tw: trauma, sexual abuse
a few misconceptions and facts about PTSD:

PTSD is an anxiety disorder. it occurs twice as often with women than men.

about 70% of people will experience some sort of trauma in their life, but only 20% of those people will develop PTSD.

more than 50% of those with PTSD abuse substances.

rape is the most common cause of PTSD among men AND women.

you are more likely to develop PTSD from a traumatic event if you have already experienced childhood trauma.

it takes 6 MONTHS after the traumatic event to develop PTSD. sometimes longer.

children can have PTSD too!

GAD, MDD and substance abuse disorder are also common among those with PTSD.

the diagnostic criteria for PTSD are:
1. experience of a traumatic event
2. intrusion symptoms (nightmares, flashbacks etc)
3. avoidance (of certain thoughts, triggers etc)
4. negative cognition/mood
5. hyperarousal (includes irritability, hypervigilance)

people talk about "fight or flight" but there's actually more to it. there is fight, flight, fawn, and freeze.

WAR VETS ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE PTSD!!!!