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Not all Wounds Are Visible

While typically associated with combat veterans, PTSD can be the aftermath of any traumatic experience.

Anyone who has been through trauma can develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

More than half of U.S. adults will experience trauma in their lifetime. An estimated 7 in 100 will get PTSD at some point. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Center for PTSD encourages everyone to raise awareness throughout June and beyond to honor of PTSD Awareness.

At www.ptsd.va.gov you will find the following and a whole lot more:

• PTSD overview

• How to treat PTSD

• Resources for community providers (employers, clergy, law enforcement)

• Where to get help for PTSD

• Manuals, videos, and handouts for providers

The National Center for PTSD offers 12 ways community members can help:

Think broadly. When trauma happens, family, friends, coworkers and community are affected too.

Learn about common reactions to trauma and readjustment after war to life at home.

Be aware of where to get help for PTSD, including specific resources for veterans.

Expand your understanding of how PTSD is identified (assessed) and treated.

Know that treatment for PTSD can help.

Ask if talking would help, but do not push if someone is not ready to discuss their trauma.

Realize that getting people to talk or seek help from a therapist is not always easy. Your encouragement matters. Families of Veterans can reach out to Coaching Into Care for help finding the right words.

Know the facts. More than half of U.S. adults will experience trauma in their lifetime. About 7 in 100 will get PTSD at some point. For veterans and people who have been through violence and abuse, the number is higher.

Watch videos in AboutFace, an online gallery dedicated to veterans talking about how PTSD treatment turned their lives around.

Connect with self-help resources, apps, and videos about PTSD.

Share handouts, brochures, or wallet cards about trauma and PTSD.

 

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