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5 Facts About PTSD

Kristine Dewar, M.A., R.P., C.C.C.
Jan 5
1 min read

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop when one has experienced a traumatic event. Here are 5 facts about PTSD:

  1. PTSD can develop not only after having experiencing trauma, but also from having witnessed it.

  2. Symptoms of PTSD include reliving the event through flashbacks and nightmares, avoiding possible triggers, excessive arousal which includes a hypervigilance to danger, and an increase in negative thoughts and feelings.

  3. We can have post-traumatic symptoms and it not develop into a disorder. This will often be affected by one's support system, the severity of the trauma, and how the symptoms were treated soon after experiencing or witnessing the trauma. Cumulative trauma can also lead to PTSD.

  4. Although some may experience irritability, increased anger (including outbursts), others will experience flat affect - their ability to feel is dampened by their traumatic experience and its after effects.

  5. Although we don't often hear about post-traumatic growth when reading about PTSD, it is an important element to consider in our journey to heal.

Knowing about PTSD and how it can affect both ourselves and our loved ones can be an important step to understanding how trauma affects us in the short term (acute stress response) and the long term (symptoms and possible disorder.) Photo by Savannah B. on Unsplash

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Land Acknowledgement

The West Champlain Family Health Team acknowledges it is located upon the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin People and respects the traditional knowledge and healing developed over generations. We have the privilege and responsibility to serve First Nations, Inuit, and Métis of many backgrounds and from many treaty and non-treaty lands and territories, and to demonstrate respect for the contributions and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.

 

Iye West Champlain Family Health Team ogíkikenindánáwá taniziwadj ondaje Algonquin Anishinábe tanakíwin ega ka mígiwewadj iyo kichi Anishinábewakí ashidj odapítenindánáwá kikádjichigewin ashidj mino nódjimowin ka pamíkán pinawígo. Nínawind d’ayánánán shawenimigoziwin ashidj inenindágoziwin kidji wídókáwadag Anishinábeg, Abitawizíg ashidj Kíwedinóg máneg wendjibáwadj ashidj níbina nakondiwin ashidj ega akíng ashidj tanakíwinan ashidj kidji wábandayá apítenindagoziwin ondji ka mígiwewadj ashidj pimádjiwowinan ogo Anishinábeg Pemádizidjig.

 

The West Champlain Family Health Team is grateful to the Indigenous Health Circle (which works in collaboration with The Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn and the Ottawa Valley Ontario Health Team) for sharing a meaningful land acknowledgement both in English and Omámíwininímowin (the Algonquin Anishinábe language), which is the basis of our own.

© 2023 by West Champlain FHT

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