Misunderstanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

We hear about a tragedy, whether it's a natural disaster like a hurricane or violence by one human being to another like the Virginia Tech shooting, and that counselors are being brought in to help the survivors. We see photos of children and adults with far away looks in their eyes, sometimes emotionally numb, with stories of domestic violence and child abuse. We read that soldiers returning from war have difficulties readjusting to civilian life.

It may be hard to understand that all of these people are living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (often called PTSD). What exactly is it, first of all? It's an anxiety disorder brought on after "exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened".

Symptoms may include persistent frightening thoughts and memories of the ordeal (flashbacks.e.g.), emotional numbness and/or feeling detached, sleep problems, hyper-alertness (i.e. easily startled), avoiding reminders of incident(s),feelings of guilt, depression, loss of interest in activities, memory loss of dangerous event(s) and angry outbursts. Some survivors are able to use treatment to move beyond PTSD with counseling.

Others who have suffered prolonged and repeated trauma must learn to cope with residual symptoms. Long term child abuse or torture survivors, for example, can experience changes in the way the brain works, making it more difficult to treat PTSD (sometimes referred to as complex PTSD). They can, however, be helped to live productively with the proper support.

In order to do that, however, we need to diagnose PTSD more effectively and make treatment available. The occurrence of PTSD in our veterans, for example, has been underreported and undertreated, resulting in high rates of homelessness,suicide, substance abuse issues and other problems. Untreated symptoms of PTSD cause many other problems. Yet, although one in five Iraq vets have PTSD, only half seek treatment. Some report fear of being stigmatized, while others are so caught up in their symptoms they have difficulty seeking help. Yesterday's shooting in Iraq of five soldiers by a soldier referred for treatment raises tragic questions about our reluctance to timely diagnose PTSD in a military where personnel sometimes serve three and four tours of duty.

Those who have survived child or domestic abuse also often live in silence with PTSD. They may not have access to treatment or realize that it's available, leading to lifelong relationship issues and job losses as adults. Children with untreated PTSD may do poorly in school and are unable to socialize with their peers, missing critical developmental milestones.

We need to learn to get beyond the stigma associated with naming disorders such as PTSD and offer treatment to those who need it in a timely, compassionate manner. That way perhaps we can help our brothers and sisters rather than label and blame them for having it.