Yesterday was National PTSD Day, a day for the country to gain awareness about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is a problem for SO many people (including myself), and it is very misunderstood.
Part of the problem is that the media doesn't it, and television writers don't take the time to check their facts. PTSD is the new buzzword, everyone wants to use it, but no one wants to take the time to learn about it. The cop dramas are the worst. For example, I was watching a show a couple of months ago and the police officer was quoted as saying " I showed up to the victim's house and she was showing signs of PTSD..."
Well, the victim had just been raped, she couldn't be showing signs of PTSD! PTSD is POST traumatic stress disorder. You can't be diagnosed unless the event is at least 30 days in the past. From day 1-29 it is ACUTE stress disorder. To learn this all anyone has to do is pick up the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, aka the Bible for psychologists and therapists) and look it up. Takes less than 5 minutes.
I know this is a small thing, but learning what PTSD really is is important. By learning about it we can learn how to help people, we can learn how to cope, and we just become better informed citizens.
-JLP-
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