Post-traumatic stress disorder is triggered by a traumatic event that can be a possible threat of death, serious injury, or violence. It’s a mental health condition and a person feels helpless, fearful, and shocked after the traumatic event. PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) can also have long-term effects including difficulty in sleep, flashback, and anxiety.
Examples of post-traumatic disorders events include abuse of some form like childhood physical abuse, Physical assault, being threatened with a weapon, death of loved ones, wars, fire, accidents, sexual violence, or emotional trauma.
People may have temporary difficulty in adjusting and coping with the situation. These symptoms usually get better with good self-care. But if the temporary symptoms are not relived may worsen and last for months or years. Post-traumatic stress disorders may also interfere with your day-to-day activities. But treatment can help them recover from the disease.
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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms
The severity of the PTSD symptoms may vary with the duration of the traumatic event. Usually, symptoms may start within 4-6 weeks of the traumatic event. Sometimes no symptoms until months or years after the event but can begin later. Post traumatic stress disorder symptoms can cause problems in social, family relationships, and work situations.
PTSD symptoms can be classified into 4 groups on the basis of the criteria defined by the American Psychological Association. The patient must have one or more symptoms from following for more than one month:
- Intrusive Symptoms
- Avoidance Symptoms
- Negative changes in mood and thinking
- Arousals and emotional reactivity symptoms
Intrusive Symptoms and Memories
- Distressing memories of the event
- Flashbacks of the traumatic events and a feeling that event is happening again
- Upsetting dreams and nightmares about the event
- Severe emotional distress
Avoidance Symptoms
- Trying to avoid thinking about the event and refusing to discuss the event
- Avoiding places and activities related to the event
- Avoiding people that remind the traumatic event
Negative changes in mood and thinking
- Feeling of guilt and blaming yourself
- Negative thoughts about yourself or others
- Having no hope for the future and reduced interest in life
- Memory problems and inability to remember the important aspects of the event
- Feeling detached from family, relative and near & dears
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Unable to express positive emotions
- Mental health issues such as anxiety, phobias and depression
Arousals and emotional reactivity symptoms
- Disturbed sleeping
- Trouble concentration
- Aggressive and angry behaviour
- Irritability and hypersensitivity
- Feeling stressed and anxious
- Self-destructive reactions or behaviour
Aggravating Factors or Provoking Symptoms
- Symptoms can intensify over time
- Stress can aggravate symptoms further
- If come across reminders of what you went through
You should see your doctor, if your symptoms are disturbing you frequently or if your mild symptoms are turned into severe or you fall in any of the above criteria with more than one symptom more than a month period.
Talk to your doctor or mental health professional if you have your PTSD symptoms are getting worse. If you think you may hurt yourself or have any suicidal thoughts, please call the emergency number and get emergency help without delay.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment
Fear, anxiety, guilt, anger, and depression all are common reactions to a traumatic event. Many people have post-traumatic stress disorder-like symptoms but the majority of people do not develop long-term symptoms.
Timely help, counselling, and support may prevent these symptoms from getting worse and developing into post-traumatic stress disorder. But if symptoms are not treated in time can worsen then it may require urgent attention. A mental health professional support is needed for a brief course of treatment.
PTSD treatment can help you to reverse your symptoms and live a healthy life. The treatment can be psychotherapy medication or a combination of both.
Psychotherapy treatment for PTSD
The therapist helps you in developing stress management skills and learning the different patterns to help you to manage the symptoms and stressful situations.
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Exposure therapy
- EMDR ( Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
- Computer Games
Medical management or Medications
Your doctor advises the treatment post-diagnosis of the disease. Several types of medications and treatment options are available and can help fight symptoms. But these medications should be taken only with the doctor’s advice and on prescription.
- Antidepressant medications
- Ant-anxiety
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Cortisone Hormone therapy
Following are the US-based leading clinics offering treatment for post-traumatic stress disorders. You may visit and choose virtual consultation with mental health providers and psychotherapists or book an appointment to visit in person.
Book an Appointment for PTSD treatment at https://www.jasonattaman.com
Book an appointment for PTSD treatment at Mayoclinic at https://www.mayoclinic.org
Book an appointment for PTSD treatment at https://www.danielslavinphd.com
