Published on Mar 31, 2018 and last reviewed on Apr 25, 2020 - 5 min read
Abstract
PTSD is a mental health condition where the person who undergoes an extremely stressful condition, develops disturbing thoughts and emotions such as being frantic, panic-stricken, and distraught for a very long time after the incident.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder. It is triggered after encountering traumatic events in one's life. However, not everyone who undergoes a negative experience and stress has PTSD. Also, it may resolve by itself in some with the help of one's natural coping mechanism. In others, it can stay on and continue for a month, causing more struggles. Women are more affected than men.
Physical, verbal or sexual abuse.
Accidents.
Emotional stress.
Symptoms may start sooner or later after the traumatic event. So, it is important to wait for four weeks and observe if symptoms subside by themselves. The symptoms can be classified into four types. The intensity varies in every individual, depending on the type and extent of the trauma endured.
Having repeated and uncontrollable memories of the past unpleasant episode (flashback).
Nightmares relating to the trauma experienced before.
Being fearful most of the time.
Being reminded of the bitter experience as a response to other triggers.
Avoiding or trying to avoid thoughts about the event as a self-copying mechanism.
Abstaining from situations, people, or things they relate to the distressful situation.
Constant negative thoughts.
A cynical and pessimistic outlook on the world and people.
Misplaced anger.
Feeling of hopelessness.
Lack of interest in activities previously enjoyed.
Emotional numbness.
Feeling shameful and guilty.
Easily shocked.
Being alert always (perceiving a non-existing danger).
Trouble falling asleep.
Feeling difficult to focus.
Loss of concentration.
Reckless and self-harming behavior.
Extremely aggressive.
Explosive anger outbursts.
Psychologists and psychiatrists follow the Diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM-5) to assess the condition of the patient. They categorize the patient into different types and then formulate the treatment plan.
Living both in the past and future is not good for your mental health. Re-thinking too much about past events can lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Too much dreaming about the future can make you lose the ability to live in the present moment. This might create a small degree of anxiousness. It is always healthy to forget the bad events in the past and live each day like a new one.
Misplaced anger is the expression of rage showered on someone or something else when the person or object is actually not the reason. The person who accepts the anger outburst from the other side might develop a victim mentality. This happens especially in post-traumatic stress disorder. The person might have dumped lots of negative thoughts and emotions, which gets expressed in an impulsive manner someday.
Self-harm is the behavior of an individual to hurt or harm themselves with blades or any sharp instruments. They may end up bleeding. This behavior in them might cause temporary relief by making them numb about the present emotional trauma. Self-harming behavior is known to cause suicide in some individuals. Having such a person at home might cause a high level of stress for their family members. This is an indication of borderline personality disorder. People under this category will be having extreme emotions and behavior in a way that is highly impulsive.
Undergoing severe emotional trauma.
A person who is already under depression or anxiety.
A familial tendency for mental health issues.
History of assault or abuse during the early years.
Existing mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
Seeing first-hand someone dying.
Resorting to alcohol or drug abuse to cope with trauma.
Not having a support system to fall back on.
Some people are more prone to personality disorders because of the different ways of functioning of the brain.
Living in abusive environments and relationships.
First-hand exposure to war, combat, or mortal danger.
Natural calamities such as flood, fire, etc.
Being a victim of sexual abuse, assault, or rape.
Experiencing terrorist attacks at close range.
Sudden loss of a loved one.
Early childhood trauma or abuse.
Being in or witnessing a major road accident or plane crash.
PTSD can mess up the victim's health.
It can ruin relationships with family and friends.
It can lead to isolation and a lack of social life as peers fail to understand their reactions.
This can cause trouble in keeping a steady job.
It also increases the risk of other mental illnesses.
Suicidal thoughts.
Monitoring: In the initial days, watching without starting official treatment to observe if symptoms subside on their own.
Mental and Emotional Release Therapy (MER) is known to help people take away the stressful emotions. These massages are known to make a person cry during the massage session. This might reduce the emotional load to a great extent.
Seeking support from friends, family, support groups, and faith healing in the community. Faith healing can be done by religious prayers.
Psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, and alternative therapy.
Medications such as antidepressants may be prescribed and used in adjunct to therapy.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is considered to be a positive factor in one way as it helps to cope up with the stressful past event. When the event happens again, the person may be able to cope up with the distress. There will be increased amounts of adrenaline, which helps to lessen the level of distress.
Constantly recalling the horrifying experience after going through one, is a natural human tendency. But, it is not normal for a person to have prolonged distress. These are the conditions you should consider seriously.
When stress is persisting for weeks to months afterward.
Affecting daily routine and social life.
Causing behavioral changes.
Causing other health issues.
Leading to drug dependence and alcohol dependence.
Sharing your mental worries will not keep you comfortable sometimes. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or any other issues, call a doctor online.
In some patients where PTSD is left untreated, the symptoms can last for a very long time. Most of the people with longstanding PTSD come to know that the symptoms of PTSD are highly unstable. The PTSD symptoms gradually go away in some patients over time. The symptoms might recur when traumatic events occur.
Triggers can be different for each individual. They might be sights, sounds, smells, and thoughts. Continuous exposure to these triggers might remind the person of the traumatic event. Some of the PTSD triggers are very clear and obvious.
PTSD is a mental disorder. It involves repeated exposure to trauma. Traumatic events might involve death or accidents, sexual abuse, etc. Traumatic events can cause a lot of distress to the person and lead them to depression.
Children and teenage people have extreme reactions to trauma. The symptoms might vary in children and adults.
- Bedwetting while sleeping.
- Unable to communicate.
- Remaining clingy with a parent or other adults.
Adults with PTSD can sometimes feel and behave uncontrollably. They tend to go crazy following a traumatic incident. PTSD is a completely treatable disorder. You might require help from a psychologist or psychiatrist to recover soon.
The condition of PTSD includes panic attacks, depression, and sleep disturbances. The repetitive and annoying thoughts can put the person into further distress. The patient wishes to forget a few life-changing events. Acceptance therapy might be required for these patients.
There are three types of psychological therapies for treating patients with PTSD.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a therapy that is highly recommended for PTSD patients.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Group therapy. This will help you interact with many others so that you will not feel bad like you are the only one who is suffering.
There is no proper evidence to show PTSD can be diagnosed by a brain scan. Extensive research is in the process regarding the diagnosis using scan procedures. In the last ten years, more studies have been conducted on PTSD.
A doctor who has experience in handling mental illness patients, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, will be able to diagnose PTSD. The diagnosis is made according to the diagnosis and statistical manual (DSM). A psychometric test might be required in a few cases. With these tests, the severity of the condition can be determined.
There are five types of post-traumatic stress disorder. They are:
- Normal stress response.
- Acute stress disorder.
- Uncomplicated PTSD.
- Comorbid PTSD.
- Complex PTSD.
Last reviewed at:
25 Apr 2020 - 5 min read
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