Friday #MentalHealth #MythBuster: PTSD Occurs Immediately After A Traumatic Event

#PTSD: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

#PTSD typically occurs within several days following a traumatic event, however PTSD can also arise years after a traumatic event has occured

#PTSD does not have a time limit on how long symptoms may last though they must persist for a duration of time to qualify as PTSD

#PTSD occurs when a person has witnessed or experienced an event(s) that included actual or threatened harm, death or injury to that person or others

#PTSD occurs when the person's response involves intense fear, helplessness or terror

#PTSD arises when the horrifying event is re-experienced in repetitive images, perceptions, flashbacks

#PTSD affects a person's sleep pattern including experiencing recurrent dreams, nightmares

#Particularly when a person experiences PTSD they may avoid thoughts, discussions about the traumatic event(s)

#People with PTSD will make concerted efforts to avoid people, places and events that remind them of the trauma

#There are supportive psychological therapies to effectively treat it

Visit CONNECTIONS on our blog for where to access supportive services

Asha, Licensed Mental Health Specialist