The Top 4 Myths About Trauma

I recently reported on why millions of people with PTSD struggle to get a diagnosis. The experts I spoke with said that some widespread beliefs about the condition can be harmful.

Here are a few pervasive myths they cited

Myth: PTSD is just for military veterans.

Anyone who endures a traumatic event can develop PTSD, which the C.D.C. defines as an experience “marked by a sense of horror, helplessness, serious injury or the threat of serious injury or death.”

Rape is the trauma that is most likely to lead to PTSD, even more so than combat, Dr. Shaili Jain, a PTSD specialist at Stanford University, told me.

Myth: Flashbacks are the only symptom of PTSD.

Many people with PTSD experience flashbacks, the sometimes debilitating sensation of reliving a traumatic event. But mood swings, intrusive thoughts and nightmares can also be signs of the disorder.

People with PTSD may also become hypervigilant, feeling constantly unsafe and on guard.

Myth: PTSD occurs right after trauma.

Some people don’t develop PTSD symptoms until months or years after an event. In some cases, people may experience dissociative or traumatic amnesia, blocking out memories of a horrific experience almost entirely.

Avoidance itself is a symptom of PTSD — people with the disorder may not acknowledge what happened, and make their lives smaller and smaller to shut out reminders of the past.

Myth: PTSD can’t be cured.

PTSD is a “manageable, treatable condition,” Dr. Jain said. There are a variety of treatment options available to help people cope with the disorder, including

The only treatments recommended by IATP (international association of trauma professionals) are

• Neurofeedback

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or E.M.D.R.

• IFS for Complex Trauma

• Psychedelics Assisted Therapy

Emerging experimental treatments, from virtual reality therapy to controlled doses of MDMA, have shown positive results.

Digital tools can also be helpful in managing the disorder. An app called PTSD Coach from the Department of Veterans Affairs, for example, provides information about the disorder as well as grounding exercises to help people cope with the symptoms.