DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) – The month of June is celebrated as PTSD awareness month and hopes to shed light on the struggles that individuals diagnosed with PTSD face.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.
People may experience a range of reactions after trauma, and most people recover from initial symptoms over time. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD.
Many different people from different backgrounds are diagnosed with PTSD, such as combat veterans, victims of abuse, or anyone who has witnessed or experienced a physical or sexual assault, an accident, a disaster, or other serious events.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are about 12 million people diagnosed with PTSD living in the United States.
Women are more likely to develop PTSD after a traumatic event compared to males.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers three ways to raise awareness for PTSD awareness month:
- Start by making the pledge to Raise PTSD Awareness
- Register for the virtual walk – Sign up for the Virtual Walk.
- Take a PTSD Self-Screen – Answer 5 questions about your symptoms on PTSD Screening Day: June 27
If you have a loved one struggling with PTSD, the National Center for PTSD offers these tips: learn as much as you can about PTSD, offer to go to doctor’s visits with your family member, tell you loved one that you want to listen and you understand if it’s not the right time to talk, plan family activities together, encourage contact with family and close friends, take a walk, go for a bike ride, or do some other physical activity together.
