There are many misconceptions surrounding post traumatic stress disorder symptoms and those who suffer from it. Briefly, I want to explain what are some of the main post traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and clarify some of the biggest myths surrounding PTSD.
If you think you might be struggling with PTSD, let’s look at some of the post traumatic stress disorder symptoms that may be afflicting you. The first symptom is often called Instrusion. It’s when the bain is flooded with painful or stressful memories of the a tragic event, and you re-experience the event all over again.
Another symptom is hyperarousal. You may feel like you can never fully relax or you’re angry or irritable all the time. Avoiding certain places, people or situations that might trigger remembering the tragic event or evoke those same feelings is a symptoms. So are negative thoughts or feelings about the world and onesself, and feelings of withdrawal and dissociation.
If you recognize any of these symptoms, you should consider speaking with a healthcare professional. Seeking treatment is not always easy. This is especially the case with PTSD because there are many misconceptions about what it is and how if affects a person. This causes a negative stigma to be attached to PTSD and acts as an obstacle for those who need to find help and begin healing.
Here are some of the top myths surrounding post traumatic stress disorder symptoms and sufferers:
- All PTSD sufferers are violent and dangerous. Being on edge, irritable, angry or easily startled does not automatically equate to violence. However, PTSD sufferers who also engaged in drinking or abusing substances do have a higher risk of violent behavior.
- PTSD is the outcome of something very awful and tragic happening. Not neccisarily. Traumatic events are highly subjective. What is not traumatic for one person, could be for another. People’s brains react differently to situations, and we have no control over it.
- Unless there is a physical injury there’s no PTSD. This is also not true. In fact, PTSD is an injury. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Trauma’s impact doesn’t have to be an outward, visible one. PTSD affects the functioning of the brain and one’s mental health.
- Anyone who experiences a traumatic event will suffer from PTSD. This is not how it works. Not everyone experiences things in the same way. Some brains are able to adapt to the stresses of a situation more than others. For example, not all veterans come back home with PTSD.
- Getting help for PTSD will hurt my reputation and my career. If you are suffering, the only thing that will hurt you and your future is leaving your PTSD untreated.
The biggest myth is that you are alone in your suffering with PTSD. There are many like you. And those who come forward and talk about their suffering and seek help, open the door to help even more. PTSD is treatable. At ExecuCare, we begin addressing post traumatic stress disorder symptoms with NTR Brain Restoration, which enables your brain to be more receptive to healing with our Executive Coaching Program. With these efforts, we see profound results that help men and women to quickly resume their daily lives, healthier and happier.
