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Hi everyone , let's talk about PTSD . 

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You've probably heard the term , but 

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what does it really mean ? PTSD or 

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post-traumatic stress disorder is a 

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mental health condition that can 

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develop after experiencing or 

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witnessing a traumatic event . It's not 

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a sign of weakness and it's nothing to 

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be ashamed of . Traumatic events can 

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take many forms . It could be something 

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like a combat deployment . It could be 

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a serious accident or a personal 

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assault . It could even be witnessing a 

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traumatic event happening to someone 

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else . It's important to remember that 

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PTSD can affect anyone regardless of 

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their background or AFSD . There's a 

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lot of misconceptions about PTSD . One 

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common myth is that only affects combat 

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veterans . While combat can certainly 

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be a cause , PTSD can result from many 

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trauma experiences . How do you know if 

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you or someone that you know might be 

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struggling with PTSD ? The symptoms can 

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vary from person to person , but some 

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common signs include flashbacks . 

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That's reliving the traumatic event as 

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if it's happening again , nightmares , 

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distressing dreams related to the 

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trauma , avoidance , trying to avoid 

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people , places or things that remind 

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you of the trauma , negative thoughts 

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and feelings , feeling detached , 

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hopeless , or having persistent 

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negative beliefs about yourself or the 

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world . Hyperarousal , being easily 

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startled , feeling on edge , or having 

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difficulty sleeping , these symptoms 

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can significantly impact your daily 

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life . You might find it difficult to 

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concentrate at work , leading to 

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decreased mission readiness . You might 

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have trouble connecting with your 

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family and friends . You might even 

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start to isolate yourself from others . 

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It's important to recognize these signs 

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and seek help if you're struggling . 

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The good news is that help is available 

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and it works . Seeking help is a sign 

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of strength , not weakness . There are 

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many resources available to Air Force 

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members and their families . You can 

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reach out to your base mental health 

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clinic , talk to your chaplain , or 

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contact Military One source for 

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confidential support . Remember , these 

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resources are there to help you get 

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back on track and maintain your 

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well-being . The Air Force values your 

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well-being , and there are many 

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safeguards in place to protect your 

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privacy . So don't let the fear hold 

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you back from getting the support that 

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you need . Your personal mission and 

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your life are important .