June is PTSD Awareness Month — a crucial time to build upon our understanding of trauma.
When we hear the term PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), many of us immediately think of people who have fought in a war or survived a natural disaster. Events like these can certainly cause PTSD, but these are just two types of traumatic experiences.
The truth is – PTSD can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic background, profession, or life experience. It’s more common and more complex than pop culture would have us believe.
Whether you’re curious, concerned about yourself or a loved one, or working in a field where trauma is part of the job, being trauma-informed is an important step toward empathy, support, and healing.
Read on for 8 facts about PTSD that might surprise you.
1. PTSD is not just something that affects military service members and veterans.
Most people associate PTSD with war and combat, but it can also develop from:
- Car accidents
- Medical trauma (like surgeries, ICU stays, and living with chronic illness)
- Breakups, betrayal, or domestic abuse
- Witnessing traumatic events rather than experiencing them directly
2. PTSD can have a delayed onset.
After a traumatic incident or series of incidents, symptoms don’t always appear right away. In some cases, they emerge months or even years after the traumatic event, making it harder to link cause and effect. This is why it’s important for therapists and mental health providers to be trauma-informed when assessing someone.
3. The brain can get “stuck” in survival mode.
Mental health is often thought of as separate from the physical body. But the brain can be altered when experiencing PTSD. This can be seen on brain scans of individuals with PTSD. For example:
- The amygdala (our fear center) becomes overactive
- The hippocampus (memory + context) shrinks
- The prefrontal cortex (reasoning + impulse control) becomes less active
4. C-PTSD is different from PTSD.
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) develops from prolonged toxic stress or repeated trauma (like childhood abuse, captivity, or emotional neglect). It includes additional symptoms like:
- Persistent shame or guilt
- Difficulty with emotional regulation
- A distorted sense of self or worldview
5. PTSD isn’t just flashbacks
Movies and TV shows often depict PTSD as someone having visual flashbacks, but PTSD can also involve:
- Emotional numbness, detachment, and dissociation
- Hypervigilance (always on edge and looking for possible danger and/or threats to safety)
- Insomnia or nightmares
- Physical symptoms like chronic pain or digestive issues
6. PTSD looks different in children
Kids with PTSD may not talk about the trauma at all. Instead, they might:
- Reenact the trauma in play
- Have frequent tantrums or regress developmentally (e.g., bedwetting)
- Become clingy – or, alternately, they might become withdrawn
7. PTSD is linked to increased physical health risks and chronic health issues.
Long-term PTSD increases the risk of:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Heart disease
- Chronic pain conditions (like fibromyalgia)
- Gastrointestinal disorders (Crohn’s, Colitis, etc.)
8. It can happen to first responders, journalists, and therapists
People who regularly witness or hear about trauma, like paramedics, reporters, and even mental health professionals, can develop secondary or vicarious stress.
If you’re looking to better understand trauma, we offer trauma-informed resources for individuals, workplaces, and communities. Our tools are designed to support those who experience trauma, as well as those who support trauma survivors. This includes healthcare workers, educators, social workers, journalists, first responders, and beyond.
It’s important to remember that PTSD is treatable and there is always hope!