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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition caused by witnessing or experiencing a terrifying event. Flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event, may be symptoms.
Most people who experience traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but they usually get better with time and good self-care. You may have PTSD if your symptoms worsen, last for months or even years, and interfere with your daily functioning.
It is critical to seek effective treatment as soon as PTSD symptoms appear in order to reduce symptoms and improve function.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PTSD?
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can appear within one month of a traumatic event, but they can also appear years later. These symptoms cause significant problems in social or occupational settings, as well as in relationships. They can also impair your ability to carry out your normal daily tasks.
PTSD symptoms are divided into four categories: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms may change over time or from person to person.
Intrusive memories
Among the symptoms of intrusive memories are:
- Recurrent, distressing recollections of the traumatic event
- Reliving the traumatic event as if it were a new one (flashbacks)
- Having disturbing dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
- Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that brings back memories of the traumatic event
Avoidance
Among the symptoms of avoidance are:
- Attempting to avoid thinking about or discussing the traumatic event
- Avoiding places, activities, or people that bring back memories of the traumatic event
Negative changes in thinking and mood
Negative changes in thinking and mood can manifest as the following symptoms:
- Negative feelings about yourself, others, or the world
- a lack of optimism about the future
- Memory issues, such as forgetting important details of the traumatic event
- Difficulty sustaining close relationships
- Disconnection from family and friends
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Trouble experiencing positive emotions
- Feeling emotionally numb
Changes in physical and emotional reactions
Changes in physical and emotional reactions (also known as arousal symptoms) can cause the following symptoms:
- Being easily startled or terrified
- Always being on the lookout for danger
- Self-destructive behavior, such as excessive drinking or driving too fast
- Sleeping problems
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Irritability, rage, or aggressive behavior
- Overwhelming feelings of guilt or shame
- Playfully reenacting the traumatic event or aspects of the traumatic event
- Frightening dreams that may or may not include details from the traumatic event
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF PTSD?
When you experience, witness, or learn about an event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation, you may develop post-traumatic stress disorder.
Doctors are baffled as to why some people develop PTSD. PTSD, like most mental health issues, is most likely caused by a complex combination of:
- Stressful events, such as the amount and severity of trauma you've experienced in your life
- Mental health risks that are inherited, such as a family history of anxiety and depression
- Personality traits inherited from your parents — also known as temperament
The process by which your brain regulates the chemicals and hormones released by your body in response to stress.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect people of all ages. Some factors, however, may increase your risk of developing PTSD following a traumatic event, such as:
- Experiencing severe or long-term trauma
- Having been subjected to other forms of trauma in the past, such as childhood abuse
- Having a job that exposes you to traumatic events, such as military personnel and first responders.
- Having additional mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression
- Having issues with substance abuse, such as excessive drinking or drug use
- a lack of a strong network of family and friends to lean on
- Having blood relatives who suffer from mental illnesses such as anxiety or depression
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAUMATIC EVENTS
The following are the most common events that lead to the development of PTSD:
- Combat exposition
- Physical abuse in childhood
- Sexual assault
- Physical assault
- Having a weapon pointed at you
- An accident
Many other traumatic events, such as a fire, natural disaster, mugging, robbery, plane crash, torture, kidnapping, life-threatening medical diagnosis, terrorist attack, and other extreme or life-threatening events, can also result in PTSD.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder can disrupt your entire life, including your job, relationships, health, and enjoyment of daily activities.
PTSD may also increase your risk of developing other mental health issues, such as:
- Anxiety and depression
- Problems with drugs or alcohol
- Eating disorders
- Suicidal ideas and actions
HOW IS PTSD DIAGNOSED?
To determine if you have post-traumatic stress disorder, your doctor will most likely:
- Perform a physical exam to rule out any medical issues that could be causing your symptoms.
- Conduct a psychological evaluation that includes a discussion of your symptoms and the event or events that precipitated them.
