I have learned the (slow) process of how PTSD was identified first on the battlefield. It is alarming that soldiers (men) were expected to just keep going and to accept the horrors they witnessed and experienced as merely being part of their duty. I find it baffling that those who tried to discover what was impacting soldiers assumed it was something physical due to weaponry. Further, it was expected that it was something that would go away within a short period of time. It makes me wonder whether those studying the "gross stress reaction" had ever experienced war themselves.
The DSM-II then included “adjustment reaction to adult life” as a condition that some people might suffer from after a traumatic incident in their life to address those who did not have their symptoms "resolve relatively quickly." It wasn't until 1980 that the DSM III identified "PTSD" due to researching returning Vietnam War Veterans, Holocaust survivors, sexual trauma victims and others inks between the trauma of war and post-military civilian life were established. And, further research found that PTSD is relatively common, with data showing that 5 of every 100 American men (5%) and 10 out of every 100 American women (10%) will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime.
As a high school teacher, I was saddened by the statistics that show teens aged 12-18 go through varying kinds and amounts of trauma, but studies show that about 15% to 43% of girls and 14% to 43% of boys go through at least one trauma. Of those teens who have experienced trauma, 3% to 15% of girls and 6% to 15% of boys develop PTSD. Depending on the type of trauma, the incidence of PTSD can increase significantly. The risk factors for developing PTSD increase with the severity of the trauma (National Center for PTSD, 2016).
Additionally, the statistics that outlined the potential impacts of trauma are grim, and as a Work Experience Coordinator, I was especially concerned that my students who have been impacted by trauma could be 3 times more likely to be absent from work, and 3 times more likely to have serious job problems. This means that I need to provide the student as many opportunities to practice these challenges within a work experience with a high level of support to best help prepare them for long-term successful employment and stability.
