Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops after exposure to a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. While soldiers returning from war are a well-known example, many other events can trigger PTSD, such as serious accidents, natural disasters, violence (including gun violence), sexual or physical abuse, and the death of a loved one.
Following a traumatic event, it's normal to experience emotional distress and anxiety. However, if these feelings persist for longer than four weeks and significantly disrupt your daily life, you may be developing PTSD. PTSD is classified as an intense anxiety disorder triggered by traumatic experiences. Symptoms can begin immediately after the event or surface much later.
Read more here on → Post traumatic stress disorder
Complex PTSD: A Different Experience
Some individuals experience complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). This is often caused by repeated or prolonged traumatic experiences, such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, or human trafficking. C-PTSD can manifest with similar symptoms to PTSD, but may also include difficulties with emotional regulation, relationships, and self-identity.
Read more here on → Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD)
The good news is that both PTSD and C-PTSD are treatable. While the specific experiences that cause C-PTSD differ from those that cause PTSD, treatment approaches often share some similarities.
The Importance of Early Intervention
Understanding the causes and symptoms of PTSD and C-PTSD is crucial. Recognizing the signs of distress allows for early intervention, which can significantly improve treatment outcomes. If you suspect you or someone you know may be struggling with PTSD or C-PTSD, please reach out for help.
PTSD Test
While a formal diagnosis of PTSD should come from a mental health professional, some common symptoms can indicate if you might be at risk. Here are a few questions to consider:
- Have you experienced a traumatic event? This could include witnessing violence, a serious accident, or the death of a loved one.
- Are you having flashbacks or nightmares about the event? These can be very vivid and feel real.
- Do you avoid situations that remind you of the trauma? This could be places, people, or even sounds or smells.
If you answered yes to several of these questions, do reach out to a mental health professional for further evaluation.
Tips for PTSD
During a traumatic event (such as war, rape, terrorist attack, or severe accident) your nervous system naturally goes on high alert, sending you into fight, flight, or freeze mode. Depending on the severity of the incident, your nervous system should calm down after a few days or weeks.But sometimes this doesn't happen. The emotional upset doesn't go away. You may find yourself stuck in an emotional time warp.
Life goes on around you, but you're stuck living with the painful memories and emotions associated with the trauma. And no matter what you do you just can't get free of the nightmares, flashbacks, panic attacks, feelings of helplessness, shame, and guilt.
You may have even entertained thoughts of suicide.
If this sounds like you, don't worry. You're not alone...
You're not going crazy...
You're not weird for feeling like you do...
The thing to remember is that PTSD is treatable. This article will give you the information you need to manage and eventually overcome Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:
Anxiety is a big part of developing PTSD. If the anxiety isn't treated you may eventually develop panic disorder.
After a traumatic event, you may feel:
Don't listen to that voice.
There's hope. No doubt about it.
If you or someone you love is suffering from the effects of traumatic stress, consider following these tips:
Tip #1: Stop Fighting Your Feelings
After a traumatic event, it's normal to be in shock, stuff down your feelings, and not deal with the emotional fallout of what's happened.
But accepting your feelings is necessary for putting you on the road to healing. Here's how you can deal with overwhelmingly painful emotions and traumatic stress:
If you're struggling with PTSD, there's a good possibility that you're battling feelings of helplessness and depression. A good way to get out of this head-space is to give back in some way.
Volunteering and finding other ways to help others is a great way to help yourself. It gives you a chance to connect with others who are going through their trauma. Look for ways you can help those around you. It doesn't have to be anything big.
Simple acts of kindness count. You can support others by:
Tip #3: Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes
The symptoms of PTSD can be very tough on you both emotionally and physically. Adapting a healthy lifestyle will help you deal with the emotional fallout. How is this done?
Take Time Out To Relax
There are a ton of different ways you can relax and reduce stress. Proven relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, and PMR help to enhance your body's relaxation response. The more you practice relaxation, the longer the effects will last.
Eat Plenty of Fat
Healthy fats that is. Omega-3 fats play a vital role in emotional health. Try to get as many good fats as possible into your diet. Start with: wild-caught fatty fish like salmon, olive oil, almonds, flax-seed, and walnuts. (Learn more: Healthy Diet for Depression and Anxiety)
Get Your ZZZZ
One of the best ways to battle PTSD is to get enough shut-eye. Sleep deprivation worsens irritability, moodiness, and anger. Try to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. This article will help you do just that → How To Sleep With Anxiety.
Steer Clear of Alcohol and Drugs
While battling PTSD you may be tempted to self-medicate by drinking alcohol and taking drugs. But alcohol and drug abuse only worsens your symptoms.
You may have even entertained thoughts of suicide.
If this sounds like you, don't worry. You're not alone...
You're not going crazy...
You're not weird for feeling like you do...
The thing to remember is that PTSD is treatable. This article will give you the information you need to manage and eventually overcome Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:
Anxiety is a big part of developing PTSD. If the anxiety isn't treated you may eventually develop panic disorder.
