PTSD is a disorder obtained by most men and woman who go to war and fight for our country. After returning from war many people have side affects such as hyper awareness, hyper vigilence, and extreme amounts of adrenaline. We know what causes this in those that go away to war but is it contagious, and how does one come about obtaining it?

A prime example of this type of debate is the story of Brannan Vines. Her husband Caleb has been home from war since 2006 and suffers from PTSD. After returning home some of his symptoms of PTSD started rubbing of onto his wife Brannan. They shared many of the symptoms that have been previously mentioned. This proving that PTSD can be contagious in a way. People are likely to imitate the actions of those around them. It’s inevitable at any age that people are influenced by the ones close to them. For example many parents might monitor who their children associate with when they are young because they do not want them mimicking the actions of children that misbehave. This type of mimicking behavior can also be present in older age. Brannan and her daughter are subjected to her husbands behavior so often that they begin to adapt to their new habitat by taking on some of the traits of PTSD as well.

“Secondary traumatic stress has been documented in the spouses of veterans with PTSD from Vietnam.”(McClelland). How is it possible for these spouses to obtain this disorder if they are not the ones going to war? Well just like anything else in life behaviors can be taught and can be changed. From witnessing PTSD so closely and so often the symptoms start to rub off, this proving that although PTSD may not be “contagious” like a disease, it is definitely transmittable through imitation.