The Three Biggest PTSD Myths, Debunked

Nearly 70% of Americans have experienced a traumatic event, and though some don't develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result, its lifetime prevalence affects 6.8% of our population. That's 22+ million people. 

Despite its pervasiveness in our society, PTSD is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. The term "trauma" has become commonplace in our cultural lexicon, regularly thrown around on social media platforms and in everyday conversations. Vox even declared "trauma" as the word of the decade, considering how often it appears in movies, TV shows, books, podcasts, and celebrity interviews.

This widespread yet often inaccurate use of trauma-related terminology has perpetuated a general misunderstanding of what PTSD actually is, who it affects, and what causes it. So before we separate fact from fiction, let's align on what trauma is and how it leads to PTSD. 

In its simplest definition, trauma is a psychological and emotional response to an event or experience that's distressing, disturbing, or overwhelming. Sometimes, the recovery process associated with these experiences is disrupted, and the brain remains in a heightened sense of alert, causing intrusive thoughts and memories, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, and avoidance behaviors. These persistent symptoms are known as PTSD, and they can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life. 

To better understand the complexities of PTSD, let’s examine some of the most pervasive myths about it – and talk about the truth behind the narrative. 

Myth #1: PTSD only impacts veterans. 

One of the most pervasive myths about PTSD is that it exclusively affects military veterans or those in high-stress occupations, such as police officers and firefighters. While these groups certainly can experience PTSD at significant rates, the reality is that this condition impacts anyone who has experienced trauma, including survivors of sexual abuse, domestic violence, gun violence, and accidents. 

The numbers speak for themselves: 

• About 5 out of 100 Americans have PTSD each year; 
• Women are twice as likely to experience trauma and PTSD than men;
• Nearly 50% of PTSD in the United States is due to physical or sexual violence. 

"The stereotype that PTSD only affects veterans is a disservice to civilian trauma survivors seeking help," said Matthew Krauze, LPC, MBA, Trauma Therapist at Nema Health. "We see people from all walks of life struggling with PTSD: college students who survived sexual assault; parents who witnessed their child in danger; women who experienced pregnancy loss; and, of course, military vets who lived in warzones. The majority of PTSD shows up in ordinary life for everyday people."

Myth #2: You must directly experience trauma to develop PTSD. 

Another common misconception is that PTSD only develops in those who directly experienced the traumatic event. The reality is more nuanced. 

Witnessing or hearing about a trauma can trigger PTSD symptoms in people. The critical factor isn't necessarily direct involvement but rather exposure to an event that causes significant emotional and psychological impact. Think of healthcare workers who've treated patients after a disturbing accident, reporters witnessing distressing situations so they can include them in their news coverage, or people hearing a loved one's harrowing experience with a natural disaster. This is called Secondary Traumatic Stress, which can evolve into PTSD.

As such, mental health professionals recognize that the human brain can't always distinguish between direct experiences and witnessed trauma – both can activate stress responses. It’s critical that we recognize these secondary traumas as potential PTSD triggers, so those impacted can get the help they need and recover. 

Myth #3: PTSD is incurable.

Another stereotype is that once you have PTSD, you have it for the rest of your life. This myth diminishes hope for those with PTSD while also contradicting substantial clinical evidence and many tried-and-tested treatments that can effectively reverse PTSD symptoms permanently. 

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and other approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, have shown strong clinical evidence, with new interventions like Written Exposure Therapy (WET) showing promising results as well. Our CPT-focused care model at Nema helps 90% of patients see clinical improvement in their PTSD symptoms. 

"The narrative that PTSD is permanent is incredibly harmful," said Krauze. "Patients regularly reach remission through evidence-based treatments like CPT — these therapies help patients process their trauma and challenge their distorted thinking. For many, these improvements are far from temporary – PTSD is treatable, and full recovery is possible." 

Help is Available 

For anyone experiencing trauma- or PTSD-related symptoms (or know of a loved one who is), the most important thing to remember is that PTSD looks different for everyone, and there's help available if and when you need or want it. There is a big, beautiful, fulfilling life on the other side of PTSD, no matter who you are or what your trauma looks like – don’t forget that. 

‍If you’ve experienced trauma and are worried about developing and/or struggling to manage the symptoms of PTSD, consider making an appointment to speak with one of Nema’s clinicians to find the healing you deserve.