Part II of Understanding Trauma: What is PTSD, what leads to it, and how to address it.
In my last blog, we took a deeper dive into Understanding Trauma and its impacts on the mind, body, and soul. I received a lot of positive feedback, along with many questions, comments, and follow-ups. As a result, I decided to create a series about trauma, PTSD, treatment options, and, most importantly, how to heal. In this blog we will take a look at PTSD. I encourage you to read the previous blog first to give you a better foundation.
I believe the term PTSD is often used too lightly in today's society, which can undermine the significance of the symptoms and the daily struggles of untreated, traumatized individuals. I frequently hear phrases like, ‘Oh, that probably gave you some PTSD,’ or ‘That was really traumatizing,’ which tend to trivialize the condition.
It seems to me that, in some ways, PTSD has become a buzzword in popular culture, almost like a badge of honor, to reflect one's hardship or credibility.
I hope this blog can give some transparency about the condition, how it manifests, and the severity of it, since the impact on someone’s life is significant. Trivializing it not only undermines the challenges, but can also blur the lines between genuine PTSD and normal stressors and hardships we all encounter.
This is Part II of the series, focusing on PTSD—what it is, how it manifests, and addressing some common misconceptions as discussed in the previous blog. It will also show the differences between normal stress reactions, how these can lead to a disorder, which can ultimately turn into PTSD. We will talk about treatment options in further blogs.
Before we dive into this post, I want to acknowledge that some of the material may be emotionally intense or triggering, especially for those who have experienced or witnessed trauma in the past. If, at any point, you begin to feel overwhelmed, please consider taking a moment to pause and ground yourself. Please honor what you need as you read through this material, and know that it’s okay to stop or return to it later.
History of PTSD
The concept of PTSD has roots in ancient history, with symptoms resembling it documented across various cultures and eras—from ancient Greek historians to the American Civil War, the World Wars (where terms like 'shell shock' in WWI and 'war neurosis' in WWII emerged), and the Vietnam War. Awareness of PTSD grew significantly in the late 20th century and expanded rapidly after the 9/11 attacks and following wars, bringing greater public exposure and understanding.
The Vietnam War marked a turning point in understanding PTSD, as many returning soldiers faced severe psychological and physical impacts. Initially thought to affect only veterans, further research revealed that PTSD also affected Holocaust survivors, victims of sexual abuse, childhood abuse, and individuals who endured or witnessed other traumatic experiences.
In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association officially added PTSD to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). The condition was initially mentioned as 'Gross Stress Reaction' in the first edition in 1952, but was removed entirely in the second edition in 1968, before being reinstated in 1980. Since then, several revisions have been made to refine its diagnostic criteria, and to add more and more symptoms, supported by increased research and studies.
Per the American Psychiatric Association the definition reads as the following today (summarized and quoted):
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, series of events or set of circumstances. An individual may experience this as emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening and may affect mental, physical, social, and/or spiritual well-being. Examples include natural disasters, serious accidents, terrorist acts, war/combat, rape/sexual assault, historical trauma, intimate partner violence and bullying.
What is a traumatic event?
As mentioned in my previous blog, Understanding Trauma, ‘Trauma’ is the Greek word for wound.
It refers to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope. It leaves a lasting imprint on their emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.
Inherent in these traumatic experiences are losses such as the loss of loved ones, or cherished roles and responsibilities or capabilities, or of fundamental, accepted ways of understanding life. (quoted, Dr Robert Tedeschi, Posttraumatic Growth, 1988).
To add to this, Trauma is something that happens TO someone. The individual is not a willing participant in the traumatic event!
What happens after a traumatic event?
It is natural to have an immediate reaction after a traumatic event. This is called an Acute Stress Reaction, often referred to as shock. This reaction is a normal response, as the body, mind, and soul work to make sense of the experience with the intent of processing it fully.
Symptoms such as sweating, flushing, feeling dazed, anxiety, anger, confusion, and more are to be expected. These symptoms typically occur shortly after the event and can last up to a few days. During this time, it’s important to talk to someone about what was experienced or witnessed. Sharing the experience helps to go through the full cycle of processing and to begin coping with the event.
