Part 2 of 3
Welcome back to Savyn’s blog! Today we are diving into the second part of our series on the common myths associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In this article, we will focus on the misconceptions surrounding people with PTSD.
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our previous post on the “Big Myths” surrounding PTSD here.
Myth One: People with PTSD are always sad
Having PTSD doesn’t mean that you are always sad and down. Sadness is a normal part of the human experience that comes and goes when facing difficult life events. However, people with PTSD can experience more intense versions of these emotions, onset by flashbacks to the traumatic event or seeing something in their lives that reminds them of the event.
The effects of PTSD are harder to detect and may be mistaken for other mental health conditions such as depression. If you would like to know more about the differences between PTSD and depression (and the signs you have both) check out this article here.
It is likely that you have interacted with people having PTSD without knowing that they have had PTSD, as there isn’t one shared symptom for PTSD It also isn’t correct to assume that everyone displaying sadness towards a specific traumatic experience has PTSD.
Myth Two: Experiencing PTSD is a sign of "weakness"
PTSD stems from traumatic experiences and events, meaning that the condition is highly individualized and can greatly vary in severity. If two people experience a similar event, one may be okay after a few weeks, while the other may take years to cope with it. This does not mean the second person is any “weaker” than the first.
Much like other mental health conditions, PTSD is not something that occurs only in a specific group of people. The factors that contribute to whether or not someone develops PTSD are complex, and in many situations, are completely unrelated to one's mental health resilience. The impact of a traumatic event could be amplified by past issues or other negative experiences. Genetic factors (which are unchangeable) have also been shown to have an impact on the development of PTSD as well.
Ultimately, many factors contribute to someone developing PTSD which are not within the person’s control. It would be unfair to think that those with PTSD are “weaker” than the average person. In fact, the day-to-day challenges and emotions that they experience require a resilient mindset to help fight and overcome their symptoms. Seeking treatment for PTSD does not mean admitting defeat; it means seeking the necessary treatment for an important health condition helping them to live their best life.
We at Savyn hope this blog post has cleared up some of the common myths surrounding PTSD. Keep an eye out for the final instalment of our PTSD Demystified blog series!
To learn more about PTSD and how to manage various symptoms sign up here!
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