06/20/2026
💙 June is PTSD Awareness Month and we want to talk about something that affects far more people in our community than most realize. Post-traumatic stress disorder is not just a military condition. It can develop after any traumatic experience including car accidents, natural disasters, sexual assault, the sudden loss of a loved one, childhood trauma, or witnessing violence. An estimated 1 in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime and many are living with it without ever knowing that is what it is.
Some signs that are not always recognized as PTSD: avoiding places, people, or situations that trigger memories of the event, feeling constantly on edge or easily startled, nightmares or intrusive thoughts, emotional numbness, difficulty sleeping, and feeling disconnected from the people around you. These are not signs of weakness. They are signs that your nervous system experienced something it is still trying to process.
If any of this resonates with you or someone you care about, please reach out for help. The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988 and pressing 1. The SAMHSA National Helpline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357. You do not have to carry this alone. 💙