PTSD -- is it guaranteed or not

[Jks9199]

Discussing this elsewhere. Martial arts teacher has a student who successfully defended himself against a real knife attack, and was seeking advice for helping the student. I warned that the student would experience some PTSD, and offered some guidance on helping the guy cope with and shift that to a manageable level. Others felt that PTSD wasn't necessarily going to happen or guaranteed.

Thoughts? If a person is in a traumatic situation, will they develop some degree of PTSD? Note that I say it must be traumatic -- as in extreme, and out of the ordinary. Most of us cops have been innoculated against assaults and the like; it takes more to cross us into traumatic rather than "damn, that was a good 'un!" than the average person or martial arts student.

[pgg]

I think it depends on the individual mindset and makeup of the person. Some people just have the ability to cope with and justify things in their minds without a problem.

That said it is good that the instructor is looking out for his student. If any of those signs show themselves then he can take action to help with it.

[lewisipso]

Some people just have the ability to cope with and justify things in their minds without a problem.

This. I have met and known persons who simply did not have a problem doing what they did, wrote a report about it and went to bed. One never knows what happens in private but their public face was worn just fine. This may very well be the exception of course and not the rule.

[Odd]

Shell Shock, PTSD, or any of the myriad of other names this psychological trauma has comes down to the person and their experiences, no?

An 11th century diary maid may well have shrug off things a warrior today is haunted by. It's well worthy of concern.

[Five-0]

I think it is dependent on the individual. Our society is moving toward protecting itself from reality and responsibility though. I think that legitimate PTSD will be on the rise because of this trend.