- Use the criteria in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
The presence of PTSD necessitates exposure to an event involving the actual or potential threat of death, violence, or serious injury. Your exposure could occur in one or more of the following ways:
- You were present at the traumatic event.
- You were present when the traumatic event occurred to others.
- You discovered that someone close to you was involved in or threatened by the traumatic event.
- You are subjected to graphic details of traumatic events on a regular basis (for example, if you are a first responder to the scene of traumatic events)
You may have PTSD if the problems you experience after this exposure last for more than a month and interfere with your ability to function in social and work settings, as well as negatively impact relationships.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment can assist you in regaining control of your life. The primary treatment is psychotherapy, but medication may also be used. Combining these treatments may help to alleviate your symptoms by:
- Teaching you how to deal with your symptoms
- Assisting you in thinking more positively about yourself, others, and the world
- Learning how to deal with symptoms that reoccur
- Treating other issues that are frequently associated with traumatic experiences, such as depression, anxiety, or drug or alcohol abuse
You do not have to bear the burden of PTSD on your own.
Psychotherapy
Several types of psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, can be used to treat PTSD in children and adults. Among the psychotherapies used in the treatment of PTSD are:
- Cognitive therapy: This type of talk therapy assists you in identifying the ways of thinking (cognitive patterns) that are keeping you stuck, such as negative beliefs about yourself and the risk of traumatic events reoccurring. Cognitive therapy is frequently used in conjunction with exposure therapy to treat PTSD.
- Exposure therapy: This behavioral therapy assists you in safely confronting both situations and memories that are frightening to you so that you can learn to cope with them effectively. Exposure therapy is especially effective for flashbacks and nightmares. One method involves the use of virtual reality programs that allow you to re-enter the environment in which you experienced trauma.
- EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing): EMDR combines exposure therapy with a series of guided eye movements to assist you in processing traumatic memories and changing your reaction to them.
Your therapist can assist you in developing stress management skills that will allow you to better handle stressful situations and cope with stress in your life.
All of these approaches can assist you in gaining control of long-term fear following a traumatic event. You and your mental health professional can talk about what type of therapy or combination of therapies would be best for you.
You can try individual therapy, group therapy, or a combination of the two. Group therapy can help you connect with others who are going through similar things.
Medications
PTSD symptoms can be alleviated with a variety of medications, including:
- Antidepressants: These medications can help with depression and anxiety symptoms. They can also help with sleep issues and concentration. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil) for the treatment of PTSD.
- Anti-anxiety medications: These medications can help with severe anxiety and other issues. Because some anti-anxiety medications have the potential for abuse, they are usually only used for a short period of time.
- Prazosin: Several studies have suggested that prazosin (Minipress) may reduce or suppress nightmares in some people with PTSD, but a more recent study found no benefit over placebo. However, participants in the recent study differed from others in ways that could have an impact on the results. Individuals considering prazosin should consult with a doctor to determine whether their specific situation warrants a trial of this medication.
You and your doctor can collaborate to find the best medication for your symptoms and situation, with the fewest side effects. Within a few weeks, you may notice an improvement in your mood and other symptoms.
Inform your doctor about any side effects or medication problems. Before finding the right fit for you, you may need to try more than one or a combination of medications, or your doctor may need to adjust your dosage or medication schedule.
HOW CAN PTSD BE PREVENTED?
Many people experience PTSD-like symptoms after surviving a traumatic event, such as being unable to stop thinking about what happened. Fear, anxiety, anger, depression, and guilt are all common responses to trauma. The majority of people who are exposed to trauma, however, do not develop long-term post-traumatic stress disorder.
Getting help and support as soon as possible may prevent normal stress reactions from worsening and developing into PTSD. This may imply reaching out to family and friends who will listen and provide comfort. It could imply contacting a mental health professional for a brief course of therapy. Some people may also find it beneficial to reach out to their faith community.
Support from others may also prevent you from resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as the abuse of alcohol or drugs.