Myths About Trauma and Treatment

Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder are still not well understood by the general public. Especially since the rise of the Internet, misinformation, myths and misunderstanding are rampant.

Specific Myths About Trauma

Here are a few of the more common misconceptions regarding trauma, its symptoms and its treatment.

Myth: All those who survive a communal trauma such as a natural disaster will suffer from PTSD.

Trauma, like grief, affects different people in different ways. Some people will be able to process their reactions to a disaster within a relatively short time, while others will suffer stress disorders for much longer, even a lifetime without treatment. There are also many people who function well in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, but begin experiencing symptoms of PTSD at a later date.

Myth: People who are still bothered by a traumatic incident after a reasonable time has passed are weak and should just get over it.

If two people fall and one suffers a bruise while the other breaks a leg, you wouldn’t expect them to heal at the same rate. There are a great many elements that influence whether a person will suffer from PTSD, including a genetic predisposition. Those who have suffered a previous trauma (and may have never exhibited symptoms) are more likely to suffer serious consequences from a more recent event.

Myth: People who suffer from PTSD are dangerous.

While extreme emotions and inappropriate reactions to stimuli can be symptoms of PTSD, the great majority of sufferers are unlikely to pose any danger to others. The most common symptoms are depression, emotional numbness, withdrawal, sleep disorders and panic attacks.

Myth: Immediate counseling after a traumatic event can prevent the onset of PTSD.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. While some survivors of a traumatic event may be helped by prompt counseling, others will not develop major symptoms until some time has passed after the incident. There is no way to predict who will or will not exhibit symptoms of PTSD.

Myth: Only an event that endangers a person’s life will result in PTSD.

This, too, is untrue. Trauma is extremely subjective, and circumstances that will severely traumatize one person may not affect another. Witnessing a criminal attack, physical abuse, sexual abuse or a severe accident, for instance, can result in trauma just as severe as experiencing it personally. Some people can withstand a physical attack, while others may be traumatized by mental abuse or betrayal.

Myth: All types of trauma disorders can benefit from the same type of treatment.

There are many factors that influence a person’s response to a particular type of treatment. While behavior modification and cognitive therapy are effective in a great many cases, others may benefit from medication, desensitivity training or holistic therapy. Some cases of PTSD can be treated on an outpatient basis while others require residential treatment.