The month of June is designated as National Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. This awareness month began to educate communities about PTSD and provide support and resources to those individuals living with this condition. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents or serious accidents. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged. These symptoms can be severe and can last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life. An estimated 7.8 percent of Americans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, with women (10.4%) twice as likely as men (5%) to develop PTSD.
It is important to recognize that PTSD can affect people from all walks of life and all age groups. However, our military personnel are disproportionately affected due to their exposure to potentially traumatic events during combat. Consequently, the US Veteran's Administration (VA) created the National Center for PTSD to advance the clinical care and social welfare of America's Veterans and others who have experienced trauma, or who suffer from PTSD, through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders.
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