Today marks International PTSD Awareness Day and we’d love for you to share this post to support those who are affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD and C-PTSD), no matter the trauma that caused it.
PTSD Awareness Day was initially created to ‘educate people about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and encourage people to talk openly about it. It focuses on spreading the word that it is treatable and that those who struggle with it can have hope for a better life. The day brings to light the silent struggle of millions of people and teaches the public that it is a real mental condition that can be treated. This movement can help encourage people with PTSD or C-PTSD to ask for help without shame’.
Research shows that 10% of people will experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at some point in their lifetime – but it’s estimated that up to 70% of people with PTSD & C-PTSD in the UK do not receive any professional help at all.
Re-experiencing is the most typical symptom of PTSD. This is when a person involuntarily and vividly relives the traumatic event in the form of:
- flashbacks
- nightmares
- repetitive and distressing images or sensations
- physical sensations, such as pain, sweating, feeling sick or trembling
Some people may realise they are struggling to cope after trauma but are unaware they have PTSD or C-PTSD. They may feel that their symptoms are just part of their life now – even if they’re debilitating and affecting every part of their life.
For others who have a diagnosis, they may not know that treatments to help them recover are available. Just over a decade ago, people still thought that PTSD and C-PTSD were incurable conditions, but more recent evidence and research proves it is possible to be successfully treated many years after the trauma occurred – but the treatment options for PTSD & C-PTSD are not as well-known as they need to be.
Additionally, people with PTSD & C-PTSD are often misdiagnosed as they can develop additional disorders such as depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other problems of physical and mental health. These ‘co-morbid’ conditions are what gets diagnosed, and the PTSD & C-PTSD is left to get worse in many cases.
For many people however, they’re simply unable to articulate how they feel, or feel able to reach out for help.
Help is out there and we are here to support you.
If you feel like you might be suffering with PTSD/ C-PTSD symptoms, please contact our Birmingham Healthy Minds team.
For more information, please visit PTSDUK or UKTC.
