Information On Ptsd
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that people who have undergone a traumatic
, dangerous or extremely stressful event, such as soldiers and rape victims, can develop. Witnessing traumatic incidents or hearing about them can also cause PTSD. Most people will experience some form of trauma in their lifetimes, and almost one out of 10 pople will develop PTSD, according to the Canadian Medical Health Association.
Causes
The underlying cause of PTSD is that there has been a change in the normal fight-or-flight response in the brain, causing anxiety even after the danger has passed. The danger can be either psychological or physical, and both children and adults are susceptible. In addition, evidence supports a genetic predisposition to PTSD.
Its important to clarify here that it is entirely normal for people to take time to cope after experiencing trauma. But when traumatic reactions persist or worsen or cause conflicts in your life, thats when you may be suffering from PTSD.
Symptoms
There are three major groupings of PTSD symptoms: emotional numbness, anxiety and intrusive memories. Again, your symptoms have to persist, at least for 1 month, for your doctor to diagnose you with PTSD, but in some cases it is possible not to experience any symptoms for years after the incident.
If you have experienced a traumatic event, these symptoms may indicate that you have PTSD:
* Re-experiencing the traumatic event mentally in the form of flashbacks or nightmares
* Bleak outlook for future
* Self-destructive behavior
* Overpowering feelings of emotion such as guilt or shame
* Memory blocks
* Hallucinations
* Insomnia
* Hypervigilance
* Functional impairment in important areas of your life such as relationships and occupation.
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms a month after a traumatic event, see a professional to find out if you may be suffering from PTSD.
Treatment
Treatment for PTSD can include medication and psychotherapy, and has been shown to help people feel like theyre in control of their lives again and learn mechanisms to help cope. Its normal to feel like your life is out of your control after a traumatic event. But if this persists for more than a month then its time to see a medical professional. As with many disorders, getting help as early as possible can stop the problem from worsening and lower the chances of long-term harm.
Therapies that can help with PTSD include cognitive therapy, a type of talk therapy and exposure therapy, in which you confront the source of your trauma in a safe manner. Medication that can help includes anti-anxiety medication and Prazosin, a drug that can help with flashbacks. But what works for one person wont necessarily work for others. Its important to remember that trauma is a personal thing, and the therapy for it is likely to be personal as well. Talking with loved ones can help, but dont feel that you have to talk about things that are hard for you to tolerate emotionally. For some people, talking is the answer. But for others it wont help, and thats just fine. In addition, this is another one of the many areas in medicine where exercise can help improve your symptoms. We all deal with trauma differently.
Sometimes PTSD can be so severe that emergency care is required. If youre considering hurting yourself or others call 911 or ask a friend or family member for help.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
by: Elliott Connie
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