At some point, we’ve heard things about PTSD that are incorrect. But somehow, these misconceptions and myths keep spreading. We often see people categorizing every trauma they go through as PTSD, which is wrong because not every trauma develops to PTSD. Studies show that about 7–8% of the population will have PTSD at some point in their lives. So, it’s best to learn about the myths and facts about PTSD.
Myth 1: Everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD
Fact:
Not every trauma leads to PTSD. The fact is that people react to trauma differently. In contrast, for some people, all the trauma they experience may be short-term, eg, Insomnia, depression, and anxiety, just a few amounts of people, will develop PTSD. Studies show that only 6.8% of American adults will develop lifelong PTSD after a traumatic experience.
Myth 2: People with PTSD are violent
Fact:
People with PTSD are likely to be irritable, but violence is not a common reaction. Reminiscing can cause distress that will make the patients react in diverse ways; from being restless to acting withdrawn, to acting fearful, it’s only on rare cases that you’ll see some of them displaying violence, but it’s not a general reaction. Data shows that the prevalence of violence among individuals with PTSD is 7.5% in the US population.
Myth 3: Everyone with PTSD experiences the same symptoms
Fact:
The symptoms of PTSD can happen in different forms, depending on the individual. Some of these symptoms include; avoidance, reliving the trauma, negative thoughts, and moods. The symptoms an individual experiences largely depends on their trauma.
Myth 4: Only military veterans experience PTSD
Fact:
This is a misconception people have about PTSD because of the war situations military veterans were exposed to in battle. But it’s also common to develop trauma from rape, death of loved ones, accidents, fire outbreaks, terrorist attacks, etc., which can later lead to PTSD. So, PTSD is not in any way limited to military veterans.
Myth 5: PTSD is a sign of weakness
Fact:
Would you say military veterans are weak? The truth is PTSD is not related to weakness in any way or any character flaw. You get PTSD from a dreadful experience or as a result of lasting effects of trauma. PTSD is not something that happens by choice, but rather from unplanned circumstances.
Myth 6: If PTSD happened a long time ago, you’d get over it
Fact:
This is just another excuse people have made to avoid the gruesome task of revisiting their traumatic episodes. PTSD doesn’t just go away itself; you have to work through the trauma to ensure that you live a life free of fear and anxiety. And seeking support from a professional helps the patient get to this point.
Myth 7: PTSD is not treatable
Fact:
Because of how persistent PTSD is, people conclude that it’s not treatable, but this is incorrect. Presently, there are several PTSD natural treatments, including:
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Family therapy
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, among others.
At Intensive Therapy Retreats, we understand that PTSD is a severe challenge that occurs for people who survive traumatic events; that’s why we utilize effective methods to treat PTSD to give our patients a happy life, free of the adverse effects from horrific circumstances. If you know someone struggling with PTSD, contact us here.
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