Not all wounds from war are visible. I’m sure you’ve heard that from someone, or you may know that. But, did you know that June is PTSD Awareness Month?
Connecting with others is a big part of my life; communication is key. I think understanding more about PTSD can be helpful (especially if you aren’t aware of the signs and symptoms or triggers of PTSD).
Traumatic stress and trauma exposure is common. There can be daily hassles, major life events, and serious traumatic events. Veterans and those who are currently serving in our military are not the only people who can be exposed to PTSD, unfortunately, some people think that all Veterans have some form (notice: I said some people…not all people…and not all Veterans have PTSD, just saying).
Traumatic stress of daily hassles can be a car breaking down or paying bills. Major life events can be losing a job, getting a divorce, buying a new home, or even getting married. There are some serious traumatic events that can include war zone exposure, physical or sexual assault, serious accidents, child sexual or physical abuse, natural disasters, and torture.
Over 60% of men and over half of all women experience at least one traumatic event (according to the VA). That means that most of the people you meet every day have probably experienced a trauma in their lifetime (including someone who may be a Veteran).
Only about 7% of all people develop PTSD in their lifetime. A traumatic event can be directly experiencing a traumatic event, witnessing, in person, an event that happened to someone else, learning about the violent or unexpected death of a loved one or family member, and experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of traumatic events.
In addition to the type of trauma experienced, a diagnosis of PTSD requires a combination of symptoms from specific symptom clusters: intrusion (or re-experiencing), avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity (or hyperarousal). These symptoms must be present for more than one month and must cause significant distress—doesn’t that sound very medical and formal?
I’ve witnessed Sam have some of those specific symptoms…avoidance, mood swings, hyperarousal, difficulty with memory, nightmares/difficulty sleeping, flashbacks, trying to avoid memories or feelings, negative emotions…at times I thought Sam might be constantly on guard or constantly scanning for danger…he startled easily. He wanted to sit at the back of the theatre, sit near an exit, sit where he could see people, but he tried to cope with that every.single.day.
Recovery for PTSD takes time…it isn’t going to happen overnight. There are personal factors, and the environment in which one is in can make a difference too. For Sam, recovery is every single day. He works as a Peer Counselor at the VA, so in addition to helping other Veterans, I believe he is helping himself too. He has Memphis, who can help him focus on the good when he starts to get distracted or anxious. Memphis is his best friend. They have a bond like no other, and at times, it is so hard to put their relationship into words. It makes my heart swell, and I know that they were meant to be.
We hear about PTSD quite a bit, most of the time in a negative light, but I think with a little education and more understanding the civilian population will understand the signs, symptoms, and struggles that some folks have with PTSD.
Encourage someone to reach out if they are struggling with PTSD. Support those who may be going through some rough times. Invisible wounds cannot be seen with the eye, but knowing and understanding that there are signs and symptoms of PTSD might help someone, it might even save a life.
