If one storm causes PTSD, why can't we understand hundreds of them?

If one storm causes PTSD, why can't we understand hundreds of them?
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
October 27, 2013

I read a lot of mental health news reports, especially when the topic is the aftermath of trauma. The list of causes is long from weather events to abuse and crimes. I read them after 9-11 when survivors from the Towers as well as the people around the country were diagnosed with PTSD. Reading them about police officers, firefighters and emergency responders battling PTSD while still trying to save lives in our communities. Most of the time the reports I read are about our veterans and the troops risking their lives everyday.

There is a question no one seems to be asking. How can we understand PTSD from one weather event but we can't seem to understand when war fighters and first responders face hundreds of times with their lives on the line?

Is it because we expect them to be better than the rest of us? Well, for the most part, that is pretty obvious but then there are many average folks always showing up when people are in trouble and need help. We saw that in Boston after the bombing during the marathon. Some folks ran away as others ran toward the wounded. What makes them do it? What makes them willing to risk their lives when so many do not?

Survivors struggle with emotional toll of Hurricane Sandy
Press Of Atlantic City
By DONNA WEAVER Staff Writer
October 27, 2013

Ken Turner’s physical and mental health deteriorated in the days and months after Hurricane Sandy.

He knew something was wrong. He was anxious, fearful, and living with a constant sense of doom.

Watching, from his neighbor’s window, the water rush through his home was an image he couldn’t get out of his head. He began to forget things, and his speech was affected.

Earlier this year, Turner, 46, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He smiles and refers to it as “Post Traumatic Sandy Disorder.” It didn’t help Turner’s condition that he had spinal surgery this past spring after an injury unrelated to the storm.

PTSD is a vestige of Hurricane Sandy that many people continue to live with. It is silent, and not visible the way destroyed homes are, so it has not gotten a great deal of focus in the media during the storm’s aftermath.

But it is real.

“I’m suffering with it. I see a psychiatrist every month for it. I had to get help,” Turner said.
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After 9-11 firefighters did what they do best. They rushed in to save lives, then stayed to recover as many as possible even though they didn't know if there would be another attack.

Everyone was changed after 9-11 because of the example they lived by.

Even after the bombing in Boston people showed up on the street in large groups to come together and share the sadness gaining strength from others.

For the responders it was not just one day from hell. It was another one followed by many more yet we cannot seem to understand how they would need more help healing.

For the war fighters, we seem to think they are trained to do their jobs so there should be no problems when they come home. After all, they are better than us. Tougher than us. But they are still human with all the same fears no matter what is asked of them and they manage to meet every challenge head on so we forget that part.

So how is it that we can understand the support average folks in our communities need from us but we can't seem to manage to understand how the responders putting themselves in danger for the rest of us need more from us?