9 myths about PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder is much more common than we used to think. According to statistics, approximately 70% of American adults have experienced some kind of traumatic event, and 20% of them developed PTSD as a result. However, the fact that this condition is so widespread does not make it any more understandable to those who have never experienced anything like it.

We asked people with this disorder and experts to comment on the most common misconceptions.

1. Post-traumatic stress disorder only happens to the military.

Many consider post-traumatic stress disorder to be the lot of those who have been in the war. In fact, any tragic event can trigger this mental health disorder — including natural disasters, car accidents, terrorist attacks, sexual assault, or serious health problems, explains Vonnie Nealon of the Texas PTSD Treatment Center.

“When I was diagnosed with PTSD, the first thing I thought was: “But this disorder only happens in the military!” However, the doctor explained that the trigger could be any of those traumatic events that happened to me in one year, 34-year-old Lauren Dood, who has lived with post-traumatic stress disorder since 2013, recalls. – In my case, there were three: the death of a close relative, urgent hospitalization and the loss of a child due to complications during pregnancy. When the doctor told me about it, I felt a little better. I felt that they understood me.”

2. Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder will not be able to live a normal life.

In fact, many people with PTSD have jobs and relationships, even if the aftermath of the bad events still haunts them. Becky Beach, 37, has been living with PTSD since separating from her abusive partner in 2001.

According to her, she still has not recovered from the effects of domestic violence: “I flinch every time I hear a loud noise or someone says my name too loudly. I might have a panic attack and it can be difficult to calm down.”

However, she has found a way to deal with these triggers: “When I work, I put on noise-canceling headphones, and at night I sleep under a large and heavy blanket – it’s soothing. In the morning, I make sure to meditate to reduce anxiety and partially relieve tension. I also blog as a new mother, and I really enjoy this activity.”

3. Everyone suffers from PTSD in the same way.

Even if two people have had a similar traumatic experience, they will react differently to it. Former military doctor Ben Johnson recalls that in the people with whom he served, the development of PTSD was triggered by various triggers: the need to be away from home and family, exhaustion, hostile environment.

“As a health worker, I was required to be at the “epicenter of danger,” because that was where the injured patients were. And even now, having returned home, in the crowd, I continue to scan people and look for sources of potential threat. It’s very hard to always look for danger in everything,” he shares.

A former military doctor explains that if a child squeals with joy nearby, he may perceive it as a cry of fear or pain, or take the slamming of a car door for a shot.

What most of us perceive as normal can become a serious sensory overload for him.

And it’s not just about triggers. “Treatment regimens should also be different. What works for one may be completely ineffective for another. This is not a cold – there is simply no universal remedy.

4. Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder – “time bombs”

“This is a serious misconception,” emphasizes clinical psychologist Mary Joey. “Most people with PTSD don’t want to lash out at others and won’t hurt themselves.”

5. You just need to protect a person with PTSD from triggers, and then everything will be fine.

Loved ones of people with PTSD often do well-meaning efforts to protect loved ones from potential triggers that could trigger a reaction. However, this is not always useful for the latter.

“Often avoiding triggers is just a way to exacerbate the problem. Don’t let an abuser or other traumatic event take a part of your life away from you again. It is much more important to find a way to live with what happened and enjoy everything that we have, ”says 39-year-old Alison Nichols, who has been living with PTSD for more than eight years.

6. If the loved one seems healthy, the post-traumatic stress disorder is probably over.

Many believe that since a person seems happy, he must have recovered from the injury. However, the reality is that recovering from PTSD is not easy and there is no specific recovery timeline. Kendra Lidle, 42, developed PTSD after undergoing several brain surgeries.

The consequences, according to her, are still being manifested, even if it is not obvious to others.

“I returned to work, from the outside I look absolutely healthy, and the scars from the operation hidden under the hair are not visible to people around. But PTSD hasn’t gone anywhere, it’s just my “invisible” problem.

Experiences do not allow me to believe that life can again become the same as before.

7. Triggers are not that important

We are accustomed to using the word “trigger” in a variety of contexts, and its meaning seems to have devalued. “In fact, everything happens in our unconscious.

When I was attacked, an ancient part of my brain did everything to keep me alive and to prevent this from happening again. Certain people, places and events are now inextricably linked in my head with the possibility of imminent death,” explains 49-year-old Gina Ibarra.

“It’s saved in my ‘settings’. Now, when I find myself in similar circumstances, my brain immediately retrieves the sensations associated with the traumatic event from the memory store. These people, places and events seem to say: “Hey, do you remember me?” I’m no longer in danger – but my brain still pushes me to fight or flee so I can save myself again.”

8. Post-traumatic stress disorder appears immediately after a traumatic event.

“Sometimes the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder do not begin to appear until several months after the traumatic event – ​​especially if the person initially suppressed feelings,” says 37-year-old Mike Robinson. “I developed PTSD a few months after a serious car accident, and it only gets worse as time goes by, probably due to the fact that the treatment is still ongoing and I have to put up with the physical consequences of the injury.”

9. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a sign of weakness

Any person, regardless of life experience and character traits, will experience post-traumatic stress disorder if they fall into certain circumstances and survive a traumatic event.

“I always explain to clients that, on the contrary, PTSD is a very normal reaction to very abnormal events. Many of those who have experienced them, on the contrary, are much stronger people than those who have not experienced difficulties in life, ”psychotherapist Kristin Anderson is sure. She reminds us that asking for help is not admitting defeat.

“PTSD is a disease that appears for reasons beyond our control, and it can be treated.”