Up To 70% Of Americans May Suffer From PTSD

Typically when we think of people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (aka PTSD), we think of someone who’s served overseas or endured some type of natural disaster. But that is not always the case. PTSD can emerge among people who were abused, harassed at the workplace or forced to encounter any type of difficult situation. In fact, according to new research from Psychology Today, up to 70 percent of U.S. citizens are dealing with this condition right now.

The data, which came from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), revealed some other interesting facts as well. Apparently, PTSD is more than two times higher among women than men. It also is associated with increased suicide rates. Most surprising of all, the estimated costs resulting from trauma total over $40 billion each year.

So how does this study (and the psychological community at large) define PTSD? Basically if you were exposed to any type of traumatic event, short-lived or long lasting, you are candidate for this disorder. It can rear its head immediately following the incident or years later, after being buried in the subconscious. Psychology Today writer Grant Hilary Brenner M.D. listed the most obvious warning signs.

“What PTSD does, is make the victim relive and re-experience the trauma,” he wrote. “Symptoms can include intrusive thoughts, nightmares, negative changes in emotions and thinking. There are also dissociative symptoms, such as detachment or emotional numbing; avoidance of reminders and thoughts of trauma, which may severely limit one’s choices or keep one from leaving the home. Hyperarousal symptoms can occur as well, which include anxiety, edginess, fear rage and generally being on high alert at all time.”

Dr. Brenner’s article delves into some interesting scientific findings as well; particularly the ways that PTSD impacts the brain. NIMH’s study compared people who have dealt with trauma against those who have not. What they discovered was that certain areas of the brain appeared to behave differently among those suffering with the disorder. Regions like the hippocampus (which deals with memory), the amygdala (the emotional center) and the cingulate cortex (thought processing) were called out within the PTSD group.

Thankfully, this type of research is becoming more common and the conversations are beginning to reach more people (thanks to sites like Psychology Today).  We are firm believers in seeking out professional help for any and all traumas you may have experienced. The most important thing is to not bury away difficult feelings. Address them and work on releasing the pain.

Can Heavy Stress Hurt Your Immune System?

If you haven’t had the chance to follow the blogs of WebMD, we highly recommend doing so. The famed medical site has a ton of helpful information related to health and wellness. One recent topic that they covered seemed extra poignant to us, primarily because it is something that we have seen firsthand.  According to their scientific data, intense stress can increase a person’s odds of developing an autoimmune disease.

Using research that included over 100,000 case studies, doctors from the site determined that people who face stress on a daily basis have a 35 percent greater risk of contracting issues like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and celiac disease than those who do not. Even more interesting, was the fact that the likelihood increases among women, particularly those who are African-American, Hispanic or Native-American.

“Patients suffering from severe life stressors should seek medical treatment due to the risk of chronicity of these symptoms and thereby further health decline, such as the increased risk of autoimmune disease,” lead researcher Dr. Huan Song wrote on the site. “This study adds to the evidence of the link between stress conditions and physical well-being, warranting further attention to the reduction of trauma and other causes of stress conditions, as well as improving treatment of these conditions.”

Indeed, trauma was brought up as a major trigger point as well. The research concluded that there was still no definitive reason as to why they increase the immune system risks, but there are several theories. One has to do with the fact that people dealing with these conditions tend to sleep less, which can have physical repercussions on the body. There are also strong associations between stress and substance abuse, which has been proven to do damage to people’s nervous systems.

The good news is, Dr. Song and others believe that these traits can be reversible. The key factor, though, is treatment. Examples used were support groups, certain anti-depressants (particularly for people dealing with PTSD) and ongoing therapy to cope with life’s stressors.

“There are now several treatments, both medications and cognitive behavioral approaches, with documented effectiveness,” she concluded. “It is notable that when people received effective treatment, their risk for autoimmune disorders was lessened.”

At inneractions, we too believe that treatment is essential to reduce theses risks. We offer Stress Management sessions at our facility and welcome anyone impacted by trauma or severe life challenges to reach out and get the help they deserve.