Although the term PTSD is commonly thrown around in casual conversations, it is a condition that many do not fully understand and those who experience it may end up stigmatized in our communities. PTSD is a condition that we, unfortunately, witness frequently from the countless victims of domestic violence who have found refuge at Sakeenah, it is our duty to help simplify the condition and spread awareness. Follow along as we answer some common questions on PTSD:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events.
PTSD does not discriminate. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. Often we associate it with individuals who have experienced traumas from events as large and catastrophic as wars, however, PTSD can also result from trauma experienced within the four walls of a home. Childhood abuse, domestic violence, and serious accidents are all examples of common triggers.
Symptoms for PTSD typically occur within 3 months after a traumatic event and can appear much later on as well. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms can be categorized as the following:
Reappearing Symptoms: Flashbacks, recurring memories, or dreams
Avoidance Symptoms: Physical distance from reminders of the event, avoiding related thoughts and feelings
Reactivity Symptoms: Easily startled, difficulty sleeping, engaging in reckless behaviours
Cognitive And Mood Symptoms: Trouble remembering, loss of interest, negative feelings about the world or themselves, difficulty feeling happiness
Unfortunately, many people suffer in silence when it comes to PTSD, which is why it is crucial to spread awareness. By becoming more aware, we can strive to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the community, educate others on PTSD as a mental condition and not a weakness, and encourage support for treatment.
PTSD Awareness Day is a reminder that no one has to face it alone. By raising awareness and fostering a supportive community, we can help those affected by PTSD find the help and resources they need to heal.
Let’s stand together to break the silence and stigma surrounding PTSD. Share this blog, join the conversation, and be part of the change! Together, we can make a difference.
Sakeenah Canada, a national charitable organization, was founded in 2018 in response to a gap in culturally and religiously sensitive services available for women and children facing domestic violence and homelessness. Since then, our services have expanded to include mental health therapy and counseling. Sakeenah has also started The People’s Market, a food program that helps combat food insecurity, and has become the first licensed foster care agency for Muslim children in all of North America. We currently operate 8 transitional homes across Canada: Toronto, Brampton, Milton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Regina, in addition to the first long-term housing program for Muslim women and children in Canada, in Windsor.
Every night, thousands of women and children in Canada face homelessness, poverty, and trauma. We are on a mission to change that.
While Sakeenah functions at a national level, our head office and The People’s Market operate out of land that is part of the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations.
Sakeenah believes that while a land acknowledgement is the first step, we also understand that land acknowledgements alone are not sufficient to redress the harm caused by centuries of land theft, forced displacement and ongoing acts of settler colonialism. We recognize that this work is ongoing and complex, and we are dedicated to doing our part to create a better future for all.
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