PTSD: More Than A Military Issue — Mental Health California

Did you know that PTSD - commonly associated with war veterans from a by-gone era - can actually affect anyone, even you? The Refuge, a treatment center and authority on trauma and disorders, says that PTSD is a mental health condition that can affect anyone who is exposed to a traumatic, frightening, dangerous and perspective-shattering event. Understanding that PTSD is linked to all experiences of trauma, and can affect anyone, helps to de-stigmatize its effects and promote recovery. Understanding that PTSD is linked to all experiences of trauma, and can affect anyone, helps to de-stigmatize its effects and promote recovery.

These include, but are not limited to:

War
Sexual Trauma
The threat of injury or death to you or a loved one
Natural Disaster
Witnessing horrifying events
Profound Fear
Serious physical injury

Exposure to these experiences can result in chronic feelings of hopelessness, depression, profound anxiety and overwhelming feelings of fear that may manifest in the form of repeated nightmares or flashbacks. These symptoms characterize PTSD and invade the sufferer’s ability to thrive in ‘normal’ day-to-day scenarios. According to The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, up to 20% of those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan wars and up to 30% of those who served in Vietnam suffer from PTSD.

Post Traumatic Stress is also linked to experiences of domestic violence. According to The PTSD Alliance and Becky’s Fund, Post-traumatic stress disorder is the most common anxiety disorder associated with domestic violence, finding in one study that the prevalence of PTSD in a sample of domestic violence victims had ranged from 45 to 84%.