PTSD: Not Just For Veterans

I am sure that you have seen the popular statistic strewn across social media that proclaims 22 veterans take their own lives every day, and people discussing the poor treatment options for the PTSD from which many of them suffer. However, did you know that PTSD is a mental disorder that is not just seen in veterans?

 

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD as it is commonly referred to, is classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a Trauma and Stressor related disorder. The very first criterion listed for this diagnosis is, “exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence”. Furthermore, DSM-5 then goes on to clarify that this can occur in a number of different ways:

  • Directly experiencing the event.

  • Witnessing, in person, the event as it occurs to others.

  • Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or a close friend. In cases of actual of threatened death of a family member or friend, the events must have been violent or accidental.

  • Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to averse details of the traumatic event(s). A few examples are, first responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse. The DSM-5 then goes on to specify that this does not apply to exposure through electronic media, television, movies, or pictures unless the exposure is work-related (such as a film crew shooting a documentary in war-torn countries).

 

Reaching Out

As you can see, there are many events that can cause PTSD to develop. Things such as witnessing domestic violence between parents, being involved in a car accident, or working in an ER as a trauma nurse consequently lead to someone developing PTSD.

 

There is still a lot of research going on as to why some people who are exposed to traumas develop the disorder and others do not. One thing that is not a factor is, “being weak-minded” or “not being able to handle it”. PTSD is a complex disorder involving several parts of the brain, but it is also treatable. If you find yourself struggling after a traumatic event, do not hesitate to reach out for help. You do not have to keep suffering.

Nicki Masters