June 13, 2017

Who Suffers From PTSD?

Who suffers from PTSD?

Often when we think of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the first image that comes to mind is a veteran haunted by nightmares of painful memories that he or she experienced in their service on the battlefield. This image is not mistaken: many veterans suffer from the effects of PTSD after their return to normal life.

However, PTSD is not a veteran-exclusive ailment. It is a psychiatric disorder that can occur after any traumatic experience. War is obviously filled with a lot of trauma; hence many who experienced the horrors of war will experience the effects of PTSD. However, it can also follow other painful experiences like natural disasters, serious accidents, sexual or physical assault, severe illness, or even witnessing another person experience these traumatic situations.

Everybody will experience something painful in their life, however, the majority of people will recover and be able to move on within a few weeks or months following the episode. Unfortunately, many will develop PTSD and will subsequently be harrowed by the memory of this painful experience.

 

Just like any other disease, physical or mental in nature, the effects of PTSD are very real and painful. Whether experienced because of a traumatic experience in war, or in civilian life, its effects truly hinder the individual’s ability to function. However, just like any other disease, there are professionals who know of remedies and cures to tame and eventually conquer its effects.

If you're a clinician looking to help people with this affliction, our mental health EMR can help. You can see the benefits and features of our software here. Or fill out the form below to schedule a demo. 

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June 6, 2017

PTSD and Substance Use Disorders

June is Post-traumatic stress disorder awareness month. PTSD is a disorder that is commonly associated with war veterans. But, as seen in the infographic below, it can also occur in people who have experienced the sudden death of a loved one, a car accident, or a range of other traumatic events. 

PTSD and substance use disorders can often occur together. Similar events that trigger post-traumatic stress may also drive individuals to cope using chemical substances. One study found a 41% prevalence of lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder among individuals who used heroin. The same study found that individuals with PTSD were more likely to experiment and develop dependencies on a wider range of substances. They also had poorer physical and mental health, but were more likely to be in treatment. This means that treatment centers have a much higher than average proportion of individuals with PTSD, which speaks to the importance of various types of therapy. 

Many informational resources are available online:

National Institute of Mental Health

DualDiagnosis.org

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Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.