Things You Need to Understand About PTSD, And Why You Should Stop Using the Term Casually

Guest Blog by Emily Alvarez

PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a serious mental health condition that affects millions of people the United States.

Saying that you have PTSD over a show or video game or something else trivial is not the right way to be using the term. Before you go on using the term for something inconsequential that happens, here are some facts to look over.

Here’s the definition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the Mayo Clinic:

1. PTSD can be caused by a traumatic event or events such as combat, sexual abuse and assault, disaster, or witnessing something horrific such as death.

2. PTSD symptoms can include: flashbacks/bad dreams, emotional numbness, intense guilt or worry, angry outbursts, feeling “on edge,” or avoiding thoughts and situations relating to the trauma.

3. Without treatment, PTSD can last for a very long time, sometimes the rest of someone’s life. 

4. Approximately 8% of the population of the United States live with from PTSD. That’s 24.4 MILLION people!

5. It is estimated that 1 in every 5 personnel return with PTSD (veterans of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan).

6. There are more veteran suicides than there are combat deaths.

7. Veterans accounts of 20% of the total number of suicides in America.

Using the term PTSD casually or off-handedly can devalue the challenges and struggles that those who live with PTSD face daily. And when someone is devalued, their self-esteem is trashed and can lead to some very bad consequences. Please honor all of those who suffer from PTSD and choose and use your words wisely.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

If you would like to learn more about PTSD and ways you can support people living with PTSD, please visit http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

For resources on mental health or to look at any of our programs and how they can help, please visit our website at www.carsonjspencer.org

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Emily Alvarez is the Administrative Assistant at the Carson J Spencer Foundation. She enjoys reading good books, writing awesome posts, and working in suicide prevention. Originally from California, she fully embraces being a Coloradoan. She has her Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from San Jose State University.