LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) – July 4th is an exciting time for fireworks fans, but local behavioral health experts want people to be mindful of veterans and other neighbors who may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Loud noises can trigger a fear response in those living with PTSD, and those reactions may last a while before people can calm down.
Marcia Dunn, a Patient Therapist with Gundersen Health System says, “be aware that it’s a normal response to an abnormal thing that happened to somebody. It has nothing to do with being crazy … the brain kind of does what it’s going to do because it’s predicting that these things are dangerous.”
Dunn says there are ways you can warn neighbors before you set off fireworks.
She suggests posting on neighborhood social media pages or putting up a sign in your yard telling others when you plan on lighting fireworks.
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