Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Workplace

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a natural emotional reaction to a deeply shocking and disturbing experience. It may include one exposure or an accumulation over time. It is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. The person affected experienced a traumatic event in which both of the following were present:

1. The person experienced or witnessed or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others;
2. the person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror.

Unfortunate reactions during PTSD may include irritability, sudden angry or violent outbursts, sleep disturbance, irrational or impulsive behavior, poor concentration, impaired memory or an overwhelming sense of injustice and a strong desire to do something about it. These are just a few of the symptoms that may appear when an individual is suffering from PTSD. All of which can be devastating in the workplace. Lost productivity, absenteeism, workplace violence, turnover, employee theft and increased worker's compensation claims are just a few examples.

Having a military background, I fully understand how PTSD can go unnoticed for an extended period of time. I am a Registered Nurse AND Human Resource professional and didn't recognize my own symptoms of PTSD for an extended period of time. As a military healthcare professional, you are trained to be "thick skinned", but it can happen to the most competent professionals--I am a prime example of that scenario--and share the story often. I often describe my experience as an emotional tornado. Until you live through it, it is very difficult to comprehend how devastating it can be.