Five Myths and Truths About PTSD
The first recognized diagnosis for the effects of experiencing traumatic events was "hysteria." Historically, hysteria was predominantly associated with women and included a range of symptoms and psychological disturbances. It was believed to stem from the uterus and was often attributed to unmet sexual needs or subconscious conflicts.
The diagnosis of hysteria quickly fell out of favor. Some texts assume that the high correlation between sexual trauma and incest may have been one of the reasons why studying trauma became inconvenient.
"Shell shock" was the diagnosis that emerged during the World Wars, used to describe the psychological and emotional effects of combat on soldiers. It highlighted visible traumatization symptoms such as tremors, paralysis, and emotional instability experienced by soldiers exposed to the horrors of war. It was also shelved for decades.
The term "trauma" itself was not used to describe psychological issues until later. It’s important to clarify: the term “trauma” is not and has not been used as a diagnosis, despite common misconceptions. What became a diagnosis in the 1980s is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with the purpose of providing a framework for understanding the effects of traumatic stress, observed mainly in veterans and battered women.
Still, for many people, trauma seems to mean a verdict about an unwelcoming future. Let’s try to change that perception by debunking some of the myths about how to name the effects of experiencing traumatic events.
Myth #1: Trauma and heartbreak are the same.
Going through emotionally challenging situations can certainly cause emotional pain and leave a mark, but not all emotional pain constitutes trauma. Trauma includes... keep reading
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