By Sherry Larson

People’s Defender

June is PTSD (post-traumatic stress dyndrome) Awareness Month. PTSD is a disorder that many people develop after having been exposed to a terrifying, shocking or dangerous event. PTSD can last months or a lifetime. There are three million new cases of PTSD diagnosed each year and it is a subject that Danielle Poe, Director of Behavior Health for the Adams County Ohio Valley School District, writes and presents on frequently. Poe said that PTSD is one of the most common diagnoses they see in Adams County both in youth and adults alongside depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders.

While researching the subject, a recent article from People’s Magazine surfaced. The front page highlighted the now-graduating seniors who are survivors of the Sandy Hook mass shooting that occurred 12 years ago and killed 20 children and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut. One article in People and another in Newsweek described a ceremony of mixed emotions and a solemn tribute to those who were slain.

As witnesses to a horrific event, most of these students have gone through therapy over the past 12 years, and several noted that they will become therapists. Combat veterans, victims of assault and sexual abuse and others who have experienced traumatic and scary incidents may feel stressed or scared even when there isn’t an active threat.

Poe explained, “Our bodies were designed for survival. In the case of danger, we can transition into a fight, flight, or freeze mode internally, allowing for external body responses (becoming faster, stronger, or instinctively “smarter” in survival situations). This is thanks to the gift of our brain’s alarm system, the Amygdala. God designed the Amygdala to alert us of danger, sending adrenaline and cortisol through our bodies and enhancing our chances of survival. This alert is great – when there is danger. In the case of PTSD, our Amygdala is ‘stuck’ in the alarm state, or overly sensitive to external or internal stimuli being perceived as danger. In this case, the function that is pushing adrenaline and cortisol continues to sound that alarm or does so at times when there is no real danger. One example of this might be in the case of abuse or domestic violence. An individual exposed to that type of trauma may be removed from the situation and in a “healthy” place years later. However, the sound of a slamming door or breaking glass may always cause the person’s Amygdala to sound an alarm of danger, creating an irrational behavior response. Rapid heartbeat, fast breath, panic, or mood changes are just a few examples of an irrational response to external stimuli that may otherwise be “normal” in one’s everyday life.” She added, “Aside from the extreme emotional distress that PTSD can cause those diagnosed, their physical health can be affected as well.”

Nimh.nih.gov explains, “Symptoms of PTSD usually begin within three months of the traumatic event, but they sometimes emerge later. To meet the criteria for PTSD, a person must have symptoms for longer than one month, and the symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with aspects of daily life, such as relationships or work. The symptoms also must be unrelated to medication, substance use, or other illness.

The course of the disorder varies. Some people recover within six months, while others have symptoms lasting a year or longer. People with PTSD often have co-occurring conditions, such as depression, substance use, or one or more anxiety disorders.

Mayoclinic.org suggests psychotherapy, medications, coping strategies, and support groups so people with PTSD aren’t carrying their burden alone. If someone you love is experiencing PTSD, learn about the disorder.

Poe says, “Knowing about and learning to understand the impact of trauma exposure on the human brain and body allows for awareness to spread, stigma to be reduced, and interventions to be expanded. Ignoring the personal and societal impacts of trauma exposure will not make it go away. Addressing the need for awareness, support, and intervention; however, can create lasting change in one’s quality of life while preventing poor health outcomes and generational impacts.”