Jessica Hamblen PhD MA NIMH
PTSD Myths
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder. Many people believe things about mental health disorders that aren’t true. Here are some myths about PTSD. Myth: PTSD is in your head. It does not exist. PTSD does exist. It is a recognized mental health problem that has been studied for many years. You…
Ron’s Story: Therapy Helps
For 38 years, Ron kept his Vietnam memories to himself. When stress brought on flashbacks, he dealt with them by drinking them away. “I didn’t realize I had a problem,” he said. “I run a very successful program with a great staff. I considered it recreational drinking, but really I was self-medicating.” But on one…
Tim’s Story: Dealing With Trauma And Grief
As a medic in Iraq, Tim was always in the midst of suffering. He treated soldiers with horrible wounds. He saw some die. Within one day of returning home, he faced another trauma. His father died of cancer. “He was my best friend for my whole life. That just threw my whole brain out of whack,” Tim said. Grief forced the…
Marvin’s Story: Coping After the Hurricane
The hurricane still haunts Marvin. He and his wife, daughter, and four grandkids huddled on a neighbor’s roof as floodwaters from the storm surges swirled around them. Lashed by wind and debris, they survived by hooking themselves to a rooftop exhaust vent. “The water just kept rising,” he said, beginning to cry. “The…