What Is PTSD Awareness Month and Why Should It Matter to You?

What Is PTSD Awareness Month and Why Should It Matter to You?

Every June, PTSD Awareness Month shines a much-needed light on something millions of people live with every day - but rarely talk about openly.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is more than a military-related condition. It affects survivors of domestic violence, emotional abuse, sexual trauma, accidents, childhood neglect, medical trauma, natural disasters, and more.

It doesn’t always look like flashbacks and nightmares. Sometimes it looks like emotional numbness, hyper-vigilance, insomnia, or constant self-blame.
And too often, it goes unseen, undiagnosed, and unsupported.

So what is PTSD Awareness Month really about? And why should it matter to you?

Let’s talk about it.

💡 What Is PTSD Awareness Month?

PTSD Awareness Month was established to educate the public, reduce stigma, and support those living with trauma. It’s not just a campaign - it’s a call to action.

Throughout June, organizations and individuals work to:

• Spread facts about PTSD
• Challenge harmful myths
• Offer hope and resources to those struggling in silence
• Promote compassionate conversations

It’s about telling survivors: You are not broken. You are not alone. What happened to you matters - and so does your healing.

🧠 Who Does PTSD Affect?

PTSD can affect anyone - regardless of age, gender, race, or background.

According to the National Center for PTSD:

• About 6% of the U.S. population will experience PTSD at some point
• 1 in 3 survivors of domestic violence develop PTSD symptoms
• Many people live with Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), caused by prolonged trauma like childhood abuse or coercive control

But even with these numbers, many people still think PTSD only “counts” if it comes from combat or a one-time event. That’s why awareness matters.

💬 Why Should PTSD Awareness Matter to You?

Even if you haven’t experienced trauma yourself, chances are you love someone who has. PTSD can affect:

• A partner who flinches at sudden sounds
• A friend who avoids certain places or people
• A coworker who shuts down under pressure
• A parent who seems distant or irritable
• A sister who never feels safe, even when she is

Awareness creates empathy. And empathy creates change.

It helps us:

• Respond to loved ones with understanding, not frustration
• Create safer, more inclusive spaces
• Stop judging what we don’t understand
• Support trauma-informed practices at home, at work, and in schools

💜 How Can You Show Support During PTSD Awareness Month?

You don’t have to be a therapist or activist to make a difference. Here’s how you can start:

• Listen without fixing
  Sometimes just saying “I believe you” or “You’re not overreacting” is everything.
• Learn more about trauma
  The more you know, the better you can support others. Follow survivor-led accounts, read trauma-informed blogs, and share helpful resources.
• Use your voice (and your gifts)
  Wear a PTSD awareness shirt. Gift someone a mug that reminds them of their resilience. Start conversations that reduce shame.
• Support trauma-conscious brands
  At My Sister Is a Survivor, everything we create - from affirming jewelry to empowering drinkware - is designed to comfort, validate, and uplift. Because healing is personal, but no one should walk it alone.

 🕯️ Closing Thought

PTSD Awareness Month is more than a date on the calendar - it’s a reminder that trauma doesn’t disappear when the world moves on. But with compassion, courage, and community, healing is always possible.

This June, let’s hold space for survivors. Let’s challenge the silence. And let’s remember:

“You don’t have to understand someone’s pain to honor it.”