Service Connection for PTSD
Part I: Establishing a PTSD Diagnosis
McGill and Noble can help you file for disability if you suffer from PTSD.
PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental health condition that can happen to someone after they've experienced or witnessed a really scary, shocking, or dangerous event. It's the mind's way of trying to deal with the intense feelings and memories from that event. Even long after the event is over, the person can feel like it's happening all over again.
Here are five common symptoms of PTSD:
-
Flashbacks: This is when someone feels like they are reliving the traumatic event. It's like a very vivid, unwanted memory that feels real, as if the event is happening again right at that moment.
-
Avoidance: People with PTSD might avoid places, people, or activities that remind them of the traumatic event because it brings back painful memories. They might also try to avoid thinking or talking about the event.
-
Negative changes in thoughts and mood: This can include feelings of hopelessness, memory problems, or feeling distant from friends and family. People with PTSD might find it hard to feel positive emotions like happiness.
-
Being easily startled or feeling 'on edge': This is when someone with PTSD is very easily scared or startled by things that wouldn't usually bother them. They might always feel like they need to be on the lookout for danger, which can make them feel tense or nervous.
-
Changes in physical and emotional reactions: This is also called 'arousal symptoms.' It can include trouble sleeping, irritability, angry outbursts, being easily startled, or having trouble concentrating.
It's important to know that having these symptoms doesn't always mean someone has PTSD. A doctor or a mental health professional can help figure that out and provide the right kind of help.
Source: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/index.asp
