Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Haunting Memories from 9/11 Continue

After 20 years of the national tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, some individuals involuntarily remain in the moment of despair due to the condition of post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

Symptoms vary depending on the person as well as the time passed, but often include paranoia to similar sounds or scenes individuals witnessed during the traumatic event, emotional depression or numbing and flashbacks accordning to NPR. 

“This disaster of 9/11 in New York City has had long-term impacts on both the responders and civilians," director of the World Trade Center Health Registry Mark Farfel said in an NPR interview. “A hallmark of 9/11 conditions is that unfortunately, many of these conditions co-occur … So, for example, PTSD often occurs with depression, and that magnifies the impacts of the disaster."

Director of research at the World Trade Center Health Registry Robert Brackbill also mentioned in an NPR interview that the data they gathered indicated 8-10% have sufficient symptoms to indicate post-traumatic stress disorder and found a higher rate of 17-18% to have symptoms among people who had a closer experience of the disaster.

A coupled issue regarding the disorder is an increase in substance use, with users in hopes of alleviating such memories or pain from their minds. 

“A lot of times what they're doing is self-medicating," psychologist at Emory University Barbara Rothbaum said in an NPR interview. "So they're smoking a lot of marijuana to try to get to sleep tonight. They're drinking a lot to try to get to sleep tonight. But then obviously that can turn into a problem of its own."

With PTSD being a long-term disorder with various consequences, experts claim that it is important for individuals to find therapists or psychologists that will assist their recovery from the event, according to NPR. World Trade Center Health Program is an open platform for individuals affected by the tragedy to recieve help accordingly post-trauma. 

“I sought help in college," student during the tragedy and now working as a coach, Kristina Lozano says. "I got therapy, and therapy was a huge eye-opener for me."