A mental health problem caused by a stressful and terrifying event that you witnessed or experienced is called Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The most common PTSD symptoms include nightmares, severe anxiety, flashbacks, and uncontrollable thoughts about previous events.
Approximately all who experience PTSD face problems with coping but with self-care and time commonly they get better. It is considered to experience this mental condition when the symptoms continue for months or even years and interact with your daily routine. Moreover, this disease does not go away on its own and requires treatment. It helps to reduce the symptoms and improve function.
Symptoms
In most cases, the symptoms begin to appear within 1 month after the event. However, it is less common but possible to experience first PTSD symptoms within 1 year after the event. Symptoms caused by PTSD often provoke serious problems in relationships, work, and social situations.
Generally, the symptoms of this mental health problem are classified into 4 categories including intrusive memories, avoidance, negative thinking and mood changes, and physical and emotional reaction changes. However, the symptoms vary among patients depending on the severity of the condition and other factors.
Intrusive Memories
- Persistent distressing memories
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares or upsetting dreams
- Severe emotional distress
Avoidance
- People with PTSD usually try to avoid thinking or discussing about the traumatic event
- Do not go to places or do activities that remind you about the event
Negative Thinking and Mood Changes
- Negative thoughts about everything
- Future hopelessness
- Problems with memory
- It becomes challenging to keep close relationships
- Lack of interest in different activities
- Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
- Emotional numb
Physical and Emotional Reactions Changes
The category of symptoms is also called arousal symptoms. Check below some of them:
- Sleeping disturbances (insomnia)
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Aggressive behavior
- Guilt or shame
- Self-destructive behavior (such as misuse of alcoholic drinks)
The severity and duration of the symptoms change over time and you may experience severe ones. That’s why it is very important to get treatment as soon as possible.
Some people who suffer from PTSD may have suicidal thoughts or behavior. In such cases, you should contact a healthcare professional immediately or call 911.
Causes
Commonly, this mental disease occurs when a person experience, see, or learns about different traumatic events that involve serious injuries, sexual violations, or death. However, healthcare providers do not understand thoroughly why it occurs but they think there is a combination of factors. Examples include:
- Stressful situations
- Hereditary mental health risks (including a family history of depression, anxiety, and others)
- Inherited personality features
- The way the body releases hormones and different chemicals in response to stress
Risk Factors
Anyone can develop this condition but the following could increase your risk of getting PTSD. For example:
- Intense or long-lasting trauma
- Previous traumas (including childhood abuse)
- You have a job that elevates the risk of traumatic events exposure (including military personnel)
- Existing mental conditions (such as anxiety, depression, and others)
- Misuse of alcoholic beverages and recreational drugs
- Lack of support
Check below also some examples of traumatic events types:
- Combat exposure
- Physical assault
- Sexual violence
- Childhood physical abuse
- Accidents
- Weapon threatening
Furthermore, the following factors could also provoke PTSD. Examples include plane crashes, torture, kidnappings, life-threatening diseases, terrorist attacks, mugging, robberies, natural disasters, fire, and others.
What Are The Possible Complications of PTSD?
People who ignore the symptoms of this mental disease and do not receive treatment may experience some complications. Commonly, these complications interact with your daily routine and sometimes can be life-threatening. Examples include:
- Eating disorders
- Misuse of alcohol or drugs
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
Prevention
Many people usually experience post-traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic event happens (such as cannot stop thinking about the event). The most common trauma reactions include fear, anxiety, anger, depression, guilt, and others. In any case, most people do not experience PTSD and symptoms for long periods.
It is vital to get support after a traumatic event because it will help to cope with stress and prevent the worsening of the symptoms. Thus, it is advised to visit a healthcare professional for a course of therapy.
Diagnosis
Physicians usually diagnose this condition by performing a physical examination to check for other health problems that could provoke symptoms and psychological evaluation (including discussions about symptoms, traumatic events, and family history) and using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Treatment
The treatment goal is to help the patient to recover the ability of control over their life. In the first line of treatment, doctors prescribe psychotherapy and medicines.
Psychotherapy
This treatment option is also known as talk therapy and doctors recommend it for children and adults with PTSD. Check below some talk therapy types:
- Cognitive therapy – This psychotherapy helps to get rid of negative thoughts about yourself and traumatic events. Moreover, this treatment option is often used along with exposure therapy.
- Exposure therapy – This is a behavioral therapy that is used to learn to cope effectively with stressful situations and frightening memories. It can also reduce nightmares and flashbacks.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) – This is also used along with exposure therapy to help change how you react to different traumatic memories.
Moreover, your doctor can help you learn stress management skills that will help you better overcome stressful situations in life. Consult with your healthcare professional for more details.
Medicines
The following medicines are usually recommended by doctors to lessen PTSD symptoms. Examples include:
- Antidepressants – The following medicines help to improve sleeping and concentration. These include Sertraline and Paroxetine.
- Anti-anxiety medicines – These drugs are prescribed by physicians when you experience severe anxiety. However, some of them can provoke addiction. That’s why you should not use them without a doctor’s recommendation.
- Prazosin – While some studies show this medicine to be effective in PTSD treatment, others show that Prazosin provides no benefits. Therefore, you should consult with your doctor before taking it. Otherwise, it may lead to no effect or even worsening of the symptoms.
People who receive treatment usually notice improvements after one week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common PTSD symptoms?
- Nightmares
- Intrusive images or thoughts
- Vivid flashbacks
- Physical sensations including sweating, nausea, trembling, or pain
You should consult a doctor at once if you experience any of the symptoms listed above.
What are PTSD stages?
- Impact or emergency stage
- Denial/ numbing stage
- Rescue stage
- Short-term recovery or intermediate stage
- Long-term reconstruction or recovery stage
Do not hesitate to visit a doctor if you suspect you are experiencing this mental disorder.
What happens if a person with PTSD does not treat the condition?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is commonly linked with hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, obesity, heart disease, chronic pain, fatigue (extreme tiredness), reduced life expectancy, and others. If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare professional.
