PTSD and OSI

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a specific mental health diagnosis. PTSD is triggered by a single traumatic event, or threat of severe trauma, such as death, serious injury, or sexual violence. It can also result from witnessing trauma. Symptoms include frequent re-experiencing of the trauma through memories, nightmares and flashbacks.

Operational Stress Injury (OSI) is a result of a series of traumas or stressful events over an extended period of time. It is not caused by a single event. Much like PTST but may include other diagnosis such as acute stress disorder, anxiety or depressive disorders. OSI is a non-medical term used to describe clusters of symptoms. It can develop following a traumatic event, combat, grief or loss, high stress situations or from operational fatigue. It is a psychological injury that may include anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse and more. People with OSI suffer from a broad range of mental disorders that are debilitating, causing distress and interfere with daily life and work.

Occupations known to produce higher rates of PTSD include military and law enforcement personnel, firefighters, emergency workers, first responders, health care workers and journalists.  When I used to hear the word PTSD, I associated it with soldiers. I knew very little about what it meant to have PTSD, other than those with it suffered from nightmares or flashbacks. I have since become aware of OSI and have come to understand the difference in that OSI is developed over time because of constant exposure to trauma. 

I have to admit I didn't know that women suffered PTSD twice as much as men. The disparity is linked to when women and men experience trauma in their lives. Sexual assault carries one of the highest risks for PTSD.  

PTSD is starting to be recognized in other situations. The unexpected ones like going through Cancer or other life-threatening disease. Many people that have been in ICU, especially if on a respirator, suffer from PTSD. We have all had those near misses in our lives. When we speak about them, we go right back to the place and time with the same kind of fear.  

At one time, ""it's your job", was how people coped with PTSD. It seemed little was done to help those suffering. Men and women were sent home from WW I and II and told to get on with life. 

The horrible Humbolt accident, six years ago, was devastating for the world. An effort was made to help the volunteer first responders and other responders with their trauma. Following the Carberry Senior bus accident, one of the first things that was implemented was support for the volunteers and responders at the scene. There is no way you can unsee, unhear, unsmell horrific events that happen. So many lives were changed because of these accidents, and they will never be the same again.

I thought this quote was appropriate for this post.  Reaching out to someone that has a similar experience and survived is so important. Therapists with lived experience not only help you heal, but they heal along with you. I am never sure if going back and reliving a horrible experience is healthy or not. Maybe for some, but I do believe not for everyone. Like so many things in health care, there is not enough help to go around. Many people remain undiagnosed, suffering silently.  

I am hopeful if you have never suffered from a traumatic experience that you continue to live your life that way. Do people eventually move forward or do they just learn to cope with it, similar to grief. Maybe they are just a silent sufferer. The effect that PTSD and OSI have on family members is a hardship. As those loved ones suffer, so do their families as they watch hopelessly. For some reason, I feel we all have a bad experience that we are carrying in our soul. As is with everything, we all deal differently. No one ever said, life would be easy.