PTSD Awareness Day: Understanding Trauma, Healing, and Hope
Written by: Taylor Oberhelman-McLeod, LPC
June 27 is PTSD Awareness Day, a time to increase understanding of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), reduce stigma surrounding trauma, and remind those who are struggling that healing is possible.
When people hear the word "trauma," they often think of combat veterans or major disasters. While PTSD can certainly develop after these experiences, trauma can affect anyone. Car accidents, childhood abuse, sexual assault, medical emergencies, pregnancy and birth trauma, domestic violence, sudden loss, or witnessing a frightening event can all have lasting effects on the brain and body.
Trauma changes the way we experience the world. It is not a sign of weakness—it is a normal response to experiencing something that felt overwhelming, frightening, or life-threatening.
What Is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that may develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While it is normal to feel distressed immediately following trauma, PTSD occurs when symptoms persist for more than a month and begin interfering with daily life.
Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. Many factors influence how someone responds to trauma, including previous experiences, genetics, available support, and the nature of the traumatic event.
PTSD is not something someone can simply "get over." It affects the brain's threat detection system, making it difficult to distinguish between past danger and present safety.
Common Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD symptoms generally fall into four categories:
Intrusive Symptoms
Traumatic memories may return unexpectedly, even when someone does not want to think about the event.
These symptoms may include:
Flashbacks
Nightmares
Distressing memories
Emotional or physical reactions to reminders of the trauma
Someone may feel as though they are reliving the event, even if it happened years ago.
Avoidance
Many people with PTSD begin avoiding anything that reminds them of the trauma.
This may include:
Avoiding certain people or places
Refusing to talk about the event
Staying away from situations that trigger memories
Numbing emotions to avoid painful feelings
While avoidance can temporarily reduce anxiety, it often prevents healing and may cause symptoms to persist.
Changes in Mood and Thinking
Trauma can alter the way someone views themselves, others, and the world.
Common experiences include:
Persistent guilt or shame
Feeling detached from others
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
Negative beliefs such as "I'm not safe," "I can't trust anyone," or "It was my fault."
These beliefs often develop as the brain attempts to make sense of what happened.
Increased Arousal and Reactivity
After trauma, the nervous system may remain on high alert.
This can look like:
Being easily startled
Difficulty sleeping
Irritability or anger
Trouble concentrating
Feeling constantly "on edge"
Hypervigilance
Even when no danger is present, the body may continue behaving as though a threat is nearby.
Trauma Can Look Different for Everyone
One person's trauma may not affect someone else in the same way—and that is okay.
Trauma is defined less by the event itself and more by how the nervous system experiences it.
Some individuals develop PTSD immediately after a traumatic event, while others may not notice symptoms until months or even years later. Others may experience trauma-related symptoms without meeting the full criteria for PTSD.
There is no "right" way to respond to trauma.
PTSD Is More Common Than Many People Realize
PTSD affects millions of people each year. While many associate PTSD with military service, the majority of individuals living with PTSD experienced other types of trauma.
Some populations at higher risk include:
Survivors of childhood abuse or neglect
Survivors of sexual assault
First responders and healthcare workers
Individuals who have experienced domestic violence
People who have experienced pregnancy, birth, or medical trauma
Individuals who have lost a loved one suddenly
Survivors of accidents or natural disasters
Trauma does not discriminate. It can affect people of any age, gender, culture, or background.
Healing Is Possible
One of the most important things to know about PTSD is that recovery is possible.
Many people believe they will always feel the way they do now, but the brain is capable of healing. With appropriate treatment, trauma symptoms often become significantly more manageable.
Therapy provides a safe space to process traumatic experiences while helping the nervous system learn that the danger has passed.
Evidence-based treatments for PTSD include approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), and other trauma-informed approaches.
Treatment is not about forgetting what happened. Instead, it helps reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories so they no longer control daily life.
How You Can Support Someone with PTSD
If someone you care about is living with PTSD, your support can make a meaningful difference.
Helpful ways to support them include:
Listen without judgment.
Avoid telling them to "move on" or "just think positively."
Respect their boundaries.
Encourage professional support if they are open to it.
Be patient—healing is not linear.
Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is simply creating a safe space where someone feels believed and understood.
You Are Not Alone
Living with PTSD can feel isolating, but you do not have to navigate healing on your own. Whether your trauma happened recently or many years ago, your experiences are valid, and your symptoms make sense in light of what you have been through. Healing does not mean pretending the trauma never happened. Healing means learning that your past no longer has to define your present. With compassionate, evidence-based support, many people go on to live fulfilling, connected, and meaningful lives.
Bloom & Breathe Therapy provides trauma-informed counseling for adults, adolescents, and individuals navigating perinatal mental health concerns. We offer EMDR therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and other evidence-based approaches tailored to each client's needs.
We offer telehealth services to clients located in Arizona, Missouri, Wyoming, and Idaho and offer in person sessions in Mesa, Arizona and Lander, Wyoming.