NEWBERRY — Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD, can happen to anyone who goes through a traumatic event — sexual abuse as a child, physical abuse, a terrorist attack, a natural disaster — but most people associate it with military personnel who have been exposed to combat.
David Parnell with Veteran’s Affairs in Newberry County estimates that about 25 percent of Newberry County veterans suffer from PTSD.
“I know the newer ones coming back are being diagnosed while on active duty. They have recognized now that PTSD is an issue, so they have gone ahead and started trying to recognize this in the active duty soldiers,” he said. “They are finding now as the Vietnam veteran era soldiers, those guys are actually being diagnosed now, because they are starting to retire, they have more free time on their hands and they stop and think, where before they continued to work through it.”
To bring more awareness to PTSD, June 27 was designated as PTSD Awareness Day by the U.S. Senate in 2010. June has also been designated as PTSD Awareness Month by the National Center for PTSD.
So, what is PTSD?
According to the NCPTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder can occur after a person goes through a traumatic event — something terrible and scary that a person sees, hears about or experiences. In addition to the events listed in the opening paragraph, this can also include sexual or physical assault or a serious accident.
During a traumatic event, a person thinks that his or her life or the lives of others are in danger. A person might feel afraid or feel that he has no control over what is happening. Most people have some stress related reactions after a traumatic event but not everyone suffers from PTSD. It is not clear why some people develop PTSD and others do not.
PTSD has four types of symptoms: reliving the event, avoiding situations that remind you of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings, and feeling keyed up.
People who suffer from PTSD can also have other issues including feeling hopeless, shame or despair, depression or anxiety, drinking or drug problems, physical symptoms or chronic pain, and employment and relationship problems.
The NCPTSD states that seven or eight of every 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
Those most likely to develop PTSD are those directly exposed to the trauma as a victim or a witness, those hurt during an event, individuals who went through a long-lasting trauma, believed they were in danger or that a family member was in danger, had a severe reaction during an event or felt helpless.
People who had an earlier life threatening event, have mental health problems or family with mental health problems, or have little support from family or friends can also develop PTSD as can those who have recently lost a loved one or experienced stressful life changes.
People who consume a lot of alcohol, are female, are poorly educated and are young are also at a heightened risk.
The number of veterans who suffer from PTSD is also higher than the national average.
Of the veterans involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, 11 to 20 of every 100 who served have PTSD. About 15 of every 100 Vietnam veterans are currently diagnosed with PTSD and it is estimated that 30 of every 100 Vietnam veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime.
Parnell said triggers — sights, sounds or smells — vary from person to person.
“In my case, if I smell diesel fuel it triggers it in me. So I try and stay away from getting behind buses that are diesel buses, and not getting behind tractor trailer trucks that blow out diesel fuel,” he said.
While PTSD is mostly associated with veterans, anyone can suffer from the disorder.
Parnell said he is working with two veterans who were involved in wrecks, one with a military vehicle and the other with a civilian vehicle.
In the military accident, a child died and the veteran still sees that event even though it has been about 15 years since it happened.
Some PTSD treatments include medications and psychotherapy such as Cognitive Processing Therapy where a person learns skills to understand how trauma changed his or her thoughts and feelings, and Prolonged Exposure Therapy where a person will talk about the trauma repeatedly until the memories are no longer upsetting.
Parnell said he has seen treatments that involve having the veterans write out their experiences, something his uncle did after serving in World War II.