Is It Really P.T.S.D.?

Photo credit to Road Trip with Raj

Let’s talk about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

I have been asked if someone “really had PTSD”, Let’s unpack this.

Confusion can surface when discussing PTSD as many individuals believe it only presents in those who have gone to war. This may result in labelling those with a PTSD diagnosis as “a liar” or a “fake”. In reality, “individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual being” (SAMHSA, 2014, p. 7, as cited in Froerer et al., 2018). This is an all-encompassing definition that can include other common types of trauma, such as:

·         child abuse;

·         fire and burns;

·         intimate partner violence;

·         large-scale transportation accidents;

·         life-threatening medical conditions;

·         mass interpersonal violence;

·         murder or suicide;

·         natural disasters;

·         rape and sexual assault;

·         sex trafficking;

·         stranger physical assault; and

·         torture (Briere & Scott, as cited by Froerer et al., 2018).

Interestingly, we do not have to experience a dangerous event to be diagnosed with PTSD (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). Repeated exposure to details of traumatic events (also known as vicarious trauma), exposure to sexual violence, and even  learning about close friends or family who have been exposed to trauma can result in PTSD (Froerer et al., 2018).

How an event is experienced and interpreted are important factors in determining trauma (Froerer et al., 2018). Protective and risk factors including maturity, cultural beliefs, social supports, socioeconomic status, and mental health impact how people label and assign meaning to events which may contribute to trauma-related problems (Froerer et al., 2018).

Traumatic events can have lasting effects- trust issues in relationships, memory problems, lack of attention, inability to control emotions or behaviors, and inability to cope with daily life stressors may be experienced (lasting short or long term, and may occur immediately post event or occur after a delay) (SAMHSA, 2014, as cited in Froerer et al., 2018).

PTSD awareness is important. Should a person believe their circumstances “are not as serious” in comparison to a friend, or that their peer who experienced the same situation “is fine, so I should be too”, they may go years without seeking help, if at all.

The truth is that ANYONE can be diagnosed with PTSD, at ANY age (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). No-one is exempt. Remember not to diagnose others, or compare yourself to another. Everyone is different with various lived experiences. It is okay not to be okay, just as it is okay, to be okay.

Yours always in authenticity,

Jody

References

Froerer, A., von Cziffra-Bergs, J., Kim, J., & Connie, E. (2018). Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with clients managing trauma. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190678814

National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd