Trauma comes in many degrees

People around the globe have suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In order to spread awareness to the public, June 27 has been named PTSD Awareness Day. On this day, many have the chance to talk about how they suffered from PTSD and how one may cope with it.

In 2010, Senator Kent Conrad decided on the date to honor a North Dakota National Guard member who took his life. Later in 2014, the Senate decided to make declare the full month of June National PTSD Awareness Month (Military Benefits Info). .

PTSD can happen to anybody, at any age and at any moment. It is a mental health disorder where people may have a difficult time trying to recover from experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. This condition can last for months or even years. People can have triggers where their memories are brought back of the trauma and along with intense emotional and physical reactions.

Symptoms include bad dreams, flashbacks reliving the trauma, frightening thoughts and more.

There are several ways to raise awareness this month. One can simply share social media posts and graphics on the topic. This is a good way to share the word and educate the community. Another option is to help people who do suffer from PTSD by sharing any resources and supporting the National Center for PTSD.

This day has been dedicated to the estimated 3.5% of Americans that may experience PTSD in their lives according to Psychiatry.org. The goal of The PTSD Foundation is to show support for trauma survivors. If you would like to know more about them or donate to their cause, click on their link for additional assistance.