When people think about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the image that often comes to mind is a combat veteran haunted by war. And while many veterans do live with the effects of PTSD, they are far from the only ones who struggle with this mental health condition. Trauma can take many forms, and so can PTSD. In honor of PTSD Awareness Month, we sat down with OCH’s Jackie Day, LCSW to learn more about the effects of this condition.
Broadening the Definition of Trauma
Jackie Day, LCSW at Ozarks Community Hospital, says it’s time to expand how we define trauma. “Trauma is defined as a psychological and emotional response to a deeply disturbing or distressing event that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope,” she explains. “PTSD happens when someone experiences actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence—either by directly experiencing it, witnessing it, learning it happened to someone close, or through repeated exposure to distressing details.”
This means PTSD can stem from much more than military combat. It can develop after a car accident, childbirth complications, witnessing violence, sexual or physical abuse, sudden loss of a loved one, or even medical trauma.
Jackie often helps patients understand their experiences, even when they aren’t sure they “qualify” as trauma.
“When explaining trauma, I simply say it can be anything that continues to adversely affect you—such as a divorce, job loss, or homelessness,” she says. “They might not have been physically harmed, but it still affects them deeply.”
Recognizing the Signs
PTSD doesn’t look the same in every person, but Jackie sees some common symptoms in her practice: “Many of my patients experience intrusive thoughts about the event, flashbacks, nightmares, and fight-flight-freeze responses. They often avoid thinking about the trauma or stay away from anything that reminds them of it—like someone avoiding bridges after a carjacking.”
She also highlights what she calls “manufactured feelings”—guilt, self-blame, or assigning fault to others. “These feelings aren’t made up,” she clarifies. “But they do get people stuck in their trauma and prevent them from healing.”
PTSD can present differently depending on age and gender, too.
“Statistically, women are more likely to experience PTSD from sexual violence, and they’re also more likely to seek therapy,” Jackie says. “Rates of PTSD are generally lower in older adults than in younger ones. But across groups—from Holocaust survivors to veterans to abuse survivors—the symptoms of PTSD are really the same. Trauma is trauma.”
Breaking Down Misconceptions
One of the biggest obstacles to treatment is the stigma surrounding PTSD.
“People often feel broken or hopeless, like they’ll never recover,” Jackie says. “Some believe that if they talk about their trauma, they’ll be re-traumatized. But the trauma is already there. Talking about it might make someone feel more anxious at first, but it actually helps reduce symptoms like nightmares and flashbacks.”
She also cautions against normalizing trauma. “I’ve had patients say things like, ‘Everyone was sexually abused in my generation.’ That mindset keeps people from acknowledging their pain and getting help.”
PTSD in Unexpected Places
PTSD can develop in people we might not expect—from patients dealing with chronic illness to healthcare workers experiencing burnout and compassion fatigue.
“PTSD really can affect anyone,” Jackie says. “Medical procedures, ongoing health battles, or just witnessing repeated suffering—these experiences can be deeply traumatic.”
Diagnosis and Moving Forward
Jackie uses evidence-based tools to help diagnose and track PTSD symptoms.
“I use the DSM-5 criteria along with a PTSD Baseline Checklist rooted in Cognitive Processing Therapy,” she explains. “It helps identify the symptoms that are most intense and track progress over time. We want to see scores going down and quality of life going up.”
While PTSD is considered a chronic condition, Jackie emphasizes that healing is absolutely possible. “PTSD doesn’t have a ‘cure,’ but people can absolutely live joyful, meaningful lives,” she says. “With support, therapy, and tools to manage their symptoms, they can move forward.”
If you or someone you love is struggling with trauma or PTSD, know that help is available, and that you are not alone.
To learn more or schedule an appointment with a mental health provider like Jackie Day, LCSW at Ozarks Community Hospital, visit ochonline.com/locations today.