By Katie Freeman (Clinical Lead)
Friday 27th June marks Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day — a vital opportunity to shed light on a condition that affects millions, yet is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed or shrouded in silence.
PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a deeply distressing event. Its impact is not always visible and can manifest in complex ways, including:
- Flashbacks and nightmares
- Avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event
- Hyperarousal (including hypervigilance, anger and irritability)
- Negative cognitions about oneself and the world around them.
Many also experience physical symptoms including headaches, chest pains, trembling, IBS and stomach ulcers.
Living with PTSD can be isolating, but it’s important to remember that healing is possible. There are effective, evidence-based treatments that can support recovery including:
- Psychological Education: when using a mixture of science and compassion, this can allow for the normalisation and legitimisation of one’s experiences and play a key role in recovery
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Narrative Exposure Therapy
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy
PTSD Awareness Day is more than a date in the calendar. It’s a moment to stand with survivors, to promote understanding, and to advocate for accessible, compassionate care. At Harmless, we are committed to ensuring that no one walks this path alone, and that hope and healing remain within reach for all.
References
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/overview
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng116/resources/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-pdf-66141601777861
