Debunking 4 Myths About PTSD

We experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after witnessing or being involved in something emotionally and mentally disturbing. It is a type of echo that happens in our body and emotions once we have been through a trauma. Things like war, natural disaster, an accident, the death of a loved one, or sexual assault can cause us to have PTSD.

PTSD manifests differently in everyone, but usually looks like panic attacks, insomnia, feeling “on edge” all the time, and experiencing heightened emotions, particularly anger. PTSD can be debilitating, resulting in guilt and shame. There is a lot of misunderstanding surrounding PTSD, so a simple way to counter that is to dispel the myths that surround it.

Myth 1: PTSD is related to combat Research began with studying and learning from war veterans’ trauma, but it can affect anyone regardless of age or experience. We might even develop PTSD from hearing about a loved one’s trauma.

PTSD often follows a traumatic event like an accident, the death of a loved one, or an abusive situation. However, we can develop Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) from experiencing manipulation or emotional abuse.

Myth 2: All trauma leads to PTSD People respond to events differently. When we have a support system following a traumatic event, we are more likely to cope without developing PTSD.

Other times, we might be triggered by a relatively minor stressful event that recalls a childhood experience that we had repressed. There is no way to rank or rate the impact of traumatic events because everyone has different responses based on many factors. What is deeply traumatic for one person may not even impact another.

Myth 3: PTSD immediately follows a triggering event PTSD occurs after an event, but that could be up to several years later. This depends on factors like the type of traumatic event, our state of mind at the time we experienced it, and our mental well-being after the event. In the cases of CPTSD, it can take several years before we start processing the abuse we went through.

Sometimes we experience a lag between the traumatic event and the PTSD. This could occur because our psyche shielded us from most of the horror as we experienced it, but we begin processing it afterward when things are calm and stable. This kind of delayed reaction is especially common in cases of emotional abuse and CPTSD.

Myth 4: PTSD is untreatable The healing journey is not linear. PTSD can be complex, but it is treatable. Some people find that the symptoms subside naturally over time, while others need a combination of talk therapy and emotional support from family and friends. In some cases, medication is necessary to calm anxiety enough to function.

Whatever caused your distress or trauma was not your fault. You are not weak for experiencing PTSD, and you won’t be “stuck” like this forever. You are not alone in this, although you might need to reach out and open up to get help.

If you would like to discuss therapy options or simply offload some of your anxieties, counseling could help. Reach out to our offices, and we can connect you with a counselor who can take it from there. Healing might take some time, but the journey can begin today.