PTSD Among Journalists: Understanding Prevalence and Counseling

This article will focus on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the lifetime prevalence rate of PTSD among journalists is as high as 28.6 percent. Let’s learn more about it.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, causes people to relive terrors in the journalism field. Now, more than ever, journalists who are first responders face numerous feelings related to post-traumatic stress disorder experiences. After going through a traumatic event negative thoughts will inevitably follow after. Living those kinds of events develops psychiatric disorders, and seeking trauma-focused psychotherapy and a support group can prevent it or help people recover.

According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the lifetime prevalence diagnostic and statistical manual rate of PTSD among journalists is as high as 28.6 percent.

They also have a lifetime prevalence of PTSD at 21.4 percent. This is said because journalism needs you to expose yourself to and be aware of all the events in the world, including those that are undeniably ugly and ruthless, like intimate partner violence, as well as life-threatening events. Being a journalist requires you to process, rewrite, and retell the story of oppression and injustice.

What Is The Extent Of PTSD Prevalence Among Journalists And How Important Is Counseling?

It is extremely important to note that the prevalence of the PTSD is higher for journalists than for the general population. Because of this, especially if you are a journalist, you might want to consider counseling. It is an effective treatment that can help journalists determine the symptoms and identify its causes. A mental health professional can provide a treatment plan to address dysfunctional behavior and disturbing thoughts brought about by suffering from a terrifying event or when experiencing interpersonal violence.

Talk therapy can be a great way to cope after a traumatic event happened. Experiencing interpersonal violence can have a lot of effects on a journalist. Substance use, shell shock, or having distressing dreams can be other side effects. They can seek cognitive behavioral therapy to make the person confront the inner battles they face.

Determining The Symptoms In Journalists

Similar to the symptoms of PTSD, journalists can experience intrusive memories, avoidance, and negative mood symptoms and thoughts.

Because journalists are likely to develop the disorder, they can also have varying degrees of physical and emotional reactions to the event. These symptoms can have a significant effect on social relationships.

Counseling Available For Journalists

Consulting a counselor can help journalists determine the symptoms of PTSD and its severity. A counselor can help them identify these symptoms to devise a treatment plan tailored to their mental health needs.

Having Intrusive Thoughts And Memories

A journalist with intrusive memories may have recurrent and unwanted distress from the traumatic experience. They may also have frequent flashbacks as if they were presently reliving the moment. Journalists can also have dreams and nightmares about the traumatic event. Just reminding them of the memories can cause severe physical and emotional reactions. They may have extreme outbursts from time to time. A memory or a loud noise can also trigger a journalist with PTSD. This can be overcome by taking an anxiety pill or other medications, although not everyone can be receptive.

Avoidance Of The Traumatic Event

Most people who develop PTSD, including journalists, may also deliberately avoid talking about their traumatic memories from sexual violence, sexual assault, serious injury, natural disaster, or even being war veterans and military personnel. They may also suffer from similar symptoms such as trouble sleeping, emotional processing, anger outbursts, depression, ongoing trauma, suicidal thoughts, control symptoms, and adjustment disorders. Another significant symptom is avoidance, which causes them to intentionally avoid people, places, and activities that trigger stress hormones and remind them of these traumatic memories and negative thoughts. For instance, journalists and famous people with depression and PTSD may avoid watching the news about events dealing with angry outbursts, physical assault on very young children, veterans affairs, psychiatric disorders, natural disasters, sexual assaults, and other horrifying incidents.

Negative Changes In Mood And Thought Process

Aside from the symptoms mentioned, people develop negative behavioral symptoms and physical symptoms even before treatment. They may project traumatic events and negative thoughts on themselves or the people around them. These individuals will also manifest hopelessness about their future and other mental health problems if they develop PTSD. Although it affects people differently, once these mental disorders prevail, they will experience traumatic events and negative thoughts and have difficulty developing and maintaining relationships. A person may feel detached from their family and friends and require family therapy or group therapy to bring back positive emotions for blood relatives for more than a month. Eventually, they retain the negative emotions to feel numb and may lack interest in their hobbies and everyday activities.

In terms of their overall process, they may also have significant memory problems, arousal symptoms, physical assault tendencies, avoidance symptoms, physical symptoms, and other mental health problems for more than a month. According to the National Center For PTSD, individuals who develop the disorder may have a hard time remembering the crucial aspects of the traumatic moment.

Reacting Physically And Emotionally To Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders: Treatment

There are also changes in the physical and emotional reactivity symptoms observed in individuals who develop PTSD. For instance, a journalist reliving the experience may be easily startled or frightened and don’t respond effectively to changes — those are a couple of reactivity symptoms. Moreover, one of the reactivity symptoms seen in journalists who develop PTSD as well is that they may always be on guard even in the medical community — as if they are presently in danger.

These individuals can also engage in self-destructive behavior at times, even among family members. For instance, they like even dealing with unhealthy drinking, reckless driving, sleep problems, or substance abuse. Some may also have difficulties with mental illness, concentrating, and other mental health problems. They may react aggressively when the mental health problems coming from the traumatic experience come to light. During the process of treatment, they can feel guilt and shame over the event.

Identifying Mental Disorders And Their Causes

Although it affects people differently, and there are no standardized and universalized causes of the development of PTSD in journalists, similar traumatic events, important aspects, and risk factors can be analyzed to determine the development of PTSD. Attending a counseling session can help journalists identify the root causes of their traumatic experiences. A counselor can help them address these specific events leading to the severity of their developed symptoms.

