidance

• Negative Changes in Mood

• Heightened Physical & Emotional Sensitivity

The intensity of symptoms may vary over time, with daily stresses triggering old wounds and traumatic experiences.

Who Does It Affect

Anyone can suffer from PTSD, and the effects of PTSD can be far-reaching, with impacts carrying over across generations. When considering whether or not you might be suffering from PTSD, think about whether or not any of the following common origins might apply to you:

• Were you exposed to a violent accident or death?

• Are you a survivor of sexual assault?

• Did you experience physical abuse as a child?

• Have you been subjected to physical assault?

A wide variety of traumatic events can lead to PTSD. At its core, we experience trauma when our feelings of security and safety are lost. PTSD is a lingering trauma response that can worsen over time.

PTSD can also be the result of childhood trauma. Growing up in a violent or unsafe neighborhood, being raised by caretakers who struggle with drug or alcohol addiction. Physical and emotional abuse are equally likely to create a trauma response, especially in children.

Signs of PTSD

It’s not uncommon for people who are suffering from PTSD to second-guess themselves. There is sometimes a disconnect between the way they think about an experience vs. the way they feel about that experience. Another way to think of PTSD and trauma in general, is to view it as a hand reaching out from some past event to interfere with your present-day life.

Here are some things to look out for:

• Flashbacks or vivid memories of the event

• Upsetting nightmares or dreams

• Feeling detached and isolated from friends & family

• Loss of interest in hobbies & pleasurable activity

• Issues with Memory or Recall

• Anxiety; emotional distress, nausea, discomfort

• Difficulty Sleeping

• Hypervigilance

• Feelings of Guilt or Shame

• Self-Destructive Behavior

Note this is by no means an exhaustive list. When you look at it, your first instinct might be to assume that because you don’t have all these symptoms, you aren’t dealing with fallout from past trauma, but it’s important for you to give yourself room to process what you’ve been through.

Treatment

While PTSD often comes with feelings of hopelessness, with time and care it’s very treatable. There are several different types of therapy that are very effective in helping people heal from old wounds. If you’re struggling to move on from the past, I would love to help you with your journey. Your hurt matters to me and I would love to help you through it with trauma therapy. Contact me when you are ready.