Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
What is PTSD?
Is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after an individual has gone through extreme emotional trauma for example the threat of injury or death.
How Common is PTSD?
PTSD can occur after you have been through trauma of some sort. Trauma is a shocking event that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event you think that your life or others' lives are in danger.
During traumatic events an individual will most likely feel:
Although, going through trauma isn't rare...
Statistics have shown that 6/10 (60%) men and 5/10 (50%) women experience at least one trauma in their life.
Women and Men are both prone to varied traumatic events; for example, females are more likely to experience traumatic events such as sexual assault or child/sexual abuse. While men are more prone to experiencing accidents such as physical assault, combat, disaster, or witnessing death/injury.
With the large percentage of both women and men experiencing at least traumatic event in their lives, they are prone to developing PTSD.
During traumatic events an individual will most likely feel:
- Afraid
- Lack of Self Control
- Increase in Heart Rate
- Hostile Behaviour
- Hyperventilation
- Paranoia
Although, going through trauma isn't rare...
Statistics have shown that 6/10 (60%) men and 5/10 (50%) women experience at least one trauma in their life.
Women and Men are both prone to varied traumatic events; for example, females are more likely to experience traumatic events such as sexual assault or child/sexual abuse. While men are more prone to experiencing accidents such as physical assault, combat, disaster, or witnessing death/injury.
With the large percentage of both women and men experiencing at least traumatic event in their lives, they are prone to developing PTSD.
- About 7 to 8 out of every 100 people will most likely develop PTSD at any point in their lives.
- Approximately 5.2 million adults have developed PTSD within a year.
- Comparing both genders, about 10 out of every 100 women will develop PTSD in their lives compared to males, 4 out of every 100 men will develop PTSD.
Who is most likely to develop PTSD?
Although most people will endure traumatic events, they have the possibility of not developing PTSD, but an individual is more likely to develop PTSD if they've had experience such as:
- Direct exposure to trauma as a witness or victim
- Endured massive injury during an event
- Went through a trauma that was long-lasting or very severe
- Have tendencies of paranoia and feeling in-danger
- Believed that friends or family are in threat of harm
- Had severe reaction during an event, such as crying, shaking, vomiting, and much more
- Feeling of helplessness, unable to help yourself or a loved one
PTSD and the Military
As a military personnel, an individual is almost certain to face combat situations. A soldier for example, may be exposed to horrible and life-threatening experiences. An military individual may be shot, see a comrade injured, or even death. Theses type of examples can lead to many in the military service developing PTSD.
To continue further, Veterans who have served will possibly develop PTSD, and it has even varied by service era:
To continue further, Veterans who have served will possibly develop PTSD, and it has even varied by service era:
- Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) / Enduring Freedom (OEF):
- Gulf War (Desert Storm):
- Vietnam War:
Other factors in combat situation have the ability to increase the level of stress in already tense events. These stressful situations can contribute greatly for individual developing PTSD and other mental health problems in the future.
Factors such as actions an individual makes in war, the politics around the war, where the location of the war is fought, and the type of enemy can triggered multiple mental health issues later on.
Another cause of diagnosed PTSD within the Military is MST or military sexual trauma. This could be any form of sexual harassment or sexual assault that occurs while an individual is active in military service. MST can happen with both men and women, and forms of MST can occur during peacetime, training, or in war.
Among the Veterans who have served as of now:
Factors such as actions an individual makes in war, the politics around the war, where the location of the war is fought, and the type of enemy can triggered multiple mental health issues later on.
Another cause of diagnosed PTSD within the Military is MST or military sexual trauma. This could be any form of sexual harassment or sexual assault that occurs while an individual is active in military service. MST can happen with both men and women, and forms of MST can occur during peacetime, training, or in war.
Among the Veterans who have served as of now:
- 23 per 100 females have reported sexual assault within Military service
- 55 per 100 women and 38 per 100 men have experienced sexual harassment when in the Military.