POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
PTSD is best understood as an injury inflicted by overwhelming trauma. Long and/or acute exposure to traumatic events can severely hinder a person’s ability to function. If left unaddressed, its effects can linger for decades, disrupting relationships, families, workplaces, and communities. It affects military personnel, police, and first responders, as well as survivors of sexual assault, accidents, school shootings, terrorism, and natural disasters. It is estimated that over 12 million people, 4.6% of the U.S. population, suffer from PTSD in any given year. One in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime. This number is rising now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following links are provided to help you identify additional online resources on PTSD. This is not an exhaustive list nor an endorsement of the content of these sites. If you are in crisis, call or text #988 in the US, which is available 24 hours a day.
