Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When we think of this term, we often think of maybe someone who has come back from war or someone who has had an intensely traumatic experience. But in reality, just about anyone can get PTSD.
The problem is that there are a lot of misconceptions about PTSD that are actually not true or are misconstrued.
Here a five common myths about Trauma and PTSD:
PTSD is incurable.
FIrst and foremost, it is important to understand this myth is false. While there is not a specific “cure” for PTSD or trauma, there absolutely are ways to help manage or reduce the symptoms of these traumatic episodes. There are many people and resources that are available to help those with PTSD and trauma deal with their triggers or thoughts that work in tandem. These resources stretch from therapists that work directly with those memories and triggers, support groups that speak together to help you feel less alone with what you’re dealing with, or there is always the option of medication that helps manage those symptoms that are experienced.
Trauma always leads to PTSD.
Trauma is a big deal and has a chance to last a long time, but that does not mean it always leads to PTSD. Trauma is something that is very hard to deal with, but it doesn’t last quite as long as PTSD. Often those who experience trauma are able to resume living their day to day lives within a certain period of time. But it is definitely subjective to each person and is not linear. Those who have trauma that leads to PTSD means that they are experiencing a consistent re-experience of the trigger that then impacts the way the brain is able to process the experience. This makes it much harder to get over the trauma because it has turned into PTSD.
You have to relive trauma to heal.
For some, reliving the trauma they go through may work as you process the memory and change the way you think about it. But this is absolutely not necessary. There are many other ways to heal from trauma and the effects it leaves. Without the proper support, reliving trauma has the chance of being more detrimental than helpful. You don’t want to be constantly re-living the problem that caused your trauma, the goal would be to be in a controlled environment where you have the support you need to rewire your brain to think about that experience in a different light.
This is not necessary though. You do not need to relive those experiences to heal.
All reactions to PTSD are the same.
Just as we have talked about before, each experience with trauma and PTSD are different. It is not a linear experience, meaning each person is different and deals with their own problems in their own ways. There are many different reactions to PTSD such as:
- Dissociation
- Avoidant behavior
- Anxiety
- Easily startled
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Sleep paralysis
There are many different reactions to PTSD as they are not all the same.
Those with PTSD are violent.
There is a chance that if the individual with PTSD has a history of violence or anger, they are more likely to be violent if they have PTSD, though it is actually much more common for individuals to not be violent while dealing with PTSD. Other factors such as using substances to cope with PTSD can increase the irritability or anger within the person, which can cause violence, but like the symptoms stated above, many people experience other reactions to PTSD other than violence.
You know that saying, “Never judge a book by its cover.”? This saying can be applied to people as well. You never know what someone is going through or how they are able to handle certain situations. So we should never judge someone by our first impression of them, especially because we don’t know if they have trauma or PTSD that could be triggered by anything or anyone. Being sensitive to those around us can have a big impact on the healing they are needing and going through.
Triggers are both known and unknown by the person dealing with them. They could have a very specific trigger like not being able to shower because having the water pour on them triggers some memory. While others may not be as well known whereas walking around a grocery store may trigger them into an episode due to the crowds. Each person is different.
Having respect and care for those around us each and every day, whether they are someone you’re very close with or a stranger on the street, we never know what is going through their minds. Kindness is free, so let’s spread it around and allow people to heal in the way they need to.