Recognizing and Treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Flashback, dread, nightmares - PTSD is the worst possible combination of all your fears.
PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is one of the most whispered mental illnesses in our communities and is rarely discussed in public. However, now it’s time to change the patterns.
PTSD doesn't discriminate; it can affect people of any age who have gone through severe trauma. This article talks about the patterns of PTSD and possible post traumatic stress disorder treatments.
Whether you have been in an accident or went through emotional abuse, therapists at KMA Therapy can help you unwind and let go of that cruel part that is holding you back from moving on with your life.
Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder is more than just feeling anxious and stressed; it is more like a mental condition that occurs when a person goes through a traumatic experience.
The events might pass, but a person who experiences them might not be able to move on, and they might become a memory that never fades.
It's like your brain hits the pause button during a traumatic event and then presses play at random times, replaying the horror over and over again, being triggered by minimum things.
Imagine watching the most frightening scene from a movie on a loop—you'd never feel safe, would you? That's what living with PTSD can feel like.
Who Can Get PTSD?
You might think of soldiers coming home from war when you hear the term "PTSD," but that is indeed one of the most familiar images: PTSD can occur in anyone, regardless of your past age or profession.
If you are a first responder who stumbled upon an unexpected incident, one who has a history of abuse, or simply someone who passes through something terrifying, then at any time, PTSD can come knocking on your door.
Here's the takeaway point: trauma is subjective. What shakes one person to her core might be a bad day for someone else. That's why PTSD can pop up after all kinds of traumatic events.
Combat and Military Experience
You will notice that people link veterans and PTSD a lot—well, it's for good reason. They go through things in combat that a normal person will never forget: always on high alert, seeing death, risking danger at every turn. Non-combat troops may also develop it due to the intense experiences they face.
First Responders
Police, firefighters, and EMTs are some of the most heroic first responders on any scene-whether it is an accident, a crime, or a disaster. They experience things that most of us will never have to see; sometimes, those images stick with them long after a shift. For them, PTSD can be part of the job, but it doesn't have to be part of their life forever.
Survivors of Abuse
Whatever the form - physical, emotional, or sexual abuse - would always leave deep scars. But when you are dealing with someone you trusted or relied on, you can well imagine how the trauma comes in quite complicated ways. PTSD, in these cases, will not be about what happened but how it makes you feel about yourself and the world.
Accident Survivors
Car crashes and work-related accidents happen in the blink of an eye. And if you ever experienced a bad accident, you would know how memories creep up on you to haunt you and how you never feel safe again. That's PTSD trying to take over.
Witnesses of Violence or Disaster
Even though you don't have to be the one who's immediately in danger, witnessing something terrifying, such as a violent crime or natural disaster, or even seeing disturbing images on television can also bring it on. Your brain acts as if you felt it, and that's why those memories can linger for so long.
Victims of Sudden Loss
The experience of losing a loved one is overwhelming, especially under tragic conditions. Grief can get overwhelming in the eyes of some people, who might start to feel a kind of PTSD while flashing back to when they heard the news or avoiding everything that would remind them of the deceased.
Childhood Trauma
Childhood is supposed to be a time of safety and learning, but for some, it becomes a period of fear and uncertainty. If, as a child, you have been the victim of abuse and neglect or some grave illness, such trauma carries over into adulthood and sometimes manifests in PTSD when least expected by anyone.
Causes of PTSD
Understanding the causes of post-traumatic stress disorder can help in identifying who might be at risk and why certain events lead to this condition. Here's a look at what might trigger PTSD:
Traumatic Events
Experience of traumatic events leads to the development of PTSD. The traumatic event could be a combat experience, sexual assault, natural disaster, serious accident, or death of a loved one. In a nutshell, any experience that would overwhelm the coping mechanism of an individual may lead to PTSD.
For instance, surviving a violent attack would cause a person to have PTSD because of the immense emotional and psychological upset from the incident.
Personal History and Vulnerability
Some people might be more vulnerable to PTSD due to their personal history. For example, an experience or trauma, a history of child abuse, or a background of mental disorders in the family may offer greater susceptibility.
