This episode of Fed Thread discusses what happens when the awful thing you experienced doesn’t stay in the past?
What happens when the awful thing you experienced doesn’t stay in the past?
For some federal employees, particularly those working in fields where exposure to trauma is part of the job, the psychological impact can continue long after the incident is over. In some cases, it qualifies as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. But not every difficult or traumatic experience is PTSD.
On this episode of Fed Thread, psychologist, therapist and clinical trainer Faust Ruggiero says it’s an important distinction to make, because using “PTSD” as a catch-all term can make it harder to understand what that person is specifically going through.
Ruggiero describes PTSD as an inability to “reset” after experiencing or witnessing trauma. The effects can show up in flashbacks, nightmares, hyperarousal, isolation, aggression or difficulty maintaining relationships and functioning at work.
While people sometimes casually use the term PTSD to describe a bad experience, Ruggiero says that language can have unintended consequences.
“When you say that, ‘I’ve got PTSD,’ and people hear that, they’re not sure if you really do,” he explains. “And now they’re not sure how to treat you. ‘What do I say to this person?’ So you’re actually putting yourself in a position to be misunderstood and to be treated accordingly.”
His advice is to focus less on labels and more on the specifics of how you feel, what’s happening to you and what has changed.
That’s important because someone can experience trauma and have a serious stress response without having PTSD. With PTSD, Ruggiero says, symptoms tend to be more significant, including exaggerated responses, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, flashbacks and social problems.
Trauma also doesn’t necessarily come from one dramatic event. Ruggiero says it can build over time, with repeated exposure eventually changing the way someone responds to the world. Veterans and first responders, for example, may encounter traumatic situations repeatedly, sometimes without recognizing the cumulative effect until it takes a toll on other parts of their life.
For federal employees, another obstacle can be the fear of what happens if they admit they’re struggling. Ruggiero says employees may avoid seeking help because they worry it could affect their jobs. That makes awareness and early intervention especially important, not just for employees themselves, but for supervisors and colleagues who may notice changes in behavior.
And while Ruggiero says PTSD can be difficult to diagnose and treat, he considers the idea that it can’t be treated at all to be one of the condition’s major misconceptions and obstacles to those suffering from it from getting help.
So what should you do if you feel something is off, but you’re not sure where to go from here, if anywhere at all?
Ruggiero poses two questions back: How important are you to yourself? Are you surviving or thriving?
He emphasizes that getting help doesn’t mean you’re weak or overreacting. And if you think you may have PTSD, he says the answer isn’t to diagnose yourself. Talk to a trained clinician or someone you trust who can help you take the next step.
What if you’re worried about someone else?
Don’t try to diagnose them, Ruggiero advises. Instead, create a safe opening for a conversation, where the person feels accepted and genuinely cared about. A colleague might simply ask, “Are you OK? I’m just concerned about you. Is there anything I can do?”
For more on how to recognize trauma, understand PTSD and approach workplace-related mental health concerns, listen to the full conversation on Fed Thread.
Catch more conversations on podcast platforms, YouTube or on the Fed Thread hub page.
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Alex Witt is host of the Federal News Network podcast Fed Thread, focused on federal employee work, wellness, benefits and finances.
