Frequently Asked Questions
What is PTSD?
Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that can
occur after you have been through a trauma. A trauma is something
horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During
this type of event, you think that your life or others' lives
are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no
control over what is happening.
If
you have gone through an event that could have caused injury
or death, you can develop PTSD.
Examples of these events can include:
Combat
or war exposure
Child sexual or physical abuse
Terrorist attacks
Sexual or physical assault
Serious accidents, such as a car wreck.
Natural disasters, such as a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood,
or earthquake.
After
the event, you may feel scared, confused, and angry. If these
feelings don't go away or if they get worse, you may have
PTSD. These symptoms may disrupt your life, making it hard
to continue with your daily activities.
For
a more information, please see our fact sheet What
is PTSD?
What treatments are available for PTSD?
There
are many types of treatment for PTSD. You and your doctor
will discuss the best treatment for you. You may have to try
more than one treatment before you find the best one for you.
Two
types of treatment appear to be the most effective for PTSD
at this time. They are:
a
type of counseling called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
medicines known as SSRIs
Treatment
can help you feel more in control of your emotions and result
in fewer symptoms. However, even with treatment, you may still
have some bad memories.
For
more information, please see our fact sheet on Treatment
of PTSD.
How do I locate specialists or support groups for
PTSD?
If you are in crisis: call 911
go to your nearest Emergency Room
call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
(1-800-273-8255)
Spanish/Español 1-888-628-9454
Veterans, press "1" after you call
or go to Veterans
Suicide Prevention Hotline website to chat live with a
crisis counselor at any time of day or night.
The
National Center does not provide any direct clinical care.
We can provide information, though, to help you locate mental
health services in your area. Please see our fact sheet on
Finding and Choosing a
Therapist.
I am an American Veteran. Whom do I contact for help
with PTSD?
You can contact your local VA hospital or Vet
Center.
VA
also has Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's) around
each state. Many of these clinics offer mental health services.
To
find a VA medical center, CBOC, or Vet Center near you, use
the online VHA
Facilities Locator.
Other
resources include:
The
VA Health Benefits Service Center toll free at 1-877-222-VETS
The Vet Centers' national number 1-800-905-4675
The VA Office of Mental Health Returning
Veterans page
The VA Returning Service
Members (OEF/OIF) page
My HealtheVet
As
an American Veteran, how do I file a claim for disability
due to PTSD?
You
must file a formal request ("claim") using forms
provided by the VA's Veterans Benefits Administration. After
the forms are submitted, you must complete interviews. Information
about the application process can be obtained from Benefits
Officers at any VA medical center, outpatient clinic, or regional
office.
The
process of applying for a VA disability for PTSD can be long
and stressful. Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) provide
"Service Officers" at no cost to help Veterans and
family members with VA disability claims.
How do I locate books on PTSD?
You
can contact your local library for readings on trauma or PTSD.
Also,
you can use the PILOTS
database. PILOTS stands for Published International Literature
on Traumatic Stress. PILOTS is an electronic index of articles
and books related to trauma. You can search PILOTS for references
to these publications. PILOTS also includes links to full-text
articles by National Center staff.
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