This week, we are featuring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
PTSD is a disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a traumatizing event.
Symptoms of PTSD include agitation, irritability, isolation, fear, anxiety, loss of interest in activities, insomnia, fear, flashbacks, and emotional detachment.
Facts and statistics about PTSD:
– 70% of adults experience 1 traumatic event in their lifetime
– 20% of people who experienced a traumatic event will be diagnosed with PTSD
– About 8 million people have PTSD each year
– 1 in 13 people will develop PTSD at some point in their life
There are a lot of things that can trigger someone’s PTSD such as a person, place, thing, or situation. The ones listed are only a few.
When faced with danger, your body gets ready to fight, flee, or freeze. Your brain stops some of its normal functions to deal with the threat, including your short-term memory. The brain attached details to the traumatic memory, which in turn becomes a trigger.
You can’t avoid all triggers, but you can learn to cope.
Some triggers are obvious but others may take time to identify and understand. These triggers can be external and internal.
Coping with PTSD can be difficult but with these tips, it can be manageable.
If you know someone with PTSD, you can do a few things to make their lives easier.
– Provide social support by being patient, educate yourself on their disorder, and don’t pressure them into talking about it.
– Be a good listener. Allow them to come to you and talk about what they are going through. Be interested in the conversation.
– Rebuild trust and safety by expressing your commitment to the relationship and keeping your promises.
– Anticipate and manage triggers by helping them get through their triggered reaction.
– Support treatment by emphasizing the benefits and encourage therapy.
If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, please reach out to us and we can help.
405-894-0320
If an emergency, call 911
National suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-283-8255