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The Realities of PTSD

  • Writer: officialjustmed
    officialjustmed
  • Apr 22, 2023
  • 3 min read

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental health condition caused by a traumatizing event in one’s lifetime. This condition may bring back intense memories of this trauma, leading to strong emotional and physical reactions. Like many other mental health conditions, PTSD is often misunderstood and there is some prejudice attached to it. Additionally, this condition is much more common than people think where over three million people are diagnosed with PTSD every year in the U.S. That is why we will be bringing more attention and awareness to this condition and informing people more about PTSD. We will also be discussing ways you can help someone with PTSD and giving additional resources to those who may have this condition.


Causes and Symptoms of PTSD

There are many different causes for PTSD. Oftentimes, many harmful or life-threatening events can lead to PTSD. Some common causes include involvement in a car crash, sexual assault or abuse, getting kidnapped, fighting in war, losing a loved one, and much more. As you may see, many of these events can be traumatizing to an individual and it would be difficult to recover from such events. This trauma is what leads to PTSD as memories of these events can lead to intense emotional and physical reactions.



PTSD comes with many symptoms which can often disrupt one’s daily life. Some people may receive recurrent intrusive memories or flashbacks, forcing them to relive the event. Some may also receive nightmares about it or have distressful reactions to something that reminds them of that event. Some people also often avoid thinking about the event, even avoiding places, activities, or people that may remind them of it. People with PTSD also will experience negative changes in their feelings and emotion, often leading to depression or anxiety. Some may also experience changes in physical and emotional reactions. They may be easily startled, constantly paranoid, more aggressive, or feel intense guilt or shame. The intensity of PTSD symptoms can vary. Symptoms may be more intense when someone is under stress whereas they may be less intense when they are relaxed. Either way, PTSD is a serious issue that can become problematic in one’s daily life.


The Stigma of PTSD

The stigma associated with PTSD is very prevalent in our world and there are many myths that must be addressed.

Firstly, many people believe that PTSD does not even exist and it is just in your head. This is completely false, PTSD is a mental health condition that has been studied for many years and it is very much a real thing! Saying that PTSD is not a real condition is incredibly offensive to those who have PTSD, especially when they are trying to recover.

Another myth is that you should be able to move on after a traumatic event. However, this is not necessarily the case. Moving on from something traumatic is easier said than done. Remember, PTSD is a medical condition and you cannot control strong emotions. People simply deal with the condition as best they can. So, simply moving on from some sort of trauma is not entirely possible.

Some people also believed that people with PTSD simply cannot function in life, but this also is not true. Yes, PTSD can interfere with daily life, but, with the right support, consultation, and medication, people with PTSD can enjoy life just like everyone else. So, people with PTSD can function perfectly fine with the right amount of support!

There are many other myths that are associated with PTSD so it is important to raise awareness about this mental condition and educate more and more people about it.


Getting Help

There are so many ways we can help people with PTSD. Simply just being there for them and supporting them can go a long way. Encouraging them to seek a professional can also help them as well. Additionally, there are some resources to help people with PTSD, here are a few of them:


National Center for PTSD: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/




Sidran Institute: https://www.sidran.org/


As you can see, PTSD is a serious mental health condition that is very problematic for many people, often affecting their daily lives. That is why it is important to educate people about the realities of PTSD and how it can affect people. If you know someone with PTSD, we encourage you to support them and be there for them. As for those of you who have PTSD, you are not alone and there are people who love and support you. To end off, for more information, please check the resources given above and hopefully you have learned something new about this widely misunderstood mental condition.


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