Who Does PTSD Affect?

Who Does PTSD Affect?

Who Does PTSD Affect? 150 150 Aware Behavioral Health

Post traumatic stress disorder was first known as “shell shock” in the years following WWI when it was primarily a diagnosis for veterans. Today, veterans are still one of the groups that often experience PTSD, but they are not the only ones.

PTSD is a condition that can occur to any person, of any age, gender, or background. About 8% of people live with PTSD at some point, often – but not always – in response to a frightening event or a harmful experience. Others might develop PTSD after witnessing an event that occurred to someone else or having a loved one become ill or die suddenly.

People Most Likely to Have PTSD

PTSD will cause a range of symptoms. Those with the disorder often have intrusive thoughts and memories about the traumatic event, panic attacks and upset when faced with triggering reminders, avoidance of anything that will be a reminder, changes in mood, cognition problems, and an excessive fight or flight response.

Women are more likely to have PTSD than men. Those who had family members who experienced PTSD are also more likely to have PTSD as well through genetics. Sexual assault is one of the most common events to cause PTSD, as well as combat, abuse, physical assualt, or any type of accident.

Yet the majority of people who live through traumatic events never develop PTSD. There are several factors that, in addition to living through a trauma, can make PTSD more likely to develop, such as:

  • Experiencing trauma during childhood.
  • An injury as a result of the event.
  • Seeing an injury or death.
  • Feeling particularly helpless during the experience.
  • Having little support during or after the event.
  • Having a history of mental health challenges.
  • Living with additional stress after the event, such as handling a loved one’s death or losing a job.

These factors will lower a person’s resilience and make them more susceptible to ongoing anxiety. But although a person with PTSD may not have gotten the support they needed immediately following a trauma, it is still possible to reduce symptoms and eventually overcome PTSD by getting support now.

Aware Behavioral Health provides PTSD treatment in Dallas. Dr. Sehdev, an understanding and compassionate psychiatrist, is dedicated to helping you reduce the symptoms of anxiety that accompany PTSD and giving you back control of your mental health. Call us to make an appointment for PTSD treatment.

Dallas Psychiatrist Dr. Surin Sehdev

Dr. Surin Sehdev is the lead psychiatrist at Aware Behavioral Health in Dallas (formerly Bedford, TX). He has been working in the psychiatric field for 7+ years. He specializes in opioid withdrawal, ADHD, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction. Content on this blog and this website should be considered informal and should not be considered medical advice, as may be written and/or edited by non-medical staff. Please contact Dr. Sehdev for specific and accurate diagnoses and treatment information.

All stories by : Dallas Psychiatrist Dr. Surin Sehdev