Health & Fitness
Palos Community Hospital offers mental self-assessments to mark PTSD Awareness Month
Depression affects more than half the people diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, according to a recent study published in the June edition of the Journal of Traumatic Stress.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University looked at 57 studies, which included more than 6,600 civilians and military personnel who suffered from PTSD, an anxiety disorder some people develop after seeing or living through a dangerous event. The conclusion was that 52 percent of participants also showed symptoms of depression.
June is National PTSD Awareness Month and Thursday, June 20, is PTSD Screening Day. The National Center for PTSD reports about 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience at least one traumatic event. Of those, about 8 percent of men and 20 percent of women will develop PTSD.
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When in danger, it's natural to feel afraid. This fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to prepare to defend against the danger or to avoid it.
The "fight-or-flight" response is a healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. But in PTSD, this reaction is changed or damaged. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they're no longer in danger.
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While it is normal for most people to have some stress reactions after a traumatic event, if these reactions do not go away for a period of time, or if they significantly disrupt a person’s life, it may be a sign of PTSD.
Some of the symptoms of PTSD include experiencing flashbacks, frightening thoughts, avoidance of a place or event that are reminders of an experience, feelings of guilt or depression, and being easily startled or “on edge.”
Some people with PTSD don’t show symptoms for weeks or months. Behavioral Health Services at Palos Community Hospital offers an anonymous self-assessment at http://bit.ly/PTSDscreen.
Palos Community Hospital offers a full continuum of Behavioral Health Services. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/behavhealth.
