Myths About PTSD And How To Address Them
Mental health stigmas and myths are often spread in popular media or society, leading to misconceptions about mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Because myths can lead to further stigma, individuals may find it beneficial to educate themselves on the statistics and why certain myths are untrue.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impacts those who have experienced a traumatic event. Anyone who goes through trauma or witnesses it happening to someone else may develop PTSD. However, note everyone who has been in a traumatic event develops the condition. Symptoms like avoidance, emotional challenges, and intrusive thoughts can occur.
Post-traumatic stress disorder may affect about 6% of people in the US, according to the National Center for PTSD. However, various myths about PTSD may perpetuate misconceptions about people with this condition. In some cases, individuals with PTSD may internalize myths, impacting well-being, mental health, and self-esteem.
Common myths about PTSD
The US Department of Veterans Affairs VA News page aims to address some of the common myths associated with PTSD. VA News notes the following misconceptions about PTSD.
Myth: PTSD only affects military veterans and people who have gone to war or combat zones
PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Traumatic events can include but are not limited to natural disasters, physical and sexual assault, serious injuries, and other extremely disturbing experiences that place one's life or personal integrity at risk. Such experiences can occur at any point in one's life, from childhood to adulthood.
While some military veterans develop PTSD, others do not. In some cases, a person may not have experienced the event first-hand but may still exhibit PTSD symptoms.
Myth: PTSD occurs immediately after the experience of trauma
There are many responses to trauma, affecting each person differently. For example, one person may have milder symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping, that can gradually worsen and interfere with daily functioning. Another person may not have PTSD symptoms until months or years after the experience. Suddenly, they may be affected by a quick startle response or the experience of intrusive memories in the form of flashbacks and other symptoms.
Myth: PTSD is a sign of weakness and bad mental health
PTSD is not a sign of weakness, and anyone can develop it. There are many contributing factors to the development of PTSD, including genetic predisposition, the type of trauma experienced, the duration of the traumatic event or multiple events, previous exposure to trauma (such as childhood trauma), and a lack of social support.
People with PTSD are often challenged to meet the demands of daily life while contending with distressing memories, feelings, and sensations, which can often be seen as a sign of strength. Those who seek treatment for PTSD can learn tools for building resilience and reframing thoughts and experiences, as well as coping strategies for managing symptoms.
Myth: The experience of trauma or a traumatic event automatically leads to PTSD
People respond to trauma in various ways. Distress is a common response to trauma, which tends to decrease over time. A person may develop PTSD when their reactions to traumatic stress don't decrease over time or worsen. However, there is no one defining factor that ensures one will develop the condition.
Myth: PTSD is not a normal response to traumatic stress
There is no right or wrong way to respond to a traumatic event or series of events, whether there is a risk of developing PTSD or not. Some people may also experience complex PTSD (C-PTSD) concerning long-term or recurring traumatic events. Symptoms of complex PTSD include finding it difficult to connect with others and intense feelings of shame, low self-worth, and guilt. Some specialists may also view symptoms of PTSD as “a normal adaptation to the experience of abnormal events.”
PTSD symptoms
Symptoms of PTSD can vary widely among individuals. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of PTSD often begin within three months of the traumatic experience and must last more than one month to meet the criteria for PTSD. The symptoms tend to be severe enough to interfere with daily functioning but must not be related to other mental health conditions. However, some people with PTSD can experience co-morbid conditions, such as substance use disorders, depression, and anxiety. Symptoms of PTSD include the following.
Re-experiencing symptoms
People with PTSD may have a sense that they are “re-experiencing” a trauma via flashbacks, dreams, nightmares, and intrusive memories and images. These experiences can provoke a range of feelings, including fear, anger, shame, and guilt. Distressing physiological responses, such as sweating, heart palpitations, and nausea, may accompany these experiences.
Avoidance symptoms
People with PTSD may avoid reminders, including people, places, and other stimuli or situations that can summon memories of the event. A person may also experience emotional numbing, which may relate to avoiding addressing uncomfortable emotions, causing detachment or a disconnect.
Arousal and sensitivity symptoms
Arousal symptoms may include a sense of being “on edge” or hypervigilant in expectation of a threat, being easily startled, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances. Arousal symptoms are often frequent or constant, which may add to stress and interfere with a person's ability to function. Reactivity symptoms may include engaging in self-destructive or risky behavior or lashing out in anger in response to irritation and stress.
Cognition and mood symptoms
Cognition and mood symptoms, such as difficulty recalling the main features of the traumatic event, social isolation, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, ongoing negative emotions, and pessimism about oneself and the state of the world, can also occur due to PTSD.
For someone to be diagnosed with PTSD, they usually must experience at least the following:
- One symptom of re-experiencing the event
- One avoidance symptom
- Two arousal and reactivity symptoms
- Two cognition and mood symptoms
Treatment options for symptoms of PTSD
Several approaches for relieving PTSD symptoms are available. Treatment tends to include psychotherapy and, in some cases, medication. Those who are experiencing co-occurring mental health conditions, such as depression or panic disorder, may find that addressing these conditions may also aid recovery after trauma.
