subject: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Guide to its Symptoms [print this page] Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Guide to its Symptoms
Like most social anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder can affect anyone, at any place, and at any time. However, as the name suggests, this disorder is triggered by a traumatic or life-threatening event, and thus can often be more easily recognized and understood as compared to other disorders. It typically occur after seeing or experiencing a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death. It can come on immediately following a major trauma, or it can be delayed for more than 6 months after the event. While most instances of this disorder fade after 3 months or so, some people experience long-term issues, which can last for years.
People with panic attacks and anxiety attacks tend to experience isolated physical responses to the disorder, such as shaking, nausea, or heart palpitations. Those with post-traumatic stress also often re-experience the event repeatedly. They may have bad dreams or related memories of the event. They may also feel like they are going through the experience again, have flashbacks, or have trouble on dates related to the traumatic event.
Daily Symptoms
One of the worst symptoms of social anxiety disorders like this is the presence of flashback episodes. Recurring memories - however distressing or painful they may be - are for many a daily occurrence. This can lead to physical reactions that are highly traumatizing and painful to endure. These symptoms may cause the person to act out violently or in a manner other than how they would typically act.
Avoidance
Another common symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder is avoidance. This happens when the person suffering form the disorder undergoes feelings of detachment and an overarching feeling of depression or disinterest in everyday activities. These symptoms can also present themselves in a general moodiness or feeling of despair. In an exaggerated form, these symptoms can also present in the opposite way: difficulty concentrating, outbursts of anger or rage, irritability, or heightened awareness or paranoia.
General Anxiety
Persons suffering frompanic attacks and anxiety attacks like post-traumatic stress syndrome typically exhibit symptoms similar to regular panic attacks. These include but are not limited to: dizziness, heart palpitations, agitation, and even headaches or nausea.
