Among people who experience some sort of trauma, what percentage do you think go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder? A third? A Half? More?
Actually, the answer is 10%. An overestimation of how common it is to develop PTSD after trauma is one of the misconceptions my guest thinks are leading to its overdiagnosis and an underestimation of human resilience.
Dr. Joel Paris is a professor emeritus of psychiatry and the author of Myths of Trauma: Why Adversity Does Not Necessarily Make Us Sick. Today on the show, Joel explains what some of those myths of trauma are, including the idea that it's trauma itself which causes PTSD. Joel argues that PTSD is instead created when exposure to trauma meets an individual's susceptibility to it, and he explains what psychological, biological, and even social factors contribute to this susceptibility. We also get into how the methods used to prevent the triggering of trauma can backfire and how the treatment for PTSD will be ineffective if it only focuses on processing an adverse experience.
Resources Related to the EpisodeWhen to Quit
The Vagabond Travel Ethos
Can Virtue Be Taught?
The Cues That Make You Charismatic
Jack London's Literary Code [Rebroadcast]
Data-Backed Answers to Personal Finance Controversies
The Power of Ritual
The 7 Types of Work Jerks (And How to Deal With Them)
A World War II Story of Survival, Love, and Redemption
The Power of Unwavering Focus
The Character Traits That Drive Optimal Performance [REBROADCAST]
Grappling With Life's "Wild Problems"
How to Read Minds and Detect Deception
The Bicycle as Freedom and Flight
The Groundhog Day Roadmap for Changing Your Life
Where You Should Live When You Could Live Anywhere
From Novice to Advanced — The Weightlifter's Journey
Tactics and Mindset Shifts for Making the Most of Life
Lonesome Dove and Life's Journey Through Uncertainty
Future-Proof Your Body by Practicing Good Posture
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free