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June 27 is National PTSD Awareness Day. Widely known but also misunderstood, PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. At the urging of Senator Kent Conrad, Congress marked June 27th as a national day of observing the toll of PTSD on people. Specifically, Senator Conrad institutes National PTSD Awareness Day to honor a North Dakota National Guard member. Traumatized in the course of duty, he had committed suicide after two tours of duty in Iraq.

At Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC), the treatment team in all departments takes PTSD very seriously. As part of the ACEs Aware Initiative by the California Surgeon General, TTC now screens every new patient for adverse childhood experiences (ACES). Indeed, such childhood trauma often leads to PTSD symptomatology later in life. Thus, all treatment and support staff receive ACEs Aware training to administer the screenings.

National PTSD Awareness Day = A Complex Challenge

At its very core, post-traumatic stress disorder is a complex mental health condition. Brought on by either experiencing or witnessing trauma, the long-term effects are real. Moreover, the trauma necessary to cause PTSD can originate from many events. Indeed, PTSD exists well beyond the extremity of war zones and combat.

Indeed, family violence, random accidents, and natural disasters can trigger PTSD symptoms. Thus, trained professionals must diagnose PTSD based on symptoms like hypervigilance, mood swings, recurring and involuntary flashbacks, and avoidance behaviors like obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

Moreover, substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors arise to escape the pressures of consciousness. As Dr. Gabor Mate, an addictionologist who emphasizes the role of childhood trauma, “The question is not why the addiction but why the pain.” Often, childhood trauma acts as a root cause behind substance use disorders and other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

Promote Healing on National PTSD Awareness Day

On National PTSD Awareness Day, however, all forms of trauma need to be respected and addressed. The goal is to reduce the damage being done and promote healing. The simple truth is that PTSD awareness is necessary for both professionals and their patients.

Often, many people who suffer from the symptomology of post-traumatic stress syndrome do not realize what is happening. The trauma remains buried; thus, the symptoms are not connected to the root cause. Therefore, screening tools like ACEs Aware help reveal the truth. Once the truth reveals itself, then treatment is possible.

Please remember that not all wounds are visible, and you are not alone. If you have a friend or a loved one suffering from PTSD, please use this observation day as an opportunity to reach out to them and offer support. Moreover, if you or a loved one needs help, please contact TTC today, and we can open the door to a path of true healing.