PORTLAND, OR -- For many, fireworks are a necessary part of any July Fourth celebration. But the loud explosions are tough for some people, "They very much resemble the sights and sounds of combat, of gunfire and of explosions," says Dr. Mikel Matto, a clinical psychiatrist at OHSU, "So, a lot of people with PTSD, these fireworks can really flood them with fear and sensations like a racing heart and sweatiness." He says it makes the holiday particularly difficult for veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, "One of the problems with PTSD is that when a person is exposed to sights or sounds that resemble a traumatic experience, like combat, that exposure can trigger unwanted memories."
It leads to a complicated relationship between veterans and Independence Day. "Many of these veterans are proud of their service and patriotic by nature. But the fireworks of the Fourth of July is what causes so many of them to have to stay away from these celebrations," says Dr. Matto, "And they miss out on a holiday that really should be honoring them, in a way."
He says people with PTSD should maintain their mental healthcare routine during this time, and avoid visiting places with loud noises, like commercial fireworks shows, "There’s a set day and time that they occur at a specific place. I think those are easier for people with PTSD to accommodate, because there’s a place they shouldn’t go at a time they shouldn’t go, and they can sort of get through that short period of time." But, he says, neighbors and friends can also help, "We can avoid using those fireworks in areas that are unexpected. If it’s around a particular show, that’s fine. But not to do it in the middle of the night on your street, or not to do it in areas that are unadvertised."
Dr. Matto is encouraged by a shift in recent years to alternative celebrations, "Now, a lot of people are celebrating Fourth of July at city or county-sanctioned events, like drone shows or lasers or other visual spectacles where we can get together and celebrate, that aren’t so triggering for people."
