Dealing with Trauma and PTSD Privately and in Public

The Psychedelic Future of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment

“…Though the diagnosis of PTSD is relatively new, the impact of trauma on psychological functioning has been described throughout history and literature. The modern history of PTSD begins in the 19th century when the effects of trauma were highlighted by early experts in the field of psychology and psychoanalysis, including in Breuer and Freud’s “Studies on Hysteria” (1895) and Kraepelin’s “fright neurosis” (1896) [ 100 - 102 ]. The concept of “Railway Spine,” proposed in the mid-1800s, was an early attempt to explain psychological sequelae to trauma through a physical lens.…”

“…Inflammation of the spine was posited as a core factor in post-traumatic reactions following railway collisions; psychological factors, such as hysteria and neurasthenia, were incorporated into this theory over time, but this fundamental attribution of traumatic symptoms to spinal injury led to treatments that did not adequately address psychological needs [ 103 - 105 ]. Militaries began to recognize the impact of trauma on psychological functioning, defining terms such as “soldier’s heart” (Civil War) [ 67 , 106 ] and “shell shock” (World War I) [ 107 , 108 ], among others [ 67 , 100 , 109 , 110 ]. However, these were also often attributed to physical causes: “disordered action of the heart” during the South African War was considered a result of the exertion of equipment and webbing on a soldier’s chest; “shell shock” in World War I was initially considered a result of exploding shells; and “Gulf War Syndrome” was hypothesized to be related to toxins to which soldiers were exposed (as reviewed in Jones, 2006) [ 111 ].…”