Can PTSD from Bullying Be a Serious Problem?

Precursor of future health issues

     Bullying is a devastating occurrence in anyone’s life. But are you aware that being a bully or a victim can lead to very serious health issues as an adult.  Yes, either party can develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD from childhood abuse can result in many different chronic types of mental and physical health in adulthood. It does not matter whether you were the victim or the abuser.  This can reduce the overall quality of life. Social security disability for veterans with PTSD is quite common because it can be very debilitating.

Definition of PTSD

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it is a psychological reaction occurring after experiencing a highly stressful event (such as wartime combat, physical violence, or a natural disaster) that is usually characterized by depression, anxiety, flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the event.

PTSD is a common anxiety disorder. It can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal. This can be when grave physical harm or the threat of harm occurred. Family members of victims can also develop the disorder. PTSD can occur in people of any age. This includes children and adolescents. More than twice as many women as men experience PTSD.  It can be from exposure to trauma. It can also include depression, alcohol or other substance abuse. Other anxiety disorders such as Generalized Anxiety disorder can be comorbid with PTSD. In addition to the four different types of PTSD. There are 17 different recognized symptoms?

This is a partial list of the seventeen different symptoms.

• Intrusive thoughts
• Nightmares
• Avoiding reminders of the event
• Memory Loss
• Self Isolation; Feeling distant
• Anger and Irritability
• Hypervigilence
• Difficulty Concentrating. 

Bullying Effects On Adulthood.

     Bullying can devastate you when you are young. Research has shown that bullying and harassment when you are young can also cause PTSD. These symptoms can surpass physical abuse, neglect, and exposure to community violence. Other research has shown that childhood victims of bullying can exhibit a severe level of response. This can be 57% higher than needed to diagnose PTSD as an adult. Many studies show that as much as 75% of the population who get bullied as a child will developmental difficulties as an adult. Here are some additional facts about bullying.

• Over 77% of American students have been bullied verbally, mentally, and physically.
• About 85% of incidents receive no kind of intervention, so it is common for bullying to be ignored.
• In surveys quoted by the DHHS, approximately 30% of young people admit to bullying others.

Who Is Affected?

There are typical symptoms that develop because of bullying. Bullying can cause feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, anger, and fear. This makes the bullying far more likely to trigger an episode of PTSD. Even though most people associate PTSD with military veterans. It can develop in almost anyone that has suffered emotional or physical trauma. It can even come from a sexual trauma like rape.

The four major groups of PTSD symptoms are.

• Reliving the event (through flashbacks or nightmares, for example).
• Avoiding situations (such as being afraid to leave home or talk about the trauma).
• Negative beliefs and discouraged attitude about life, friends, and the world.
• Arousal, including sleeplessness, difficulty concentrating or being startled.

Where to Start

     Issues with mental health, if they are chronic (persistent or recurring) can be debilitating. Your body can respond to depression or anxiety. This is much like how it responds to physical illness. And sometimes, mental problems can occur because of a physical condition. So the first person to see if you think you are having a mental issue is your primary care physician.

     Your doctor will ask about your symptoms. How long you’ve been having them, and whether they’re constant or come and go. He will check for physical problems that could be causing your symptoms. He can then help you decide on what type of mental health professional to see. That doctor will help you to decide on what kind of therapy might be best for you.

Keyword:  PTSD