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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, June 2017
"Providing health tips for healthy living."
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, around 50% of us have experienced a traumatic experience and approximately 8% of the population will have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lives.
PTSD, a potentially debilitating condition that can occur in individuals who experienced or witnessed a serious accident, terrorist incident, combat/war, natural disaster, personal assault such as rape, or other life-threatening events. PTSD is considered a mental health condition that can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event.
Many individuals experience stress reactions after a trauma. If the reactions disrupt a person’s life and does not go away over time, they might have PTSD. New research shows that PTSD among military personnel may be a physical brain injury, specifically of damaged tissue, caused by blasts during combat. For more information on this research, go to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs webpage on PTSD.
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PTSD is usually diagnosed when a person has experienced symptoms for at least one month to three months following a traumatic event. Symptoms may not appear until several months or years later.
Four main types of PTSD symptoms are:
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- Reliving the event (through nightmares, flashbacks etc.…)
- Avoiding reminders of the event (avoidance of people, activities and certain places)
- Negative changes in beliefs and feelings
- Feeling jumpy (easily irritated)
A doctor who is skilled in helping people with mental illnesses, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, can diagnose PTSD. For individuals seeking information and who may already have a mental health provider, contact your provider to set up an appointment to discuss PTSD and treatment options. If an individual does not have a mental health provider, here are some tips to find one: Where to Get Help for PTSD.
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult your doctor for more information or if you have a medical concern.
Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, Anxiety and Depression Society of America, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD
Contributed by The Physician Alliance, a physician organization representing more than 2200 primary care and specialty physicians in southeast Michigan.
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