June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, an important reminder to check in on your mental health. PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing trauma. Symptoms may appear shortly after an event or months later and can interfere with work, relationships, sleep, and daily life.
“PTSD is often misunderstood as it is generally thought to be both under- and overdiagnosed,” said Molly E. Gabriel-Champine, PhD, LP, Behavioral Health Academic Program Director, McLaren Flint Internal Medicine Residency Program. “Meeting the clinical criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder is quite challenging, and frequently those with full clinical PTSD do not seek out services and go untreated for years. However, many experience trauma, and utilizing the common term ‘PTSD’ is very common but may not actually be indicative of the same clinical diagnosis.”
While it is normal to experience some symptoms of PTSD after a traumatic event, PTSD itself is a separate condition.
“We would still recommend that therapy, support from family and friends, taking care of oneself, and potentially medications, may all be good options for either individuals with full PTSD, or those coping with other responses to trauma,” said Dr. Gabriel-Champine.
Research tells us that those most at risk of later developing PTSD are those who experience interpersonal trauma, such as sexual assault victims and combat veterans, compared with “Acts of God” or random trauma, such as an earthquake or a fire. PTSD can also develop through secondary trauma, such as witnessing or hearing about traumatic events. This type is common among healthcare workers.
Symptoms that could indicate you or your loved one is experiencing PTSD include hypervigilance, sleep disturbances, nightmares, flashbacks, heightened irritability, memory changes, anxiety, and depression, as well as avoidance and/or preoccupation with things that remind you of the trauma or events.
“When any of these symptoms interfere with typical daily life, it’s time to reach out for professional help,” said Dr. Gabriel-Champine. “If it’s hard to concentrate at work or school, relate to loved ones, or visit places you once visited, then it’s time to seek treatment.”
PTSD can be difficult to diagnose because it overlaps with many other mental health conditions. It can also have a delayed onset, making it hard to pinpoint a specific past event as the cause. Whether it’s PTSD or another mental health condition, it’s important to seek help so treatment can be tailored to your diagnosis. Only a licensed mental health professional can accurately diagnose PTSD.
The best way to help yourself after a traumatic event is to recognize that it’s normal to have a reaction to trauma. While this doesn’t necessarily mean you have PTSD, it’s typically normal to feel reactive. According to the American Psychiatric Association, it’s common for people to experience some symptoms of PTSD in the days and weeks following a potentially traumatic event. But many of them will spontaneously recover. Therefore, PTSD cannot be diagnosed unless symptoms persist for at least a month.
“Our brains are very good at processing day-to-day stressors, but we have less of a script for dealing with trauma,” said Dr. Gabriel-Champine. “A lot of the time, if we give ourselves grace, allow ourselves to sleep, focus on the simple things (eating well, being around supportive people, avoiding alcohol/substances), and allow ourselves to experience some of those normal emotions, most individuals do well in the long run. And therapy can be a great way to assist you in getting there, with someone who is trained to help.”
McLaren Outpatient Behavioral Health Services at Oak Bridge are available to individuals and families struggling with depression, anxiety, stress-related problems, and other mental health issues. Specialists provide counseling to meet the unique needs of children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Partial hospitalization programs are available for adolescents and adults. For more information, contact (810) 342-5337.
McLaren Flint Family Medicine Residency Group also has behavioral medicine specialists who provide mental health care and management to help patients manage common mental health conditions, chronic stress, sleep problems, and smoking and alcohol cessation. For more information, contact (810) 342-5656.