A person is at a higher risk of getting PTSD if they have experienced a series of trauma or have a history of emotional issues.
Biological Factors
Also involved would be genetics and chemistry in the development of PTSD. The hypothesis has been that genetic factors make people vulnerable to the susceptibility of eventually developing PTSD following a traumatic event; chemical imbalances in the brain, such as those affecting the stress responses, may also influence how an individual handles a traumatic event.
Psychological Factors
Personality traits and ways of coping are other factors likely to influence the development of PTSD. Some personality traits are vulnerabilities to developing PTSD; for example, high neuroticism combined with poor coping mechanisms increase the susceptibility. The critical influencing factor of vulnerability is processing and making sense of an upsetting event.
Lack of Support
Such social support not provided after the traumatic event can contribute to an increase in post traumatic stress disorder symptoms. The people who seem isolated or those unsupported by their closest family members and friends have various difficulties with PTSD. Social support is one of the significant factors determining who heals from trauma and manages post traumatic stress disorder symptoms well.
Types of PTSD
PTSD is not the same for all; it applies only to those who have had any traumatic experience; it varies from person to person and depends on the kind of experience. There are the following types of post-traumatic stress disorders:
- Acute PTSD: The most frequent manifestation of PTSD is within three months of a traumatic event. Such symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety, all of which can be treated when addressed early.
- Chronic PTSD: When the symptom persists for more than three months, it becomes chronic. It will cause PTSD for life, with significant ripples on the individual's life, mainly failing to sustain relationships, inability to hold employment, and also loss of social activities.
- Delayed-Onset PTSD: Interestingly, sometimes, post traumatic stress disorder symptoms appear in patients six months or more after a traumatic event. This may seem puzzling because the trauma might have appeared to have just been processed later.
- Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): C-PTSD is typically in situations where there is continuous, repeated exposure to trauma, including continued abuse or even long-term exposure to conflict or war. It shares all the general symptoms of PTSD but also has a component of difficulties with emotional regulation and persistent hopelessness.
Symptoms of PTSD in Adults
Re-experiencing the Trauma
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Intrusive Memories
Avoidance Behaviours
- Avoiding reminders
- Emotional Numbness
Negative Thoughts and Mood Changes
- Hopelessness
- Detachment
- Guilt or Shame
Hyper-arousal
- Irritability
- Hyper-vigilance
- Sleep Disturbances
- Difficulty Concentrating
Emotional Numbness and Detachment
- Lack of Interest
- Difficulty Expressing Emotions
Physical Symptoms
- Chronic Pain
- Gastrointestinal Issues
- Other Symptoms
Symptoms of PTSD in Children
Reenactment of the Trauma Through Play
- Play Therapy
- Symbolic Play
Regression in Behaviour
- Bedwetting
- Thumb-sucking
- Clinginess
Increased Separation Anxiety
- School Refusal
- Sleep Disturbances
- Upset When Caregiver Leaves
Development of New Fears
- Unrelated Fears
- Nighttime Fears
Sleep Disturbances and Nightmares
- Nightmares
- Night Terrors
Emotional Outbursts or Withdrawn Behaviour
- Temper Tantrums
- Withdrawal
Difficulty Concentrating
- Distraction
- Academic Decline
PTSD Complications
A life spent with post-traumatic stress disorder has numerous complications that indeed cause an impact on life in a multitude of ways. Here is a more specific outline of some of these challenges:
Relationship Strain
One of the most apparent manifestations of this disorder is that they cannot sustain a healthy relationship. People suffering from this kind of disorder cannot trust people, cannot indulge in close relationships or even discuss thoughts and feelings with someone. This can cause fights at the family or friend level or even in a romantic relationship.
For example, a patient with post-traumatic stress disorder may segregate himself or might behave aggressively toward people in social situations, which will also result in more miscommunication and tension.
Work and Productivity Issues
Low working performance and a poorer prospect of a promising career ahead of the future are some of the possible results of an occurrence of PTSD. Hyperarousal and related uncontrolled concentration hindrances prevent an individual from working or relaxing.
These symptoms might lead to massive absenteeism or failure to meet deadlines, which, therefore, affects their career life.
