What is PTSD?

PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. People with PTSD can feel anxious, scared, or nervous when they’re reminded about something terrifying that happened in the past. It might be something that happened to them or something that they saw happen to someone else.

Types of Traumatic Events

• Death of a loved one

• A natural disaster

• War

• Seeing violence

• Abuse or neglect

• Serious accident

• Being taken away from home

• Bullying

• Serious illness

• Family member in jail

  Symptoms

• Feeling really uncomfortable when something reminds of the event

• Not wanting to be around anything or anyone that reminds you of what happened

• Having flashbacks or nightmares about the event

• Having strong body reactions when you’re reminded about the event (shaking, sweating, fast breathing, upset stomping, fast heartbeat, etc.)

• Having feelings of fear, anger, worry, guilt, hopelessness about the event

  Treating PTSD

  MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY

  Working with a therapist can help someone with PTSD learn how to cope with the symptoms, a therapist can help them learn different ways to calm their body (rewire the nervous system essentially) when reminded about the event during therapy sessions. (It is beneficial to track the symptoms as they occur) A person can also learn how to talk about the event and change their thoughts so they can cope with the PTSD feelings that occur.

  MEDICATION

  There are many different types of medication that are helpful for PTSD. Medication might not always be needed, but it can help someone feel happier and less worried about what happened.

PTSD CAN SOMETIMES MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY WANT TO HURT THEMSELVES. IF YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE EVER HAVE THOSE FEELINGS OR THOUGHTS TELL AN ADULT OR TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY. ITS OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP, YOU ARE NOT ALONE & YOU ARE LOVED. IT DOES NOT MAKE YOU WEAK TO ASK FOR HELP.