After a traumatic event, you may feel:
- shaky or tremble
- your heart may feel like it's beating out of your chest
- lump in your throat
- dizziness or faint
- cold sweats
- uncontrollable, racing thoughts
- tightening feeling in your stomach
- guilt or shame
- betrayal
- helpless
- depression
- substance abuse
- aches and pains
- Have a hard time accepting what has happened to you or someone you love.
- Afraid that the traumatic event will happen again.
- Guilt that you survived while others died. Or feel like you could have or should have done more to help during the event.
- Angry that God allowed the event to happen in the first place.
Don't listen to that voice.
There's hope. No doubt about it.
If you or someone you love is suffering from the effects of traumatic stress, consider following these tips:
Tip #1: Stop Fighting Your Feelings
After a traumatic event, it's normal to be in shock, stuff down your feelings, and not deal with the emotional fallout of what's happened.
But accepting your feelings is necessary for putting you on the road to healing. Here's how you can deal with overwhelmingly painful emotions and traumatic stress:
- Give yourself the time to mourn your losses.
- Allow yourself to feel whatever feelings may come up without judgment.
- Learn how to feel hurtful emotions without becoming overwhelmed.
- Be patient with your recovery and don't force the healing process.
If you're struggling with PTSD, there's a good possibility that you're battling feelings of helplessness and depression. A good way to get out of this head-space is to give back in some way.
Volunteering and finding other ways to help others is a great way to help yourself. It gives you a chance to connect with others who are going through their trauma. Look for ways you can help those around you. It doesn't have to be anything big.
Simple acts of kindness count. You can support others by:
- Visiting friends, family, or neighbors and offering support
- Helping a stranger
- Offering a smile to those you encounter during the day
Tip #3: Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes
The symptoms of PTSD can be very tough on you both emotionally and physically. Adapting a healthy lifestyle will help you deal with the emotional fallout. How is this done?
Take Time Out To Relax
There are a ton of different ways you can relax and reduce stress. Proven relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, and PMR help to enhance your body's relaxation response. The more you practice relaxation, the longer the effects will last.
Eat Plenty of Fat
Healthy fats that is. Omega-3 fats play a vital role in emotional health. Try to get as many good fats as possible into your diet. Start with: wild-caught fatty fish like salmon, olive oil, almonds, flax-seed, and walnuts. (Learn more: Healthy Diet for Depression and Anxiety)
Get Your ZZZZ
One of the best ways to battle PTSD is to get enough shut-eye. Sleep deprivation worsens irritability, moodiness, and anger. Try to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. This article will help you do just that → How To Sleep With Anxiety.
Steer Clear of Alcohol and Drugs
While battling PTSD you may be tempted to self-medicate by drinking alcohol and taking drugs. But alcohol and drug abuse only worsens your symptoms.
Get Up and Get Moving
Exercise helps the body and mind get unstuck from the traumatic event. The best exercises are those that involve using both the arms and legs. Examples:
- Walking
- Running
- Swimming
How to Deal with PTSD Flashbacks
Dealing with PTSD can be challenging and trauma flashbacks make it even harder! Flashbacks are vivid recounts of a traumatic event that keeps haunting an individual sometimes to the point that day-to-day functioning is crippled.Managing flashbacks can be an overwhelming undertaking due to their unpredictability. In most cases, flashbacks will occur as a result of encountering trauma stressors associated with the original experience.
The following tips are meant to aid an individual dealing with trauma-induced flashbacks to cope better:
1. Be aware of your trauma stressors!
Finding a solution to any problem demands that you first identify what is the root cause. Knowing your flashback triggers is key to formulating a counteraction to squarely deal with the situation before it escalates. If you can prevent flashbacks from occurring by simply avoiding situations that trigger them, then you are better positioned to win that battle!
2. Fine-tune your awareness of telltale signs!
Although deemed unpredictable, flashbacks can be pinpointed early on if you stay vigilant and proactive to those signs that lead up to their occurrence. Fine-tuning your awareness of these signs will not only put you one step ahead of flashback attacks but will also help you to nip them in the bud before they cripple your self-awareness.
The following tips are meant to aid an individual dealing with trauma-induced flashbacks to cope better:
1. Be aware of your trauma stressors!
Finding a solution to any problem demands that you first identify what is the root cause. Knowing your flashback triggers is key to formulating a counteraction to squarely deal with the situation before it escalates. If you can prevent flashbacks from occurring by simply avoiding situations that trigger them, then you are better positioned to win that battle!
2. Fine-tune your awareness of telltale signs!
Although deemed unpredictable, flashbacks can be pinpointed early on if you stay vigilant and proactive to those signs that lead up to their occurrence. Fine-tuning your awareness of these signs will not only put you one step ahead of flashback attacks but will also help you to nip them in the bud before they cripple your self-awareness.
Such telltale signs include feelings of fuzziness, slowly slipping away from the present state and completely being taken over by what to others would feel like you are in a trance.
3. Deploy a buddy system of reliable helpers!
Once you have deciphered which situations and what activities trigger flashbacks, it is important to stay connected to a supportive group of reliable individuals, whether friends or relatives.
