Post-traumatic stress disorder is a sign of lingering trauma, a constant reminder that there is something within us that we need to address. Until we are ready to ask for help, receive support, and work through the pain, PTSD continues to demand recognition.
If you struggle with PTSD or just suspect you may be suffering from it, finding a trauma therapist that can help you make sense of your traumatic experiences, is an important step towards recovery and clarity. No matter what you’ve been through, know that you are not alone! When it comes to overcoming PTSD, or any other condition that affects your well-being, what matters most is your willingness to heal.
There are many misconceptions about PTSD out there. Therefore in this article, I would like to shed some light on some of the myths about post-traumatic stress disorder.
Myth no.1 – Your PTSD will disappear on its own, there is no need for professional help
When dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, avoiding treatment – as comfortable as this is if we don’t feel ready to revisit the past, is not a healthy strategy. The majority of those suffering from PTSD need to work with a specialist. And in doing so, they begin to let go of the past, integrate the hurt, and eventually regain their freedom.
Myth no.2 – Everyone experiences PTSD the same way
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 5, we find the four symptom clusters of post-traumatic stress disorder:
- Re-experiencing symptoms – intrusive thoughts or nightmares related to the traumatic event, flashbacks and disturbing memories
- Avoiding – places, triggers, thoughts, people or situations, that might awaken the reality of the trauma
- Arousal – a hard time concentrating or sleeping, living in fear, heightened reactivity, irritability
- Negativity – irrational thoughts, self-blame, severe shame, changes in mood and thinking
What does it take to be diagnosed with PTSD? At least one symptom from each category, that persists for at least one month. We need to take into consideration that our individual differences impact the way the post-traumatic stress disorder manifests. Moreover, the type of trauma we went through, also determines what symptoms we experience.
Myth no.3 – Everyone who goes through trauma develops PTSD
Going through a traumatic event doesn’t automatically mean that we’ll suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Why is that? There are some factors that make us more vulnerable to developing PTSD:
– a traumatic upbringing
– anxiety and depression
– a continued exposure to a stressful environment
Abuse or neglect as we were growing up, stressful life situations, a precarious mental state, feeling unsupported, all of these weaken our internal defenses and deplete us. Therefore, when we face something extraordinarily difficult, we do not have the resources to process it and move through it. This is how post-traumatic stress disorder finds a way in. In this case, PTSD counseling can help us take our power back and reclaim the parts of ourselves that were lost when we experienced a traumatic event.
What is a traumatic event?
There is a wide range of such situations. The most common are being attacked, being in a life-threatening accident, a critical injury or serious illness, the unexpected loss of a loved one, witnessing death or severe injury.
An extensive study done across 24 developed countries, that involved more than 68,000 participants, showed that a staggering 70% of the respondents went through at least one traumatic event. Over 30% of the participants, researchers found, had been exposed to four or more such events.
Traumatic events and post-traumatic stress disorder are a reality for so many of us. The good news is that no matter what you had to go through, support is nearby. With patience, trust that you can heal, and specialized help, you can leave fear behind and live the life that you want. PTSD is not a life-sentence, but an opportunity to heal what still hurts within you.