In this part . . .
Chapter 1
The Invisible Epidemic of PTSD
In This Chapter
Tracing the history of PTSD
Counting the number of people PTSD affects
Recognizing the most common causes of PTSD
Adding up PTSDâs cost to society
You jump out of your skin if you hear a police siren or a car backfiring. You wake up screaming after terrible nightmares. You feel cut off from your life and the people around you, and youâre angry or sad all the time. Worst of all, you experience moments of sheer terror when your mind pulls you out of the present and drags you into a horrifying time in your past.
If you suffer from symptoms like these, you probably feel very much alone â but in reality, you arenât. Instead, youâre likely one of millions of people around the world who suffer from a disorder called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
If so, youâre facing a problem as old as humankind. The difference between the past and now, as you discover in this book, is that for todayâs PTSD sufferers, effective help for this pain is available. In the chapters that follow, I talk about the many ways to treat PTSD and explain why you can be very optimistic about your future.
As you begin your journey into a better tomorrow, itâs a good idea to gain a little knowledge about the adversary youâre facing. In this chapter, I take a quick look at what PTSD is, as well as why treating this disorder is crucial. I also offer an overview of the history of PTSD as a diagnosis and explain how peopleâs understanding of this disorder has evolved over time. Next, I talk about the numbers of people (both adults and children) affected by PTSD, as well as the many types of traumatic experiences that can set PTSD in motion. In addition, I look at the toll PTSD takes not just on each individual sufferer but also on society as a whole.
The Diagnosis of PTSD: A Serious Matter That Requires Serious Intervention
PTSD is a major, life-altering disorder that strikes many people who survive traumatic experiences. I use the phrase invisible epidemic to describe this disorder because it affects millions of people of every age and in every walk of life, and many of them suffer alone and in silence. They feel scared, anxious, and isolated from the rest of the world â and they feel like no one can understand what theyâre going through.
To a casual observer, these people often seem to be doing just fine. But in reality, theyâre battling devastating symptoms that, if left untreated, make it difficult or impossible for them to hold down jobs, have meaningful relationships, or achieve their goals and dreams.
PTSD short-circuits peopleâs lives by causing disabling symptoms that include a hyper-alert nervous system, numbness and detachment, and intrusive thoughts or flashbacks about the trauma (see Chapter 3 for an in-depth discussion of these problems). Living with these symptoms is a huge challenge, made even bigger by the fact that other problems such as depression or substance abuse often come along for the ride (another topic I cover in Chapter 3). People with complex PTSD, which stems from multiple traumas, may develop an even wider range of severe problems, including dangerous and self-destructive behaviors (see Chapter 2).
Getting treatment if you have PTSD is crucial because this disorder doesnât simply go away on its own. Unlike the normal, temporary stress symptoms that often occur after a life crisis, PTSD involves profound biochemical and psychological changes that cause the toxic memories of a trauma to remain strong instead of fading. (See Chapter 2 for more on the differences between normal stress responses and PTSD.) As a result, people with PTSD become trapped in their trauma, unable to process what happened and move on with their lives. In addition, untreated PTSD often leads to secondary wounding (a topic I cover in Chapter 8) because the problems caused by PTSD can lead to broken relationships, lost jobs, and other new traumas.
The good news â and itâs very good news indeed â is that PTSD is highly treatable, and the vast majority of people with this disorder gain freedom from the disabling symptoms and get control of their lives again. In Chapters 8 through 10, I describe the wide range of treatments doctors and therapists now have to help adults with this disorder, and in Chapter 13, I look at interventions that can benefit children and teens. In addition, as I explain in Chapter 12, you can combine therapy with self-help steps that boost your healing power. So take heart: If youâre in the depths of PTSD right now, the solutions are within your reach.
A Little Background on PTSD
PTSD is an age-old problem, but in a sense, itâs also a new disorder because professionals are still learning about its causes, symptoms, and treatment.
As I explain in Chapter 2, PTSD can stem from any type of traumatic experience. However, much of the current knowledge about PTSD comes from one particular source â the military â for an obvious reason: ...
