Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness
Even though around 8 million adults struggle with PTSD every year, the condition is often undertreated due to lack of awareness and stigma. That’s slowly changing as more people speak out about their struggles with mental illness like PTSD, and health care and public service workers become more informed about the signs of PTSD and resources for those who need help. In 2010, the U.S. Senate designated June 27 as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day. It is observed on June 27, every year, and the whole month of June is known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. At Footprints to Recovery, we’re dedicated to being a part of the ongoing conversation to raise PTSD awareness. All of our addiction treatment programs are trauma-focused and we offer treatment for veterans with PTSD and substance use disorders. WHAT IS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition, which can develop after you witness or experience a traumatic event. Types of trauma that can lead to PTSD include: The 1980s were the first time that PTSD was officially recognized as a mental health disorder. It was known as shell shock or battle fatigue syndrome before it was recognized as a medical diagnosis. During World War I and II, people thought PTSD mainly affected veterans in combat. Today, we know this condition happens to all kinds of people no matter their age, race, gender, and sex, including families of victims, emergency personnel, and rescue workers. Some PTSD statistics: THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA According to the Center For Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders, trauma is defined as a psychological and emotional response to a deeply distressing event or experience. Trauma can disrupt nearly every aspect of your life: mentally, physically, and socially. Research shows that victims of traumatic events lose a sense of control over their thoughts and feelings, and experience a profound sense of vulnerability, loneliness, and isolation. Types of Trauma Trauma can range from mild to severe. You can endure trauma from a one-time impactful event such as an assault. You can also experience complex trauma. This is fueled by ongoing events, typically from childhood, such as emotional abuse or neglect, poor parental relationships, and physical or sexual abuse. Traumatic events are viewed subjectively. Everyone processes trauma differently because we all face them through the lens of something that we’ve previously experienced. Trauma reactions occur across a wide spectrum. Trauma researchers define the types of trauma as: POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND ADDICTION There is a strong connection between addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder. Both affect and fuel one another. PTSD and substance abuse are often co-occurring disorders. Experiencing any type of trauma can increase your risk for developing a substance use disorder (SUD). If you have a predisposition to addiction because of genetics, your chance of abusing drugs and alcohol to cope with PTSD increases even more. Substance Use and Trauma As a result of trauma, people often try to “self-medicate” with drugs and alcohol to cope with PTSD symptoms like unpleasant thoughts and emotions, fear, and anxiety. Repeated use of drugs and alcohol can lead to dependency and addiction. Studies show that individuals from childhood, to adolescence, and adulthood, who have traumatic experiences, tend to report higher rates of addiction, in addition to, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, STDs, and heart disease. According to some research, over 46% of people with PTSD meet the DSM-5 criteria for a substance use disorder. This is especially true for people who are addicted to alcohol. Women with PTSD are more likely to abuse alcohol than men, who are more likely to experience trauma. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PTSD People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experiences that persist even after the traumatic event occurred. Symptoms of PTSD are categorized into four groups: Something ordinary such as loud noises or random touch may trigger a negative reaction. Other PTSD symptoms include: Anyone can be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and it can last from months to years. PTSD varies from person-to-person, because everyone reacts to traumatic events differently. Not everyone who witnesses something traumatic will develop PTSD. PTSD Treatment PTSD is diagnosed by the presence of an identified stressor or traumatic event followed by symptoms that last a month or more following the event. It’s evaluated by the level of intensity and the duration of distress. The intensity, duration, and frequency of PTSD symptoms vary greatly. The best measure for assessing the kind of PTSD treatment is to determine the level of disruption you’re experiencing. If trauma is severely impacting your ability to function in everyday life and contributing to destructive behaviors like substance abuse, inpatient or an intensive outpatient treatment program may be the best route. Studies show that trauma-focused treatment that includes therapies such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure (PE), and trauma-focused CBT can significantly reduce PTSD symptoms. PTSD AND CO-OCCURRING CONDITIONS Many mental health disorders occur simultaneously with PTSD, because of significant changes caused to the brain’s overall chemistry and function following a traumatic event. People with PTSD may experience depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, or substance use disorders. The most common co-occurring disorders with PTSD include: Effective PTSD treatment must address the trauma as well as co-occurring disorders. Depression, anxiety, and drug and alcohol abuse are sometimes triggered by PTSD. Evidence-based PTSD treatment will help you address underlying issues of PTSD and learn to cope with difficult feelings and experiences in healthier ways. How to Raise PTSD Awareness PTSD awareness has come a long way in the last few decades. There is still work to be done. When there is more PTSD awareness and less stigma around the condition, people may feel more comfortable getting the help they need. The National Center for PTSD notes the following ways to raise PTSD awareness: #1 Participate in PTSD Awareness Month June is PTSD Awareness Month. During the month, The National Center for PTSD has several educational events to participate in
