Do I Really Have PTSD or Is It Something Else???

By Safe Call Now's Dr. Laura Brodie

National statistics report that six out of every ten males and five out of every ten females will experience a serious, traumatic event in their lives. Although the trauma may be painful to experience, not every person who goes through a trauma will develop PTSD. Statistics also say that only 7-8% of these people will develop PTSD.   That is a relatively low number in the general population. The exact statistics of how many first responders develop PTSD is not known but to compare, it is estimated that 30% of Vietnam veterans developed the disorder.  It certainly does occur and is painful and devastating when it does occur but there is also a phenomena that occurs where people simply assume that since the individual has been through a trauma, then they have PTSD.

Working in the mental health field and teaching doctoral students I see this a lot. Because there is a trauma, the therapist simply assumes that all of the problems the individual is having are due to that trauma and they slap the diagnosis of PTSD onto the person. This is wrong and harmful. None of an individual’s psychological issues are caused by one defining moment. Individuals are much more nuanced and multifaceted to have every problem come from one source. It may make the individual feel better initially to believe that if they simply solve the one problem they will be “fixed” but it is a naïve belief and they are soon letdown when not everything is fixed.

Having a reaction of horror or disbelief in the early stages of a trauma is normal. Many times it is abnormal not to have a reaction a strong reaction to trauma. To pathologize a normal emotion to an abnormal situation robs the individual of his own ability to synthesize the trauma into his own psyche and work it through.  It tells the individual there is something wrong with you for having a normal reaction.

The Night Safe Call Now Saved My Officer's Life!!!

Chief Mike Cantaloupe

I know I’m a firm believer of Safe Call Now® but I wanted to share with you what others think that have relied upon us for help.  Treatment works, lives are changed and families are put back together.  We are honored at Safe Call Now® to serve others.

I am a firm believer in the Safe Call Now® program. When I was first appointed as Chief of Police, I encountered what I believe to be a Chief’s or administrator’s worst nightmare. I received a call from another local Chief who stated that one of my officers was threatening to kill himself. There were several text messages from the officer. We were able to isolate my officer but then the real nightmare began. He was able to basically convince my entire command staff that he was fine and that we really needed to let him go home.  I had to literally order one of my Majors to “Baker Act” the officer who by the way is a very close friend of mine. Yes, that made the situation even worse. He became very aggressive towards me and basically told me he hated my guts and I was ruining his career, not in those exact words.  My friend and my officer was going to die!!! 

There were also several other factors that were playing into the entire situation. Needless to say we “Baker Acted” him. I was able to keep him in the hospital for the full 48 hour psychological evaluation and then get him into a program thanks to Safe Call Now®.  I spoke with Chief Muldoon and he gave me your information. Without your help and the program knowledge Safe Call Now® has, we would have been attending a funeral for this officer. He actually told me how and what he was going to do if we had let him go home that night.

Cop... Turned Doctor Now Saving Lives

Marc Gonzalez Pharm.D. - Safe Call Now Board Member

Marc Gonzalez, Pharm.D, earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy. Dr. Gonzalez is the President of Pharmaceutical Diversion Consultants, LLC, providing training to military, law enforcement, and health care professionals. His consulting services also include  conducting compliance evaluations for all entities registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration, including doctors practicing in pain management; providing education and risk mitigation plans to bring pharmacies into compliance and fulfill their corresponding responsibilities; assisting in applying for Prescription Monitoring Programs; providing speakers from federal, state, regulatory, and local law enforcement; and providing assistance to wholesalers who  struggle to understand and initiate compliance programs under the DEA "Know Your Customer" wholesaler standards.

Dr. Gonzalez also provides expert testimony on all drug related matters from appropriate prescribing to drug facilitated sexual assault. He also serves as President of the California Chapter, National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, as well as a consultant for the Department of Defense. His responsibilities with the DoD include training and advising military and law enforcement, and participating in various projects requested from as high as the Office of the President. Dr. Gonzalez is currently the lead instructor for the Department of Defense’s Regional Counter Drug Training Academy at Naval Air Station Meridian. He has also trained at Midwest Counter Drug, and Western Counter Drug Training Academies at their resident military bases throughout the country. Dr. Gonzalez has conducted numerous trainings for military investigative services (NCIS, Army CID, OSI, CGIS, and USMC CID) throughout the World. Dr. Gonzalez is currently an instructor for the California Narcotic Officers’ Association and the International Chiefs’ of Police – Drug Recognition Experts. Dr. Gonzalez developed the original section on “Medical and Psychological Rule-outs” for the IACP-DRE. He is also part of the core course for DRE with the California Highway Patrol, Impaired Driver Unit’s “Pre-School,” and the Los Angeles Police Department’s “Re-Certification” DRE School. He has re-certified DRE’s throughout the country. Dr. Gonzalez is a contributing author and editor for training modules for the Coalition "End Violence Against Women."