PTSD, or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, is widespread and is considered a serious global mental health concern. About 3.9% of the global population is suffering from this condition, and is prevalent in areas affected by violence, natural disasters, and wars. Sadly, this type of disorder is mostly downplayed, as people typically associate its symptoms as an exaggerated form of anxiety.
This outright dismissal could lead to individuals suffering from PTSD to refuse therapies and medication, which can make their condition worse. For this matter, it is equally important for people to understand this disorder and how it affects individuals suffering from it. In this article, we’ll break the stigma and replace them with information relevant not just for the ones who have it, but for the people surrounding them as well.
PTSD Is Not “Just Stress”: Understanding the Clinical Reality
PTSD may look like a severe form of stress, but it’s actually more complex than that. For one, PTSD literally changes the brain, causing it to interpret past trauma as present danger. To put it simply, the brain responds to a specific trigger that makes the individual relive the unpleasant experience. This happens because the amygdala, which is the brain’s fear centre and alarm system, hijacks the nervous system. The amygdala remains hyperactive even in the absence of a threat, causing the brain to be in a constant state of fight-or-flight.
This would make sufferers prone to extreme panic, sudden outbursts, and drastic mood swings. From an outside perspective, this would seem like extreme anti-social behaviour. This causes people to keep their distance from individuals suffering from PTSD, which in turn could worsen their self-stigma, making them feel like there is indeed something innately wrong with them.
Since PTSD is by all means not just ‘stress’, then one must give leniency to the people who suffer from it. Better yet, one can support them by assuring them that they are completely safe and away from harm should they suffer an episode. Another way to support them is by persuading them to seek professional help.
Whether it is in Australia, the United States or the United Kingdom, counselling is necessary for recovery. Treatment is available in major cities, be it counselling melbourne, in New York, or London. Contrary to popular belief, PTSD is highly treatable, although it can take time. What matters will always be the first step. And people with PTSD need support with that.
Why PTSD Is Often Dismissed or Minimised
Due to a mix of common beliefs, the intangible nature of the symptoms, and social stigmas around mental health, those who are close to sufferers often ignore, underestimate, or misunderstand PTSD. Many individuals mistakenly think that PTSD is exclusive to veterans of the armed forces. This leaves victims of sexual assault, accidents, or domestic violence feeling their trauma is invalid or ignored.
The idea that everyone who suffers trauma should heal fast is another prevalent and damaging misconception. Because of this, it is assumed that if someone is still having difficulties, they are not progressing. The fact that PTSD symptoms can manifest months or years after the incident is something that many people are unaware of. Observers may perceive a patient’s response to a trigger as dramatic or overreacting due to their lack of understanding of the underlying, acute, and involuntary fear response.
Distinguishing Trauma from Daily Pressure
Many people who are experiencing PTSD thought that what they are experiencing is just a result of the stress they face in their daily lives. But little do they know that what they are feeling is already a trauma response. One must know how to distinguish daily stress and pressure from trauma to better deal with the condition. Stress, as we all know, results from issues like money, relationships, and work. At the same time, trauma is a result of a specific event that has happened once or repeatedly as a result of an accident, abuse, life-threatening situations, or violence. Moreover, people should also understand that prolonged stress can lead to PTSD if left unresolved, especially if it exceeds one’s own capacity to manage the situation. For that reason, stress should not be taken lightly.
Conclusion
As mentioned, PTSD is far from just being simply ‘stress’. It is an elaborate trauma response based on an unfortunate event experienced by those who suffered it.
It may be easier said than done, but making an effort to understand PTSD and the people suffering from it goes a long way. Knowledge and understanding breaks stigma, and when it is broken, the path to recovery becomes clearer for those individuals.
