You Are Not So Smart 057 - PTSD - Robert D. Laird
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Aug 27, 2015 
Psychologist Robert D. Laird discusses PTSD post-Katrina, exploring triggers, symptoms, and combatting effects. Personal anecdotes on enduring fear and helplessness from natural disasters are shared. Strategies for managing PTSD triggers, like exposure therapy and social support, are highlighted.
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When Trauma Becomes Lasting
- PTSD often arises from extended periods of fear, vulnerability, and lack of control during life-threatening events.
- The longer and more inescapable the threat, the higher the chance of strong, lasting PTSD.
The Silent Calm Before Katrina
- David McRaney describes the eerie communal silence during Katrina's calm when neighbors stepped outside and said nothing.
- That shared, stunned observation captures the surreal helplessness of the event.
Misattribution Hides PTSD
- People with PTSD often don't realize their symptoms come from the traumatic event and misattribute feelings to current causes.
- This lack of insight delays diagnosis and leads to blaming visible, but irrelevant, factors.