Substance Abuse
Some patients with PTSD drink alcohol or use drugs because they cannot tolerate the symptoms. Even though these chemicals give them emotional anesthesia or an escape from haunted images, they have the capability of opening the door to other complications like addiction and health issues, which simply multiply the problem.
Physical Health Problems
The health deterioration can be chronic and contribute to decline. Physical health deterioration can result from PTSD. A client may present health-related problems to a healthcare provider, such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or chronic pain. PTSD contributes to physical symptoms resulting from the perpetuation of the sufferer's stress and anxiety over time.
Mental Health Challenges
Beyond the core symptoms of PTSD, individuals might also face additional mental health issues. These can include depression, anxiety disorders, or even suicidal thoughts. Managing multiple mental health conditions simultaneously can complicate the treatment process and require a more comprehensive approach.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment
If you're experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, you will be relieved to know that there are legitimate ways to help you control and overcome these symptoms. So, let's break down some common post-traumatic stress disorder treatments along with how they work:
1. Opting For Therapy 💆🏼♀️
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)🗣️
What is it? CBT is a type of talk therapy in which, through a licensed therapist, you learn to understand and change the way you think about the traumatic event and try to shake negative thoughts and beliefs that may be holding you stuck in distressing memories.
How This Helps: Such alteration of such thoughts leads to decreased emotional pain arising from such thoughts. For example, "I should have done something else" is surrendering to the alteration by CBT about such thoughts into a more realistic pattern, not that self-deprecatory enough that it is not hard to cope with trauma and move ahead.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy👥
What It Is? You can gradually become exposed in therapy to feelings and situations that trigger your symptoms of PTSD. A practitioner might start by describing the traumatic event and its consequences and gradually add behaviours or stimuli that would cause distress.
How it helps: You are gradually exposed to the triggers, so you can begin desensitizing yourself to them. This means you will not be overwhelmed by these things when they face you in an actual situation. Now, imagine going slow about overcoming your fear rather than letting that fear control you.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)👀
What is it? EMDR is therapy in which you focus on a traumatic memory through a therapist's moving finger or tone. This helps your brain process and make meaning.
How It Helps: It reduces the distress of that memory so that it becomes less intense and more manageable; it is very much like giving your brain a piece of wire to hang a painful memory on so that it doesn't come into your life.
2. Taking Prescribed Medication 💊
Antidepressants😖
What they are? These are drugs that might help balance chemicals in your brain, which might be causing you mood and anxiety problems. Common ones are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as sertraline (Zoloft) or paroxetine (Paxil).
How they work: For many people, antidepressants reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety that come with PTSD. Sometimes, they even make it easier to attend therapy and cope with the stress of day-to-day life.
Anti-Anxiety Medications😫
What They Are? These medications decrease the symptoms of very severe anxiety. They are typically used for short periods until some other post traumatic stress disorder treatments begin to work.
How They Help: They relieve temporary, extreme anxiety, making it just a little easier to get through the day and to go to therapy.
Everyone's Experience is Different
What makes PTSD so challenging to diagnose is the fact it doesn't manifest in anyone exactly alike.
Some are starkly graphic with flashbacks or nightmares, while others are almost numb-they don't want things that remind them of what happened or tend to be on edge all the time. No cases of PTSD present themselves exactly alike, just as no traumas do.
Honestly, to break open that stereotype that PTSD is for soldiers or for those whose lives have been brutally ravaged by violence needs to go. PTSD can happen to anyone who has encountered a situation that their brain found terrifying or overwhelming. It isn't a weakness but rather the natural response to an abnormal amount of stress. Thus, it is defined as the experience of an unusual amount of stress.
Don't Ignore It—Seek Help
KMA Therapy recognizes that one cannot view one's PTSD as another person's. With this in mind, it implements an individualized therapy scheme regarding individuals' various experiences and needs.
If any of this resonates with you or someone you care about, don't ignore it. PTSD can be a challenge, but it is treatable. KMA Therapy offers support and a tailored approach toward understanding and managing post traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Recognizing what's going on and asking for help means this is the first step toward feeling better.
You're not alone, and it's possible to move forward with the right kind of help.
