Just a reminder that we all have the freedom today to be off of work, sleep in, enjoy family, travel, head to the beach or camping, hiking, resting, relaxing, go to the movies, run, walk, hike, play/lay at the pool, have a BBQ etc. We have this freedom because of the many men and women who fought and are fighting for our great Country. Many of these people come back from battle with injuries and many come back with haunting memories… even depression, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. According to ptsdunited.org an estimated 8% of Americans − 24.4 million people − have PTSD at any given time. That is equal to the total population of Texas. An estimated one out of every nine women develops PTSD, making them about twice as likely as men.
Although we tend to think of armed men and women battling PTSD there are many others who have past trauma (abuse, witnesses to an accident, etc) that causes this disorder. So what are the signs?
According to the American Psychological Association they are as follows:
> Avoiding place and people that remind them of the event.
> Persistent fear of the event(s).
> Repeated flashbacks and memories.
> Feeling detached from others.
> Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
> Outburst of anger.
There are many treatments for PTSD from Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to medications.
On this day… Memorial Day 2017 if you or someone you know is experiencing the symptoms of this disorder PTSD please reach out and get the help you need. I have had the privilege over the past years of working with many individuals working to manage and overcome this disorder.
On this day we celebrate those who serve. Why not serve them by helping them take the first step to emotional and psychological health?
Please contact me. travis@travisdalecounseling.com
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