In most cases, these symptoms resolve within a few days.
Over time, this phase has been removed from medical manuals, which I find concerning. This change may be because it is considered a natural response to a traumatic or highly stressful event rather than a disorder. However, ignoring or rushing through this phase can hinder recovery and lead to further symptoms and issues.
In medical literature the first term referring to a disorder, is the Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), with symptoms occurring within a month after the traumatic event, lasting for at least one month.
ASD presents itself with the same symptoms we’ve already discussed, but they remain persistent, may intensify, and begin to significantly impact a person’s well-being.
If these symptoms last more than a month, they may be classified as PTSD.
Studies show that 50 to 80% of untreated patients with ASD will eventually develop PTSD. This underscores the importance of early treatment for PTSD symptoms that do not go away quickly.
However, not everyone who experiences ASD develops PTSD. It’s noteworthy that studies show PTSD can manifest years after a traumatic event, without previous ASD symptoms.
What is PTSD?
People with PTSD have intense, often disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended, as the brain, mind, body and soul are still not able to process the experience and make sense of it. Their lives are deeply impacted by the event.
A traumatized person might experience the world around them as the following:
Constantly on edge, as though danger is always nearby, leading to hyper-awareness of surroundings.
Difficulty controlling emotions, constant feeling of anger, fear, sadness, numbness.
Feeling disconnected from others, due to the belief that no one can understand what they are going through.
Flashbacks, nightmares, unwanted thoughts are flaring up, making it hard to stay in the present moment.
Avoidance of people, places or situations that remind of the trauma.
Fatigue, muscle tension, headaches, breathing issues, sleeplessness.
Issues to concentrate, remember, or in decision making.
Self-blame.
These are just a few examples.
I want you, as the reader, to pause here for a moment and imagine how one’s life might feel with these symptoms persisting day after day for an extended period of time....
It can be incredibly challenging for an individual impacted by PTSD to recognize their symptoms, as these feelings and behaviors often become their 'new normal'. Over time, the constant state of hypervigilance, avoidance, and emotional dysregulation can feel so ingrained that they might not even realize something is wrong or different to how it has been prior to the event(s). They may attribute their struggles to stress, or external circumstances, rather than understanding them as symptoms of trauma. This lack of awareness can also come from social stigmas surrounding mental health, leading traumatized individuals to rather suppress the symptoms, to ‘block them out’, out of fear of being judged.
Friends and family members, however, may be in a unique position to notice these changes, but they must approach the situation with sensitivity and care. A compassionate, non-judgmental conversation can help bring awareness to the issue and encourage the individual to seek professional help. It’s important for loved ones to understand that addressing PTSD requires patience and understanding, as the person may feel embarrassed, misunderstood, or reluctant to confront their trauma. Offering support without pressure and letting them know they’re not alone can make all the difference in taking the first step toward healing.
How is PTSD diagnosed?
PTSD is diagnosed by a mental health professional, such as a therapist or psychiatrist, who conducts a thorough evaluation to understand what’s been happening in the individual's life. They ask detailed questions about the symptoms and how long they’ve been affecting the person. The professional assesses the severity of these symptoms and their impact on everyday activities, like relationships, work, and overall well-being. They also consider whether the symptoms are associated with a specific traumatic event(s).
Recognizing the need for help and seeking a diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but it’s an essential first step in starting the healing process. A proper diagnosis allows for the right treatment, offering a path forward toward recovery, healing, and an overall better quality of life.
This blog is part of the journey in understanding Trauma, PTSD, its impacts, and the path to healing. There is so much more to say about this. I hope this overview is giving you a glimpse of the severity of the condition, and hopefully a better understanding of its impacts.
If you found this blog helpful, please feel free to sign up for my newsletter to stay informed about the next part in this series.
Please feel free to leave a comment below, or reach out to me directly (email me).
Please continue reading the series about Understanding Trauma in the next post:
Understanding Trauma - Trauma as a child.
Let’s take this journey of growth and healing together—one step at a time.
Truly yours,
Angela
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