Starting in 2010, Congress named June 27th PTSD awareness day. Since then, during the month of June, everyone is encouraged to raise public awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder. It may develop after individual experiences one or more traumatic events, including sexual assault, fighting in a war, sustaining a serious injury, or threat of death in which they experience intense fear, horror, or powerlessness. This fear may trigger a “fight-or-flight” response reaction to protect the individual from harm. PTSD may affect an individual who experienced the harm or the person may have witnessed a harmful event. This disorder affects approximately 7.7 million Americans.
Who is at risk for PTSD?
This mental health disorder was first recognized in relation to war veterans but is certainly not limited to veterans.
- War veterans are commonly at risk for PTSD.
- Women are more likely to experience higher impact events than men.
- Children are less likely to experience PTSD after trauma than adults.
This is a relatively newly recognized disorder. Because fear is the basis of PTSD, scientists are focusing on how fear memories are created to learn more about the disorder. The National Institute of Mental Health is exploring medications that are thought to target the underlying cause of PTSD in an effort to prevent the disorder. At this point there is no cure for PTSD, but rapid progress is being made.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
Some of the main symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, avoidance, hyper-arousal and anxiety. If you, personally, think you’re experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, depending on the severity, you may experience panic attacks, including dizziness, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can have a huge impact on your daily life.
My PTSD is affecting my ability to work.
If your symptoms interfere with your ability to work you should consider applying for Social Security disability benefits. If you are a veteran, the VA has programs that may help as well. Help for PTSD is out there. If you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, call a mental health provider today, or if you need financial assistance call us at the LaBovick Law Group. We have helped many individuals with PTSD and want to assist you too.
