PTSD Awareness

Information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that is caused by a traumatic experience in a person’s life, such as military combat, sexual abuse, or car accidents. Some may experience and have symptoms that include flashbacks of the traumatic event, fighting thoughts, and bad dreams.

PTSD can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of weakness. Several factors can increase the chance that someone will develop PTSD, many of which are not under that person’s control. For example, if you were directly exposed to trauma or injured, you are more likely to develop PTSD.

How Common is PTSD?

The following statistics are based on the U.S. population:

About 7 or 8 out of every 100 people (or 7-8% of the population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
About 8 million adults have PTSD during a given year. This is only a small portion of those who have gone through a trauma.
About 10 of every 100 women (or 10%) develop PTSD sometime in their lives compared with about 4 of every 100 men (or 4%).

Substance Abuse and Co-occurring PTSD

People seeking treatment for PTSD are 14 times more likely to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD). Attempting to self-medicate can be a cause of why many people with PTSD also use substances. When alcohol or drugs are used to manage PTSD symptoms, the symptoms of the disorder only become more severe. As a central nervous system depressant, alcohol and opiates can worsen depression and anxiety and interfere with normal sleep patterns.

Treatment of PTSD

Even though PTSD treatments work, most people who have PTSD don’t get the help they need. June is PTSD Awareness Month. Please help us spread the word that effective PTSD treatments are available. Everyone with PTSD—whether they are Veterans or civilian survivors of sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, or other traumatic events—needs to know that treatments do work and can lead to a better quality of life.