What is PTSD?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that affects approximately 7-8 of every 100 people in the United States. One of the most common misconceptions about PTSD is that you have to have served in the military to be diagnosed. The truth is that anyone who has experienced a trauma, including war veterans, but also children, people who have been through a physical or sexual assault, abuse, accident, disaster, or many other serious events can be diagnosed with PTSD.
In order to receive a diagnosis of PTSD, an adult must have all of the following for at least 1 month:
- At least one re-experiencing symptom
- At least one avoidance symptom
- At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms
- At least two cognition and mood symptoms
Re-experiencing symptoms consist of flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts about the event. Avoidance refers to a general avoidance of people, places, and/or things that remind you of the trauma. This includes avoiding thinking about or talking about the event with others. Arousal and reactivity includes difficulty sleeping, being startled easily, constantly feeling on-guard or on edge, and anger outbursts. Cognition and mood symptoms include feelings of guilt or blame, isolation and withdrawal from others, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, and negative beliefs about oneself and the world around you.
The symptoms of PTSD can be accompanied by other problems, such as depression, drug/alcohol abuse, relationship problems, pain and other physical symptoms (e.g., headaches, stomach upset). Symptoms of PTSD may not emerge immediately after the traumatic event. Sometimes it is weeks, months, or even years before the symptoms develop.
Not all trauma survivors develop PTSD. We do not know all the reasons why some survivors develop PTSD and others do not, but some of the factors involved include genetic vulnerability to anxiety, previous experience with trauma, presence of other life stressors, coping skills, and social support.
PTSD is treatable. There are a number of interventions available that have been shown to markedly reduce or even eliminate the symptoms of PTSD. This is not a condition you need to live with forever. Although we cannot change history, we can change the way your history affects your life now. You can recover from your traumatic experience(s).
For more information about PTSD, talk to your mental health care provider or visit the National Center for PTSD website: http://www.ncptsd.va.gov
Disclaimer: This blog does not provide or replace psychological treatment or evaluation. Contact a psychologist in your community if you are in need of individualized services.
Written by Ashley Waters, PhD