3. Deploy a buddy system of reliable helpers!
Once you have deciphered which situations and what activities trigger flashbacks, it is important to stay connected to a supportive group of reliable individuals, whether friends or relatives.
For instance, should you feel that driving through a bridge, going to the grocery store alone, or even being left at home on your own puts you at a heightened risk of experiencing flashbacks, then it would be great to have a friend on your side. Do not go through it alone as you could be at risk of hurting yourself.
4. If symptoms persist, seek professional help!
When push comes to shove, seeing a professional may be your last resort. Check with a mental health specialist and get the help you need to deal with post traumatic stress disorder. By so doing you will be well on your way to eliminating the unpleasantness associated with flashbacks and PTSD generally.
4. If symptoms persist, seek professional help!
When push comes to shove, seeing a professional may be your last resort. Check with a mental health specialist and get the help you need to deal with post traumatic stress disorder. By so doing you will be well on your way to eliminating the unpleasantness associated with flashbacks and PTSD generally.
Therapy, medication, or a combination of both may be recommended depending on what is deemed fit for your needs. Never self-medicate, you could be at risk of an overdose or potential loss of life!
Patients will be evaluated first to assess the level and degree of their individual needs. Patients can also benefit from a mental health specialist with a recommendation from a doctor or expert. Counselors, community psychiatric nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists are some of the specialists that patients can consult.
If the patient’s symptoms are mild and only present for less than a month after the traumatic experience, watchful waiting may be recommended. Watchful waiting is the close monitoring of the patient’s PTSD symptoms if they become worse or improved. It must be followed by an appointment within a month.
Psychotherapy is useful in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. The psychotherapist will listen to the patient’s problems and offer solutions to overcome them. If the patient has severe PTSD, both medication and psychotherapy are recommended.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a kind of psychotherapy that will teach patients how to change their recurring negative thoughts. If a patient shows severe signs of PTSD, they can be treated through trauma-focused CBT. It uses mental images of the traumatic experiences that help the patient go through the trauma and control their fears.
PTSD Treatment
If someone in your family or among your friends seems to be suffering from PTSD, immediately seek help to increase their chances of overcoming the disorder. Talking about the traumatic events in their life is the first step of treatment before considering medications. A detailed treatment plan created by doctors must be followed.Patients will be evaluated first to assess the level and degree of their individual needs. Patients can also benefit from a mental health specialist with a recommendation from a doctor or expert. Counselors, community psychiatric nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists are some of the specialists that patients can consult.
If the patient’s symptoms are mild and only present for less than a month after the traumatic experience, watchful waiting may be recommended. Watchful waiting is the close monitoring of the patient’s PTSD symptoms if they become worse or improved. It must be followed by an appointment within a month.
Psychotherapy is useful in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. The psychotherapist will listen to the patient’s problems and offer solutions to overcome them. If the patient has severe PTSD, both medication and psychotherapy are recommended.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a kind of psychotherapy that will teach patients how to change their recurring negative thoughts. If a patient shows severe signs of PTSD, they can be treated through trauma-focused CBT. It uses mental images of the traumatic experiences that help the patient go through the trauma and control their fears.
Another treatment is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Patients are engaged in making side-to-side eye movements while remembering the traumatic event. EMDR is proven to reduce the distress level of patients.
After undergoing post traumatic stress disorder treatment, medication may then follow with the doctors’ recommendations and prescriptions. Medication can ease symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. But remember that medication can manage symptoms but doesn't address the underlying cause of PTSD.
Conclusion
A person, who has developed a pattern of behavior and symptoms after a traumatic incident such as near-death experiences, kidnapping, sexual and physical abuse, war experiences, drug abuse, and even natural calamities, may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
Examples of the changes in their behaviors are feelings of detachment from their emotions and physical bodies also known as dissociation, a dream-like state, constant flashbacks, erratic and hyperactive behaviors, being easily startled, disturbing sleep, anxiety, total lack of self-confidence, fear of people and difficulty in maintaining relationships.
Although these are very overwhelming, anyone can go through post traumatic stress disorder treatment. Getting the appropriate treatment is necessary so you can prevent any further damage and symptoms from getting worse. Failure to treat these symptoms can be disabling. (Some PTSD patients still blame themselves for what happened. They may also feel incredibly guilty for not doing enough, or simply for surviving when the others did not.)
So, if you are struggling with PTSD or C-PTSD, reaching out for help is a crucial step toward healing. You are not alone, and there are many resources available to support you.
Helplines:
There are helplines available to offer immediate support{
- In the United States, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
- If you are located outside the US, you can find a helpline specific to your region by visiting a directory like "Find a Helpline".
Websites:
- The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers a wealth of information on PTSD, including symptoms, treatment options, and coping strategies: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
- The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) provides resources and information for those affected by PTSD: ISTSS Public Resources.
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers support groups and other resources for people with PTSD and their loved ones.
- NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264, text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).
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