National PTSD Awareness Month: Understanding the Symptoms and Impact of PTSD

National PTSD Awareness Month in June is a time to reflect and gain a greater understanding of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This condition afflicts many who have undergone or experienced abnormal events, an all-too-common occurrence in the world of healthcare. While symptoms often develop within the first month after a traumatic event, it's important to understand that there can be a delay of months or even years before they appear. Some people experience fluctuating symptoms, with periods of remission followed by worsening, while others face constant, severe challenges. Either way, this June is a time to better understand what PTSD looks like, how it can manifest, and how you can combat it.

Re-experiencing the Trauma

Re-experiencing is a hallmark symptom of PTSD. This is when a person involuntarily and vividly relives the traumatic event through:

• Flashbacks: Feeling like the event is happening again.

• Nightmares: Disturbing dreams related to the trauma.

• Repetitive and distressing images or sensations: Persistent mental images or physical feelings like pain, sweating, nausea, or trembling.

It's common for individuals to have constant negative thoughts about their experience, repeatedly questioning why it happened or if they could have prevented it. These intrusive thoughts can lead to intense feelings of guilt or shame.

Avoidance and Emotional Numbing

A key symptom of PTSD is trying to avoid reminders of the traumatic event. This often means staying away from specific people or places associated with the traumatic event, or avoiding discussions about the experience. Many people with PTSD try to push these bad memories away, often by distracting themselves with work or hobbies.

Some may even attempt to deal with their feelings by trying not to feel anything at all, which is a phenomenon known as emotional numbing. This can lead to isolation, withdrawal, and a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.

Hyperarousal: Constantly Feeling Anxious

Someone with PTSD may feel incredibly anxious and find it difficult to relax, constantly scanning for threats or problems, and being easily startled. This state of heightened awareness is called hyperarousal.

Hyperarousal frequently manifests as:

• Irritability

• Angry outbursts

• Sleeping problems such as insomnia

• Difficulty concentrating

While many of these are symptoms of depression, hyperarousal tends to manifest shortly after a traumatic event and well into the future. A sudden change in someone’s behavior may be indicative of PTSD. 

Other Challenges Associated with PTSD

Many individuals with PTSD face additional challenges, including:

• Other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, or phobias.

• Self-harming or destructive behaviors, like drug or alcohol misuse.

• Physical symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, chest pains, and stomach aches.

PTSD can also contribute to work-related difficulties and strained relationships, further impacting an individual's overall well-being. If you see someone in the office lashing out suddenly or distancing themselves from everyone else, especially in healthcare, they may be experiencing PTSD.

PTSD in Children

It's crucial to remember that PTSD can affect children as well as adults. Children with PTSD may exhibit similar symptoms, including trouble sleeping and upsetting nightmares. Like adults, they might lose interest in activities they once enjoyed and experience physical symptoms like headaches and stomach aches.

Other symptoms you might notice in children with PTSD include:

• Difficult or disruptive behavior

• Actively avoiding things related to the traumatic event

• Repeatedly re-enacting the traumatic event through their play

When to Seek Medical Advice for PTSD

Individuals in healthcare are no stranger to traumatic experiences, but are often expected to ignore or shoulder these experiences as part of the job. We should instead be seeking ways to regularly vent these feelings and bring closure to them, such as therapy. For first responders, Missouri has an in-depth site to help find the support you need for any incident. Those suffering from PTSD in the general public can reach out to a 24/7 suicide and crisis hotline at 988 or reach out to the National PTSD Crisis Center for more help.  

Eureka Fire Protection District is here to support anyone undergoing PTSD. You and others like you aren’t suffering alone; we’ve all experienced troubling events in the past to different degrees. Let’s work together this month to better recognize the struggles that others are experiencing and help them to overcome these problems one step at a time.