According to the Mayo Foundation, because of the nature of their job, journalists are prone to vicarious trauma. Vicarious trauma, also known as secondary stress, can be attributed to people exposed to:

• • Crime and accident scenes
  • Hospitals
  • War zones
  • Humanitarian and natural disasters

The Impact Of Interviewing Victims

According to Mental Health Services Administration, interviewing victims of these tragedies can also pose a traumatic risk to their mental disorders. When these violent incidents cannot be processed immediately with a briefing, it can result in developing traumatic event avoidance symptoms and eventually PTSD.

Aside from developing PTSD, journalists can also experience burnout. Burnout can lead to anxiety and disorganized sleeping patterns. PTSD can also lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as excessive eating or non-eating behaviors. The national library can be a good place to look for these behaviors.

Experiencing vicarious trauma is not similar to burnout, but it can be related. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, counseling can help identify the difference between PTSD caused by vicarious trauma and the burnout that accompanies the disorder.

Types Of Counseling And Therapy For Journalists Who Develop The Disorder

The main goals of therapy for journalists are to help them alleviate their symptoms and teach them strategies to deal with symptoms. Along with the progression of the treatment plan, counseling can help them restore their self-confidence and self-esteem to face their trauma.

Most of the therapies used to manage the symptoms are using the cognitive-behavioral therapy approach. It involves rewriting thought patterns to change behavior effectively. Here are the most common types of counseling and therapy used for treating individuals.

Cognitive Processing Therapy For Those Who Develop Symptoms

In cognitive-processing therapy, you will discuss how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affected your daily life. Your counselor may ask you to write a detailed narration of the event. This activity will help you examine how your thought process works with the trauma. And identify methods to deal with and live with PTSD.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

In prolonged exposure therapy, your counselor may require you to confront the things reminding you of post-traumatic stress disorder. Your counselor can help you develop breathing techniques to ease the anxiety and emotional distress related to the event. The purpose of this session is to expose you to the disorder without avoiding it gradually. Eventually, you will develop resilience towards these situations.

Other Types of Therapies For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Some of the therapies your counselor recommends, if you need one, include:

• • Stress Inoculation Training
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Whatever type of approach your counselor deems fit, they can help mitigate symptoms. Some counselors can also prescribe medications to control the “fight or flight” response to ease the symptoms and calm your nerves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health illness that may follow a stressful event or experience. These include war, sexual assault, natural catastrophes, and catastrophic accidents. Flashbacks, nightmares, and extreme anxiety, which are some of the PTSD symptoms, impair everyday life. Treatment should be applied effectively to prevent long-term psychological anguish.

Who gets post-traumatic stress disorder?

People of various backgrounds may acquire PTSD. While it’s often linked with military warriors, it may impact any trauma victim. Personal mental health history, the severity of the traumatic event, and lack of rapid help might increase post traumatic stress disorder risk. Importantly, not all victims of traumatic events acquire the disease.

How long does post-traumatic stress disorder last?

Some people suffer symptoms of PTSD for months, others for years. Mental health, trauma severity, and therapeutic effectiveness often determine it. Prognoses improve with early diagnosis and treatment.

How is post-traumatic stress disorder detected?

A full clinical examination, including psychiatric interviews and psychological evaluations, frequently detects PTSD. The main goal is to detect PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and hyperarousal. Exposure to traumatic events and symptom self-report questionnaires are also employed. Proper diagnosis requires a mental health specialist.

Are there effective ways to treat post-traumatic stress disorder?

Multiple methods may treat post traumatic stress disorder PTSD. Psychotherapy, like CBT and pharmaceuticals, are the most prevalent techniques. These treatments aim to reduce PTSD symptoms, promote mental health, and teach coping skills. Sometimes, counseling and drugs work better together.

Why do some people experience post-traumatic stress disorder and other people do not?

Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD is influenced by resilience and psychology. A robust support system, adequate coping techniques, and previous mental health might also affect PTSD risk following a stressful event. Genetic predisposition may contribute to the risk.

Does post-traumatic stress disorder go away?

Symptoms of PTSD may be addressed, but some may last a lifetime. PTSD may not vanish, but therapy and medicines may improve the quality of life. Symptom persistence depends on trauma severity and mental health.

What happens if post-traumatic stress disorder is left untreated?

Post-traumatic stress disorder may cause severe psychiatric disorders and impair daily functioning if left untreated. It may be detrimental to relationships, employment, and overall health. Untreated PTSD may also result in depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

Is post-traumatic stress disorder brain damage?

PTSD is not a brain injury, but evidence suggests it may damage brain structure and function. It changes the brain’s stress response and emotions, but not physically. Understanding that PTSD a treatable mental health condition, not a brain injury, is crucial.

Can post-traumatic stress disorder change your personality?

PTSD may modify behavior and emotions but not personality. Untreated post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD may cause anger, social disengagement, and other personality changes. Early treatment is necessary to manage these symptoms and potential personality changes effectively.

What are the 5 signs of post-traumatic stress disorder?

Flashbacks, nightmares, acute anxiety, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, and hyperarousal characterize post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. These symptoms of PTSD may profoundly impair everyday life and health.

What does PTSD do to a person?

PTSD may cause distressing, traumatic thoughts and sensations. It may significantly affect social, vocational, and interpersonal functioning, lowering the quality of life. Flashbacks, extreme anxiety, and avoidance behaviors contribute to ongoing suffering.

How do you know if you have PTSD?

See a healthcare provider if you have flashbacks, nightmares, acute anxiety, and avoidance behaviors after a traumatic event. PTSD-focused psychiatric interviews and psychological evaluations are employed to diagnose the condition.

How do you calm PTSD?

Treatment for PTSD frequently includes counseling and medication. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness techniques, and medications such as antidepressants can reduce symptoms of PTSD. Consultation with a mental health specialist is vital for a customized treatment plan.

Is PTSD a form of anxiety?