Are You a Survivor?

Have you lived through a scary event? If so, you could get post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most often, PTSD happens within three months of the event. But PTSD can also show up years later. These events can trigger this illness:

• Being raped or physically abused

• Being in a bad accident

• Being a soldier or victim of war

Are any of these things true for you?

• Scary pictures of the event pop into my head. I feel as if the bad thing is happening again.

• I don’t have any feelings for others.

• I don’t know how to deal with my anger, grief, and fear.

• I feel depressed and hopeless.

• I feel threatened often.

• I drink alcohol or use drugs so that I won’t feel sadness or pain.

If at least one of the above things applies to you, you may have PTSD. You should talk with your doctor.

Need help?

Abuse is against the law. If you or someone you know is being abused, here's how to get help:

• Call 911 if you are in danger.
• Talk to someone you trust, like your minister or doctor.  Ask that person to help you find a counselor. 
• Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline® at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800- 799-7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.  The hotline can tell you places to go where no one can find you, and it can help you make a plan to stay safe.
• Click onto any of these sites for more information:

                       - www.endabuse.org

                       - www.ndvh.org

                       - Keystone Mercy