Opening Statement:
Anyone during a time in their lives can experience PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as it reveals itself, affects people in different ways, and in different durations of time. You can suffer from it for years, months, or for just a few weeks. Recently, it was brought to my attention from my therapist, I have a form of it from traumatic experiences I had while attending school. Unfortunately, not all students are aware of hidden/invisible disabilities, so therefore, they couldn’t understand what they could not see. It made my school experience and interaction with mainstream students a less than pleasurable experience. That is all I will say about my PTSD in this article.
National PTSD Awareness Month is observed in June and it supports an array of awareness campaigns that are run for the benefit of PTSD survivors. PTSD, which stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, occurs in people after they have experienced a particularly traumatic event like war, violent physical/sexual/verbal assault, accidents, and so forth. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, nightmares, paranoia, insomnia, disturbing thoughts, and much more. Many people recover from PTSD after a few days, weeks, or months. Yet, for others, the recovery road might mean one year or more. This mental disorder is highly treatable, but due to the lack of knowledge around it as well as the stigma attached to seeking mental help, many choose to ignore the problem and suffer through it.
History Of National PTSD Awareness Month
· In 2010, the U.S. Senate declared June 27 to be National PTSD Awareness Day. However, in 2014, it designated the whole month of June to be observed as National PTSD Awareness Month. This was a welcome move by many PTSD organizations and support groups as many felt that more awareness campaigns needed to be held for people to seek help when it came to PTSD. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, one of the most active forerunners in the fight against PTSD, has released a special June calendar that people can download. This special calendar features several activities (like raising awareness on social media through sharing PTSD helplines, articles, subscribing to YouTube channels, finding local PTSD therapists, etc.) aimed to increase awareness and support for PTSD survivors.
· PTSD is not a newly recognized mental disorder. The disorder dates back to 50 B.C. when it was described in a poem by Hippocrates. He talks about the experiences of a soldier returning home after a battle. PTSD started gaining more attention after the wars between England and France when many people, civilians, and soldiers alike, reported experiencing symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, intrusive and disturbing thoughts, and flashbacks. This continued throughout WW1 and WW2, with PTSD being named as ‘Shell Shock’ and ‘Battle Fatigue’, respectively. It was during the 1970s’ Vietnam War that the mental disorder was renamed PTSD. Earlier treatments related to electric shock therapy and other painful options. But today’s modern technology and extensive research have led to much better and effective treatments like group therapy, counseling, and antidepressants.
National PTSD Awareness Month Timeline:
50 B.C. - Earliest Recorded PTSD Evidence
Hippocrates’ poem, narrating a soldier’s symptoms after a war, becomes the earliest recorded instance of PTSD in history.
1910s–1940s - Different Names for PTSD during World Wars
PTSD is named ‘Shell Shock’ and ‘Battle Fatigue’ in WW1 and WW2, respectively.
1970s - PTSD Coined During Vietnam War
The U.S. military veterans describe their trauma and its symptoms after the Vietnam War, resulting in the mental disorder being named ‘post-traumatic stress disorder.’
2014 - U.S. Senate Declaration of PTSD Awareness Month
The U.S. Senate designates June as the official month for PTSD Awareness.
How To Observe National PTSD Awareness Month
Stand With PTSD Survivors
PTSD survivors need care, attention, and love. Research shows that people recover faster from illness if they have supporters in the shape of friends and/or family. Be there for them by being informed about their specific symptoms, directing them to professional help, or just lending them an ear.
Learn About PTSD
Research about PTSD’s causes, symptoms, and treatments. You will be better equipped in helping people in the future or even yourself.
Talk About PTSD
The main aim of National PTSD Awareness Month is to spread awareness about it. Talk to your friends and family, go to events related to it, and donate to PTSD organizations if you can afford to. But whatever you choose to do, don’t stop spreading information about the disorder.
5 Facts About Trauma
8% Of the Population Will Experience PTSD
The National Center for PTSD states that around 7–8% of the population will experience PTSD in their lifetimes.
Women Are More Likely PTSD Sufferers
Women are twice more likely to suffer from PTSD than men due to a sexual assault/trauma event.
‘Big T’ And ‘Small T’ Types Of Trauma
There are two types of traumas and they range in the severity of the causes and triggers: the ‘Big T’ is any type of trauma that has occurred due to a life-threatening situation like wars, natural disasters, physical assault, etc., while the ‘Small t’ is caused due to a disturbing event that is not life-threatening like divorce, abrupt relocation, financial woes, etc.
Trembles Are Normal After Trauma
Experts state that it is completely normal and healthy to experience shivers and trembling after a traumatic, stressful event as it is the body’s way to release all of the excess adrenaline.
PTSD Is Not Just from Personal Experience
Many people can develop PTSD simply because they heard or witnessed someone else going through a traumatic event.
Closing Statement:
As I’ve been told many times by my therapist as well as in articles that I read regarding this subject, the human mind and body work in complex ways to keep us alive and going. Our mind’s immense strength and some of our limitations are tested every day. I know for sure mine is tested every day, and it never misses a day for me. I sometimes like to remind myself that I’m not a robot and I can’t turn off my trauma, depression, anxiety, etc. whenever I want to. Everything takes time to work out and you just need to be patient or learn to be patient. This mental disorder and other mental disorders need more talking and listening from the people who suffer from it to the people who are lucky enough not to have it. The more talk there is about PTSD, the more people will become aware of it, and the more people will seek treatment for it. This domino effect must get started as it will help shed light on other types of mental disorders that people suffer from after a traumatic event. The road to recovery may look different from one person to another, but it is always there. You just need to seek the help to help YOU!
Source of Information: Various Google Searches and Personal Experiences
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!