June is Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that results from trauma in one’s life. Those who witness someone else’s trauma can also develop PTSD. PTSD is very often associated with veterans who have returned from a combat situation. There are, however, many other experiences in people’s lives that can result in PTSD. PTSD can be the result of any trauma in one’s life, including abuse, domestic violence, psychological abuse, or any violence that one might experience. PTSD is a disorder that does not always manifest itself immediately. The signs may not appear for months or years after the actual trauma was experienced.
So how do you recognize the signs of PTSD?
There are 3 main signs to look for in someone who may be suffering from this disorder:
Flashbacks
Flashbacks happen when a person remembers the trauma and then actually experiences the same fear and horror that was experienced when the event actually took place. It is as if the person is actually reliving the experience once again. Almost anything can trigger a flashback; a smell, a sound, something one sees. Some people can experience a flashback when they hear of someone else having a similar traumatic experience.
Feeling on edge all of the time
A person who is often in a heightened emotional state, feeling a sense of anxiety and/or fear about something that might happen may be experiencing PTSD. This edginess can result in insomnia, irritability, and living in a constant fear state.
Difficulty expressing feelings
People suffering from PTSD will try and avoid further hurt by staying numb to their feelings. Studies show that 43% of PTSD sufferers develop substance abuse problems as a means of coping and avoiding the feelings associated with their trauma.
Treatment is available for PTSD sufferers
More education and awareness of PTSD is much needed, however. Only when people are aware of the signs of PTSD will they become open to seeing it as a real disorder and seek treatment for it, without feeling shame.
At Lifeologie Counseling Durham, our counselors specialize in helping people who have suffered traumatic incidents or have lived through intense situations. We are ready to help you learn new ways in which to cope with those experiences and live more peacefully.
About Elizabeth Grady
Elizabeth “Liz” Grady is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Supervisor (LCMHCS), a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and a Board Certified Tele-Mental Health (BC-TMH) Counselor. She earned her MA in Counseling and her PhD in Counselor Education from North Carolina State University. She has advanced training in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). She specializes in stress management, school/employment, relationships, and past and present life experiences, including childhood maltreatment and trauma. She sees adolescents, adults, and families at Lifeologie Counseling Raleigh.
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