Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD AWARENESS MONTH
By: Kennedy McCormick, Intern
June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) awareness month. The purpose of this month is to bring more awareness and to learn how to help diagnosed with PTSD. PTSD is a mental state that’s triggered by traumatic events. Someone diagnosed with PTSD can either see these traumatic events or experience them. There’s about 8 million people in the United States that suffer from PTSD. According to interview data from a National Survey Replication, “An estimated 3.6% of U.S. adults had PTSD in the past year. Past year prevalence of PTSD among adults was higher for females (5.2%) than for males (1.8%). Also, the lifetime prevalence of PTSD was 6.8%.” There is four main types of symptoms or signs. These types include reliving the event, having more negative thoughts before the event, avoiding things that remind you of the event, and feeling on edge or keyed up. Some other symptoms can be uncontrollable thoughts, anxiety, depression, nightmares, etc. Doctors don’t have a known cause for PTSD yet. Some causes may be from inherited traits, traumatic experiences, the way your brain operates, having mental problems, unstable support systems, and substance abuse. PTSD can increase your risks of being diagnosed with other mental health issues as well. This includes mental health issues like depression, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and or suicidal thoughts. To diagnose someone with PTSD your doctor may do one of these three things: a physical exam, psychological evaluation, or use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. A physical exam will be performed to see if there are any medical problems that may lead to PTSD. The psychological evaluation will reveal any hidden symptoms or signs that may cause it. The American Psychiatric Association published the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Treatment for PTSD can help you obtain more mind control but, its not guaranteed. The two treatments are psychotherapy and medication. It’s important to teach yourself proactive skills, have a healthy mindset, learn some coping mechanisms, and to get the proper help that you need. There are several different types of psychotherapy. Cognitive therapy helps you acknowledge your way of thinking and what’s necessarily keeping you stuck. Exposure therapy teaches you how to cope with the traumatic events that you experienced. These coping mechanisms can help you approach these nightmares and flashbacks. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EDMR) is a type of therapy that helps you change how you react to traumatic events with eye movements. The most common kind of medications to help improve symptoms of PTSD is anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, and Prazosin. It’s up to you and your doctor to figure out which medications is best for you to help relieve some symptoms.
Sources for Mental Health and PTSD:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 1-888-628-9454 (Español)
Crises Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 or message on WhatsApp
Trauma Survivors Network
1-800—556-7890
National Center for PTSD
1-800-296-6300
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI Helpline 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text NAMI to 741741 for crisis help
Useful Links:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
