Veterans Crisis Hotline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) press 1 for emotional crisis support text to 838255 or chat online at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Resources and Information
What Is PTSD?
PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.
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It's normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event. At first, it may be hard to do normal daily activities, like go to work, go to school, or spend time with people you care about. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months.
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If it's been longer than a few months and you're still having symptoms, you may have PTSD. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later on, or they may come and go over time.
Avoidance symptoms are what keeps the cycle of PTSD going. Two ways people try to avoid the reminders of the trauma are try to push away the memories, thoughts and feelings and to avoid situations, people, places and events that remind them of the traumatic event.
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While avoiding trauma related thoughts/situations works in the short term to reduce the anxiety, it actually reinforces your response and prevents you from getting better.
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Avoidance is the enemy of PTSD recovery.
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"Everyone does the best job they are capable of doing at that time, in that situation." -Dr. Patrick Little
"My time in uniform is over but my watch never ends."
PTSD IS TREATABLE!!!
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- Treatable by a medical professional
- Medium-term: resolves within months
- Requires a medical diagnosis
- Lab tests or imaging not required
www.lonesurvivorfoundation.org
Resources and retreats for military families
Resources for military and families
PTSD Decision Aid
Link to site to help you find and explore treatment options
PTSD Websites
Here are some facts (based on the U.S. population):
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About 7 or 8 out of every 100 people (or 7-8% of the population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
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About 8 million adults have PTSD during a given year. This is only a small portion of those who have gone through a trauma.
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About 10 of every 100 women (or 10%) develop PTSD sometime in their lives compared with about 4 of every 100 men (or 4%)
Nightmares/distressing dreams
Flashbacks
Intrusive Thoughts
Physiological/Psychological reactivity from triggers
Irritability
Trouble Falling/Staying Asleep
Concentration Difficulty
Exaggerated startle response
Hypervigilance
PTSD Symptoms
De-stressing Tips
1. Practice being quiet
and still.
2. Relax and breathe
deep.
3. Learn to plan
4. Recognize Limits
5. Learn to play
6. Exercise
7. Talk out your
trouble
8. Change your
thinking
9. Learn to tolerate
and forgive
10. Avoid
Unnecessary
competition
11. Be a mostly
positive person
12. Learn a drug free
way to relax.
PTSD Screening Questionnaire
"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." -Dr. Wright