Understanding PTSD

By:Nida Azeemi

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition many individuals may face after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. It’s important to understand this condition because it significantly impacts a person’s life, and it’s important to be able to properly support them. 

There are a few key symptoms of PTSD, an individual often relives the trauma through nightmares or flashbacks, and may experience isolation, guilt, etc. An individual might also face difficult sleeping and concentrating. As mentioned before, these symptoms can heavily impact a person’s daily life. There are many situations which can cause post-traumatic stress disorder. A few being, road accidents, violent assaults, mugging or robbery, health problems, childbirth experiences, etc. There are a lot more instances which can cause PTSD, but these are a few notable ones. PTSD doesn’t always develop immediately after a traumatic event, sometimes it can take months or even years to develop. Post-traumatic stress disorder affects 1 in 3 people who undergo a traumatic experience, and it’s not exactly clear what causes some to develop the condition and some to not develop the condition. 

It’s normal to have upsetting thoughts after going through something stressful, and most people naturally improve after some time. It’s important to know when one should seek a doctor if they’re still having problems. If disturbing thoughts or feelings persist a month after the traumatic event then it’s recommended to speak to a healthcare professional, such as a psychologist, a clinical social worker, or a licensed mental health counselor. Getting treatment as soon as possible is necessary to prevent symptoms from getting more severe. Speaking of the treatment of PTSD, it’s important to recognize that it’s possible for PTSD to be treated even if it develops years later. The type of treatment is based on the severity of the symptoms and soon they occur. Some options include: monitoring symptoms, antidepressants, and talking therapies. 

There is unacceptable stigma surrounding mental health in general, and more specifically PTSD. The stigma is a result of lack of education and awareness regarding PTSD, and it places the blame on the victims themselves. To break the stigma, healthcare has been working on recognizing the impact of trauma and the symptoms of PTSD. Breaking the stigma requires compassion, avoiding judgement, understanding patients, etc. in healthcare. Language is one of the key factors to reduce the stigma due the effect hurtful and insulting words can have. Being educated is also incredibly important to breaking down the stigma, and as more and more people understand mental conditions such as PTSD, more individuals can get the support they need. 

Works Cited

Addressing the Stigmas of PTSD, IU Health, 24 June 2022, https://iuhealth.org/thrive/addressing-the-stigmas-of-ptsd. Accessed 29 May 2025.

“Overview - Post-traumatic stress disorder.” NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/overview/. Accessed 29 May 2025.

“Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - Symptoms and causes.” Mayo Clinic, 16 August 2024, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967. Accessed 29 May 2025.