PTSD Awareness Month: Do You Know The Actual Facts?
- Known Well Counseling
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
June is recognized as National PTSD Awareness Month. It’s a time dedicated to increasing understanding about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reducing stigma and encouraging support for those impacted. While the word trauma is a bit of a buzz word these days, there is still a lot of misunderstanding about what PTSD is and how it affects people.
Defining Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. It is your brain’s way of making sense of something extremely threatening.
One thing to keep in mind is that not all trauma leads to a PTSD diagnosis. All of us experience difficult, frightening or overwhelming moments. In many cases, people experience a temporary period of distress. It is normal to struggle with coping in the aftermath of trauma. It might be PTSD if trauma-related symptoms persist over time, interfere with daily functioning, and leave a person feeling stuck in fear, avoidance, or anxiety.
Common Symptoms of PTSD
Most symptoms around post-traumatic stress disorder involve feeling ‘stuck’ in the stressful event, even after it has passed. People living with PTSD often experience literal flashbacks or intrusive memories of the event. Other symptoms may follow suite like nightmares, trouble sleeping, avoiding people, places or situations that remind someone of the trauma, panic attacks, and constantly feeling “on guard”.
A person may have difficulty concentrating, brain fog and physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, stomach issues, or fatigue. They may even feel numb or disconnected from their body.
The point is PTSD impacts everyone differently. A person suffering from post-traumatic stress could have one or many symptoms listed above. Some even develop unique symptoms. Plus, these symptoms can range from mild to severe and interfere with work, relationships and daily functioning. This is why an eclectic therapy approach can be very helpful if you are dealing with a PTSD diagnosis
The PTSD Myths
Like all good awareness campaigns, PTSD Awareness Month is about breaking down stigmas and busting myths. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is more misunderstood than most. That is why it is so important to take the time to unpack the common misconceptions about PTSD with compassion.
PTSD is Not About Weakness
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has nothing to do with individual weakness. Period. This is the most important myth to bust during PTSD Awareness Month. Because, truly, PTSD is a sign of evolutionary strength.
Your nervous system evolved to protect you from highly overwhelming situations. When you get stuck in the symptoms of PTSD, you are just stuck in your brain’s natural survival mode. Because of this, managing PTSD has nothing to do with getting stronger and everything to do with regaining safety.
PTSD is Not About Being Dramatic
For those who have never experienced PTSD, it can be tempting to give advice like “just let it go.” This is not very helpful to a person stuck in constant survival mode. If the symptoms of PTSD seem extreme, it’s only because PTSD impacts people in a severe way. This is true mentally, emotionally, and physically. It is not something you can just ‘get over’.
Instead, someone suffering from PTSD symptoms needs to have a space where they can be known well and explore exactly what makes them still feel unsafe. Healing from trauma takes time, understanding, and support from others.
PTSD is Not About Being Enough
You might think to yourself, “what I went through wasn’t enough to be trauma.” Some people may even have a mental list of the exact experiences that ‘count’. Things like:
Military combat
Surviving a natural disaster or violent public event
Fending off direct assault
Near-death illnesses
And yes, these events can absolutely cause a person to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. However, so can many other stressors. This PTSD Awareness Month, we need to break free from the myth of this imaginary list. Real life (and the human brain) is far more complicated.
Why Myth-Busting Matters
The idea that someone, somewhere had it worse stops many from seeking help. The good news is that recovery is possible. Many people find it through therapy, support groups, healthy relationships, and learning tools to help soothe their nervous system.
If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma. Reach out for a free consultation.
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