While many think of PTSD as a disorder think of this as something that only veterans deal with, that is not the case.

So who is affected?

Well, anyone who has gone through a, or multiple, stressful events in their life. Since the event, their symptoms have left them with the inability to function and carry on with their day to day lives.

Common Symptoms

PTSD affects everyone differently. Symptoms include:

irritability
aggression
nightmares
change in personality
trouble sleeping
paranoia
among others, which can be found here

Can we treat PTSD?

PTSD can be cured with an appropriate diagnosis and symptom management. While it does take time, those suffering from PTSD can get the help they need by talking with a health care professional and taking the time to figure out what works with them.

Examples of treatment include:

anti-anxiety medication
anti-depressants
therapy

creating a safe environment
building healthy coping mechanisms
and exercise!

...Exercise?

Yes, exercise! Those who engage in physical activity build a foundation of healthier coping mechanisms for those with PTSD. Research shows that those suffering from PTSD may experience an improvement with their symptoms and overall quality of life when physcial activity is used in conjunction with other treatment regimens they are currently on (Hegberg et al. , 2019).

If you or a loved one are suffering from PTSD, please reach out to a medical professional to receive appropriate care.

Please call 988 if you have thoughts of harming yourself.

References

Bjorkman, F., & Ekblom, O. (2022). Physical Exercise as Treatment for PTSD: A Systematic Review

and Meta-Analysis. Military Medicine, 187. (9-10), e1103-e1113. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usab497

Mayoclinic. (2018, July 06). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases- conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967

Pebole, M., Singleton, C., Hall, K., Petruzzello, S., Altson, R., & Gobin, R. (2022). Exercise preferences among women survivors of sexual violence by PTSD and physical activity level: Implications and recommendations for trauma-informed practice. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 23(100470). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2022.100470

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