HOW PTSD DEVELOPS, WHAT SOME OF THE WARNING SIGNS ARE, AND WHY HAVING SYMPTOMS OF PTSD IS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS

by Graham Isaac

One of the important things to keep in mind about PTSD is that it is the result of a person being exposed to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, in one or more of the following Experiencing it yourself Witnessing the event(s) firsthand Learning it happened to a loved one Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma, usually by nature of one’s job. The American Psychiatric Association estimates that about 7 percent of adults in the United States will develop PTSD during their lives. People who do develop PTSD are not “weak.” They have experienced an event that they struggle to understand, and their bodies and brains are “stuck” replaying the event and all the upsetting emotions that come along with it.
Originally, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was thought to be something only military service members and veterans faced. Now, we understand that this stress disorder can happen to anyone, especially those who experience an intense, often life-threatening, event. PTSD differs from acute stress disorder in that the experiences are more long-term and will usually disturb daily life. An estimated 7.7 million Americans have suffered or are suffering from PTSD and another eight percent of the population will eventually develop the disorder.
Thus even though PTSD is a relatively rare disorder, there are many more individuals who experience trauma throughout their life who do not develop PTSD. Why some individuals go on to develop PTSD while others do not is an important question that needs to be addressed.
To date, about 11 to 20% of the soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are diagnosed with PTSD. This is higher than the rates of PTSD observed in the general population. Soldiers experience combat and are exposed to life-threatening situations that include being shot at, seeing a fellow soldier being shot, witnessing death, and observing explosions that result in the death and maiming of fellow soldiers. The possibility of experiencing several such traumas increases the likelihood of developing PTSD. Additionally, combat soldiers may also experience a mild traumatic brain injury, in addition to PTSD, which complicates the clinical picture further, and may lead to more difficulties when the soldier returns home.
PTSD isn’t common in young people, but both children and teenagers can experience it. Getting a lot of support right after the upsetting event can help them avoid developing PTSD. Young children may start wetting the bed again, stop speaking, or be afraid of leaving their parents. Teens may feel guilty and try to hurt themselves.
It’s important to remember that your brain has a distinct way of protecting itself from traumatic experiences. Mood and behavioral changes, memory loss, and negative self-talk are all normal reactions in people with complex PTSD. Many people with complex PTSD also feel that they are worthless or will try anything to avoid the pain of reliving their traumas. This is often where addiction and complex PTSD intertwine. Though turning to drugs and alcohol might feel like the easiest way of dealing with your mental health conditions, these are not healthy solutions to healing from trauma. Instead, addiction will simply lead to more pain down the road.
This book is a guide that explains in details the effect of ptsd and the recovery process.

72 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2022