June is PTSD Awareness Month. There are thousands of annual cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the United States. People who have encountered or seen a catastrophic incident, such as war, a natural disaster, an accident, physical or sexual assault, or any other traumatic experience, are at increased risk for developing PTSD.

Traumatized individuals may temporarily endure symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, and emotional numbness, but with adequate time and care, they can begin to heal. Every year, 3.5 percent of adults in the United States experience PTSD. Adolescents aged 13 to 18 have an 8% lifetime incidence of PTSD.

PTSD can have various symptoms that fall into the following categories:

1. Intrusive Memories: Recurring and distressing memories of the traumatic event, flashbacks, nightmares, and severe emotional distress when reminders of the trauma are present.

2. Avoidance: Avoiding places, people, conversations, and activities that remind the person of the trauma. Also, feeling numb, detached, and emotionally unresponsive towards someone or something.

3. Arousal and Reactivity: Hyperarousal, irritability, sudden outbursts of anger, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, excessive vigilance, and startling easily.

4. Negative Changes in Mood and Cognition: A persistent negative mood, persistent negative beliefs, negative thoughts about oneself or others, distorted sense of blame for the traumatic event, and a disinterest in activities once enjoyed.

The intensity of the symptoms varies from person to person, and some people may not experience any symptoms until months or even years have passed. If the symptoms are having a significant impact on your everyday life, professional help is recommended.

PTSD is a treatable and manageable condition that people can recover from. Early diagnosis is key to preventing symptoms from getting worse and affecting the quality of life. One research study found that when treated with Cognitive Processing Therapy, 30% to 97% of participants no longer satisfied the criterion for PTSD diagnosis, and 51% more people who received CPT lost their PTSD diagnosis. In an additional study, 61% to 82.4% of participants treated with Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy lost their PTSD diagnosis. Keep in mind that PTSD can be managed with therapy. The difficulties associated with PTSD can be resolved with appropriate help, self-care, and management strategies.

Authored By: Julianna Robinson, LCSW

References:

Watkins, L. E., Sprang, K. R., & Rothbaum, B. O. (2018). Treating PTSD: A review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00258

What is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?. Psychiatry.org - What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd