Can one still be affected by PTSD 40, 50, 60 years after the event?
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Strauss (
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18 hours ago
I’m not fishing for sympathy or kind words, thank you. I just want to discuss this issue.
Recently I applied for Veterans’Benefits, as the PACT act came into effect and qualified me for additional benefits related to my service in Vietnam. When I spoketo the Vet’s Service Officer, he mentioned some things in my service records that he thought were symptomatic of Post Traumatic Stress. As we discussed this, I found myself experiencing a very strong feelings and emotions. This surprised me. I thought I had dealt with all that decades ago!
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11 Answers
You definitely can be triggered many times in your life.
Yes. While it is treatable, and you can recover, you can still have situations come up decades later. PTSD can physically alter your brain.
Yes, it can affect you many decades after the event.
It is a life long diagnosis.
Think about profound grief, which studies have shown to be similar in scope and long term effects, as PTSD caused by time in combat. No matter how much treatment, it can cycle back around if triggered by specific stimuli at any time. The treatment, therapy, etc. helps to prevent dramatic reaction to the feelings and memories, but the gut clutch aspect never goes all the way away.
The treatment, therapy, etc. helps to prevent dramatic reaction to the feelings and memories,
All the therapy and treatment do is help you function on a day to day basis without losing your shit. I still have dramatic reactions to some things 60 years later. Images get in my head and I can’t get rid of them. 15 years ago I would sometimes pull my hair or hit myself in the head to try to distract myself. I’ve gotten a little better. Now I work on replacing the horrible images with any other thoughts.
I feel for you @Strauss
Of course, and that’s the issue: these things that happen to people are basically permanent. Which is why people want them to stop happening, because it permanently ruins lives.
I can’t even imagine a war vet, or a person that was sexually assaulted just going “oh man….i totally forgot that happened!”
Because I’ll never forget and am constantly reminded of the few times I was called the n-word, had pubic hair thrown at me etc.
I no longer think about it on a daily basis, but it still pops up semi weekly.
Yes, particularly if there exists repressed memories of the event. Those memories may surface and begin the process of dealing with PTSD anew.
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