The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends the following psychotherapy approaches to address PTSD:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
- Cognitive therapy
- Prolonged exposure (also known as exposure therapy)
Other therapeutic approaches that may be helpful include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and brief eclectic psychotherapy. In addition to therapy, seeking social support may be beneficial. Support groups and community centers may have resources available.
Therapy to address PTSD or any traumatic event for your mental health
PTSD symptoms can often be successfully managed with the support of a therapist who specializes in trauma and PTSD. However, some people may struggle to attend in-person therapy due to barriers like cost, distance, or symptom severity. In these cases, online therapy platforms like BetterHelp may be more accessible.
Benefits of online therapy to address myths about PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder
Online therapy can be convenient for those who would rather speak with a licensed therapist from home. Sessions can be conducted via phone, video conferencing, and live in-app messages. In addition, online platforms may offer resources like journaling prompts and support groups.
One British study using cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) for addressing mild-to-moderate PTSD examined the effectiveness of online versus in-person therapy. The results of the study, which involved 196 people, indicated that "PTSD symptoms improved equally after online or face-to-face treatment at 16 weeks."
Takeaway
Learning about PTSD offers a way to address misconceptions. Knowledge about PTSD may also enable one to dispel myths through evidence-based findings. If you are experiencing PTSD symptoms, seeking the support of a therapist who specializes in trauma and PTSD might be beneficial. Consider reaching out online or in your area to get started.
What are some myths about PTSD?
There are many myths about PTSD that may get in the way of an individual seeking treatment, or that minimize the experience in a way that can make the individual feel less-than. Some of these include:
- PTSD is only experienced by combat veterans or those in military service
- PTSD can’t be treated, only managed
- PTSD is all in a person’s head
- PTSD is a sign of weakness
- Everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD
It is important to know that there are many forms of trauma, and that experiencing symptoms of PTSD is not a sign of weakness. PTSD is a physical and psychological reaction to terrible situations, and while this disorder can be distressing, it is also very treatable.
How is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) viewed by society?
As with most mental health conditions, post-traumatic stress disorder has been subject to stigma in society, although people are becoming more educated on the facts through PTSD awareness campaigns. A common misconception about PTSD is that it is a “military disorder” in which veterans experience flashbacks and engage in violent behaviors.
However, PTSD can occur in trauma survivors of all types, and trauma experiences can range from surviving a life-threatening event, witnessing severe injury or death (PTSD can be common in first responders), to experiencing family violence or sexual abuse. Not everyone who experiences trauma will experience symptoms of PTSD. Most people who have experienced trauma will have highly distressing thoughts for a time, or go through a period of distress, but won’t develop PTSD. Family history or personality factors can put a person at higher risk, but in any case with proper support, including peer support and talk therapy, PTSD can be treated effectively.
What gets mistaken for post-traumatic stress disorder?
There are several other mental conditions that share at least one symptom with PTSD and may be mistaken for this disorder by a layperson. Some of these include panic disorder, acute stress disorder, dissociative disorder, substance use disorders, or depression.
What are some stigmas and myths of PTSD?
A common stigma around PTSD is a belief that traumatic experiences are something that should just be “gotten over” or “worked through” and that the symptoms and feelings are “all in your head”.
A common myth is that PTSD experiences all look the same. In fact, symptoms fall under several categories, including re-experiencing symptoms (flashbacks and nightmares), avoidance symptoms, cognitive symptoms, and hyperarousal symptoms. A person may not experience all of these symptoms, and they may not experience them in the same way.
What are three interesting facts about PTSD?
Three interesting facts about PTSD include:
- Anyone can be affected by PTSD, and an estimated 7-8% of Americans will develop this disorder at some point in their lives
- Symptoms may be delayed…a person may not notice symptoms of PTSD until months or even years after a traumatic event
- PTSD can cause structural and functional changes in the brain
What happens when you yell at someone with PTSD?
There is no one common reaction for yelling at someone with PTSD. While some may respond in anger, others may ignore you, respond mildly, walk away, or seek to avoid you in the future.
Who is a famous person who has PTSD?
Alanis Morisette is an artist who developed PTSD from her quick rise to fame. She manages symptoms, but has said publicly that she still has fears that people will break into her hotel room or jump on her car.
What is PTSD now called?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is still clinically and commonly known as PTSD, however certain veteran organizations and the Pentagon have dropped the “D” and simply refer to it as post-traumatic stress. This has been done to encourage veterans who may have experienced trauma not to avoid treatment due to the stigma associated with the word “disorder”.
What are two common stigmas associated with mental illness?
The two most common stigmas associated with mental health conditions are:
- Mental health conditions are something that can be avoided through willpower, though the truth is that very often a combination of brain chemistry, environmental factors, and genetics are heavily involved
- Mental health conditions are impossible or difficult to overcome. Actually, most mental health disorders are effectively treated with therapy alone, or a combination of therapy and prescription medications.
What is the funny name for PTSD?
There is not a funny term used for PTSD; however, the acronym PTSD is often used for comical effect. Some people casually use the term “PTSD” to mean simply “a difficult experience”. For example: “I totally have PTSD now from the fact they didn’t serve mimosas at brunch.” This kind of trivial use can be frustrating to professionals and mental health advocates, as it misrepresents a very real problem for many people.
- Previous Article
- Next Article