June is PTSD Awareness Month. During this month, organizations hope to bring more light to the problem of post-traumatic stress disorder. Plus, these groups want to encourage people who need trauma therapy to seek help. Because addiction often accompanies PTSD, many people may require both support for overcoming the addiction and for battling the effects of trauma in their lives. At Baltimore Detox Center, our team provides support to ease the symptoms of PTSD.
What is PTSD?
PTSD, an abbreviation for post-traumatic stress disorder, is a severe effect of trauma in someone’s life. Not everyone who needs therapy for trauma has PTSD. Additionally, not everyone who goes through traumatic experiences will require therapy. However, for those with PTSD, getting treatment can be lifesaving.
PTSD has several symptoms that make the condition disruptive to individuals. These symptoms include the following:
- Nightmares or night terrors
- Inability to sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Flashbacks of the trauma
- Irritability or anger
- Severe reactions to reminders of the trauma
- Isolation
Unfortunately, not everyone who has PTSD seeks treatment. However, those who seek help can find relief and a way to heal their lives.
When Is PTSD Awareness Month?
While PTSD Awareness Month happens throughout June, the 27th of the month is PTSD Awareness Day. Commemoration of the day to bring awareness to the problem of PTSD in people’s lives predates the month. With a full month to spend raising awareness and reducing the stigma of those who have PTSD, organizations can reach more people.
Whether marked on a single day or a full month, PTSD awareness does not need a specific time of the year to be important. Without treatment, PTSD can cause loss of work productivity, substance abuse, relationship problems, depression, and suicide.
For those who have PTSD, suffering often occurs in silence. The condition tends to isolate individuals who feel afraid of triggering events or that others don’t understand their trauma. While often associated with war veterans, anyone can develop PTSD after a single traumatic event or following years of trauma. Help through psychotherapy, addiction recovery, or dual diagnosis treatment programs could help those with PTSD to restore their lives. But to get on the road to healing, those who have PTSD should reach out for help.
What Can People Do to Raise Awareness For PTSD?
During PTSD Awareness Month, everyone can contribute, even in small ways. For instance, each person can learn more about the symptoms of PTSD. They can share this knowledge with others to spread awareness of this condition. Even learning about organizations that help those with PTSD and contributing through volunteering or donations can help.
This month also presents an ideal chance for discussing PTSD with friends and family. Those who recognize signs of trauma or PTSD in a friend or family member can work with them to get help. For instance, a friend could sit with someone with PTSD while they call a treatment center. Or a loved one could attend family therapy sessions at a rehab center for those who have PTSD and addiction.
The more people who know about PTSD and work to spread positive information about getting treatment, the greater the work is toward fighting the stigma. Like other mental health conditions, PTSD has a stigma surrounding it and seeking help. However, those who have PTSD are not weak. And getting treatment for the condition through programs that offer therapy for trauma and addiction is a sign of strength. Encouraging everyone who asks for help for PTSD reduces the shame of the condition and makes it easier for them to get treatment.
Find Trauma and Addiction Recovery Through Baltimore Detox Center
PTSD Awareness Month may be an ideal time to get personal help or encourage a loved one to seek treatment. Connect with us at Baltimore Detox Center by phone at [Direct] or through our website’s contact form to find out more about our addiction treatment programs and the types of therapy that we offer for those who’ve experienced trauma.
