The term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD, was coined in 1980 by the American Psychological Association when it formally became recognized as a diagnosable condition after the Vietnam War. However, war did not create the condition itself. For as long as humans have lived and experienced traumatic events, whether it be battle, abuse, accidents, or a natural disaster, a psychological response has followed, even if we didn’t have a name for it.
It’s estimated that 70 percent of the adult population in the US has experienced a traumatic event at some point in their lives — 20 percent of those adults go on to develop PTSD. At any given time, 13 million Americans are suffering from the negative effects of PTSD.
