National PTSD Awareness Month Alzheimer’s Awareness
National PTSD Awareness Month
What is PTSD? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can occur from experiencing or witnessing a particular traumatic or distressing event once or repeatedly.
Symptoms of PTSD:
Exaggerated startle response
Hyperalert
Difficulty thinking or making decisions
Poor emotional regulation
Irritability
Engage in risky behaviors
Engage in behaviors that aren’t typical of usual behaviors Source
How can PTSD affect your life?
Physically…increased in blood pressure & heart rate, fatigue, muscle tension, nausea, joint pain, headaches, inability to sleep or sleep well, back pain, and other types of unexplained pain
Emotionally…Overwhelmed, numb, dissociation, emotional dysregulation, fear, intrusive recollections, not connecting emotionally with loved ones
Cognitively…Misinterpretations of events, poor decision-making, intrusive thoughts, delusions, extreme guilt
Behaviorally… Doing things not typical of regular behavior, risky behavior, relationship violence, self-harm, distant, substance abuse Source
What to do next?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
See a doctor and mental health professional
Build a trustworthy support network
Communicate concerns with family, friends, and workplace
Call 911 in an emergency
Call the suicide hotline at 988
FACTS…
70% of adults will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime
20% of that will develop PTSD
About 13 million people have PTSD in a given year
It is estimated about 5% of adolescents experience PTSD
PTSD is more common in women than in men
PTSD is often co-occurring with other mental health conditions Source
Helpful Videos…
Alzheimer’s Mental Health Awareness
What is it?
A type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior
More than 5 million people are living with Alzheimer’s
1 in 3 seniors will develop Alzheimer’s or another dementia
Roughly about 15 million caregivers with about 18.1 billion hours of unpaid care
Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S Source
Reducing the risk:
Be physically active, manage high blood pressure, manage blood sugar, and maintain a health weight.
how to help:
Reassure person, help them keep control of what they can in life, keep well-loved photographs and objects near, encourage two-way conversation, be patient, and avoid saying don’t you remember?
