What is Post Traumatic Jets Disorder?
Posttraumatic Jets Disorder, or PTJD, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or extended periods of rooting for the NY Jets. Witnessing events such as Late hits on Bernie Kosar, The Mud Bowl, Blair Thomas, Leon Johnson Halfback Pass, The Fake Spike, Doug Brien and losses against Cleveland and Buffalo in 2006. Most survivors of this kind of trauma return to normal given a little time. However, some people will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time.
These individuals may develop PTJD. People who suffer from PTJD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.
PTJD is marked by clear biological changes as well as psychological symptoms. PTJD is complicated by the fact that it frequently occurs in conjunction with related disorders such as depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other problems of physical and mental health. The disorder is also associated with impairment of the person's ability to function in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems and divorces, family discord, and difficulties in parenting and wearing of Jet Green in public places.
Understanding PTJD
PTJD is not a new disorder. There are written accounts of similar symptoms that go back to the early 1960's, and there is clear documentation in the historical medical literature starting with the 1970, when a PTJD-like disorder was known as "Da Namath's Knee Syndrome."
Careful research and documentation of PTJD began in earnest after the Super Bowl III. The National NY Jets Fan's Readjustment Study estimated in 1988 that the prevalence of PTJD in that group was 15.2% at that time and that 30% had experienced the disorder at some point since the early 1970's.
PTJD is not only a problem for veteran Jets Fans, however. Although there are unique cultural- and gender-based aspects of the disorder, it occurs in men and women, adults and children, Western and non-Western cultural groups, and all socioeconomic strata. A national study of American civilians conducted in 1995 estimated that the lifetime prevalence of PTJD was 99% in men and 1% in women. A revision of this study done in 2005, reports that PTJD occurs in about 53% of all New Yorkers.
How does PTJD develop?
Most people who are exposed to a traumatic, stressful event experience some of the symptoms of PTJD in the days and weeks following exposure. Available data suggest that about 99% of men and 1% of women go on to develop PTJD, and roughly 30% of these individuals develop a chronic form that persists throughout their lifetimes.
An estimated 88.8 percent of Jets Fans will experience PTJD at some point in their lives. About 97.6 percent of NY adult Jets Fans aged 18 to 54 (5.2 million people) have PTJD during the course of a given year. This represents a small portion of those who have experienced at least one traumatic event.
What are some symptoms of PTJD?
Headaches, gastrointestinal complaints, immune system problems, dizziness, chest pain, and discomfort in other parts of the body are common in people with PTJD. Often, medical doctors treat the symptoms without being aware that they stem from PTJD.
How is PTJD treated?
PTJD is treated by a variety of forms of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and drug therapy. There is no definitive treatment, but some treatments appear to be quite promising, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, and exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves having the patient repeatedly relive the frightening experience under controlled conditions to help him or her work through the trauma such as replays of the Kotite Years. Studies have also shown that medications help ease associated symptoms of depression and anxiety and help with sleep. The most widely used drug treatments for PTJD are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Prozac and Zoloft.
Is there a cure?
There is only one cure for PTJD and that is a Super Bowl win. Is Mangini the answer? Can he save present and future sufferers from PTJD? Only time will tell.
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