Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.
Post traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental illness that affects people who have been subjected to one or several psychological and/or physical traumas in the past. It is classified as an anxiety disorder and can affect any people who have experienced a traumatic event in their life, like war, rape/sexual abuse, child abuse, torture, being informed of a fatal disease, discovering a dead body, experiencing a natural disaster/accident, or being kidnapped. It does not only affect adults, but children can also develop PTSD. Child abuse (physical or sexual) is a major contributor of PTSD developing in children.
Symptoms:-
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder affect the sufferer in different ways. Several symptoms will intrude on the sufferer leading a stress-free life, with disturbing and distressing.
Thoughts/images, distress when they are reminded of the traumatic incident, physical signs of anxiety and distress when confronted with a trigger of the traumatic event, nightmares & feeling of reoccurrence of the incident. The sufferer will display some physically disturbing symptoms, like over-awareness of possible dangers, being easily startled, disturbance of sleep, difficulty. Concentrating, easily losing their temper and irritability.
The symptoms that are the most noticeable of PTSD sufferers are those that visibly cause disinterest or signs of avoidance of day to-day activity. These include a feeling of disconnection from others, being in a depressed state &being unable to feel any kind of affectionate emotion, avoiding any kind of trigger of the traumatic event, withdrawal of social life, loss of optimism & positive foresight, forgetting a pivotal part of the traumatic incident and the avoidance of thinking about the incident.
Intrusive memories
• Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
• Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
• Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
• Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event.
Avoidance
• Symptoms of avoidance may include:
• Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event.
• Avoid places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event.
Negative changes in thinking and mood
• Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include:
• Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world
• Hopelessness about the future
• Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
• Difficulty maintaining close relationships.
• Feeling detached from family and friends
• Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
• Difficulty experiencing positive emotions.
• Feeling emotionally numb
Changes in physical and emotional reactions
• Symptoms of changes in physical and emotional reactions (also called arousal symptoms) may include:
• Being easily startled or frightened
• Always being on guard for danger
• Self-destructive behaviour, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability, angry outbursts, or aggressive behaviour
• Overwhelming guilt or shame
For children 6 years old and younger, signs and symptoms may also include:
- Re-enacting the traumatic event or aspects of the traumatic event through play.
- Frightening dreams that may or may not include aspects of the traumatic event.
Intensity of symptoms
PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time. You may have more PTSD symptoms when you’re stressed in general, or when you come across reminders of what you went through. For example, you may hear a car backfire and relive combat experiences. Or you may see a report on the news about a sexual assault and feel overcome by memories of your own assault.
If you have disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month, if they’re severe, or if you feel you’re having trouble getting your life back under control, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. Getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse. For more details please