Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is defined as “a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.” 1 Your nervous system gets stuck in a response associated with a life or death situation. PTSD was first noticed after ww1 when many veterans experience previously mentioned symptoms. Back then it was called shellshock, deriving its name from the shells shot by both sides in trench warfare. However, it was discovered that soldiers who were nowhere near exploding shells experienced symptoms as well.

Soldiers and Mental Health

PTSD is most commonly associated with military veterans. Many times men and women returning from war have a difficult time adjusting to civilian life. Typically veterans have intrusive reminders of the trauma, negative changes to mood and health, extreme avoidance of things associated with trauma, and being on guard or jumpy at all times. Somethings that can help PTSD in soldiers and others, in general, include rhythmic exercising such as running, swimming, rock climbing, and basketball. It helps focus attention on your body, burns of adrenaline, and helps you stay in the moment. Mindful breathing and meditation can help as well with many mental health disorders including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Sensory input can cause a PSTD trigger, but can also help. Each person is different and can discover which sensory input can help you relax. Connectin with others is also really important to establish support systems and make you feel less isolated.

PTSD Outside of the Military

Despite PTSD mostly being associated with veterans, it can apply to anyone who experienced any kind of trauma. “Today, about 7.7 million American adults have PTSD, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.” 2 This can include people experiencing physical ailments, people who have been through robberies, domestic abuse, rape, children who live in areas with high crime, children who have been through school shootings as so on. I was diagnosed with a mild form of PTSD after getting a concussion that gave me daily headaches for the next six years. It is a lot more common than people think. You might not think something is traumatic, but trauma is relative. It depends on the person and many other numerous factors.

PSTD and Terrorism

“The large body of research conducted after the 9/11 attacks in the past decade suggests that the burden of PTSD among persons with high exposure to 9/11 was substantial” 3 Everyone involved can develop PTSD including victims of the attack, bystanders, and emergency personnel. Different people experience different reactions but “almost everyone who was at the scene of an act of mass violence will have stress reactions in the immediate aftermath. The initial relief to be alive may be followed by distress, fear, survivor guilt or anger.” 4 The increasing number of mass violence attacks are causing distress for many. I know someone who was next to a bomber at the Port Authority bus station. Without knowing he was the bomber, the person I know tried to save him. PTSD and guilt were some of the things he experienced afterward. There are increasing anti-war movements and organizations for peace. The debate over gun laws in America is just one example of how people are trying to stop mass shootings, especially in schools No matter what the solution, the consensus it that mental health after mass violent attacks is a huge issue.

Sources

1 “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, July 6, 2018. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967.

2 History.com Editors. “PTSD and Shell Shock.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, October 2, 2017. https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/history-of-ptsd-and-shell-shock.

3 Neria, Yuval, Laura DiGrande, and Ben G Adams. “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following the September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks: a Review of the Literature among Highly Exposed Populations.” The American psychologist. U.S. National Library of Medicine, September 2011. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3386850/.

4 “VA.gov: Veterans Affairs.” What to Expect in the Wake of Mass Violence, October 6, 2017. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/types/mass_violence_help.asp.

“PTSD in Military Veterans.” HelpGuide.org, February 17, 2020. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/ptsd-in-military-veterans.htm.