Disengage from the hold trauma has over you
According to the report by the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, about 8 million adults in the United States suffer from the condition each year. An estimate of about 60% of men and 50% of women each go through at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, which can increase the chances of getting post-traumatic stress disorder. While it can affect anyone, it is widely observed in certain groups such as military veterans, first responders, and survivors of sexual assault.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after someone has witnessed or gone through a traumatic event. Scenarios that can trigger trauma are combat exposure, physical or sexual assault, accidents, natural disasters, or the unexpected death of a loved one are examples to name a few.
People with PTSD often struggle with intense and disturbing thoughts, feelings, and memories related to the traumatic event. This can then interfere with a person’s daily life, making it difficult to focus at work, maintain relationships, or indulge in activities they once enjoyed.
Consider being in a vehicle collision. You hear the explosion again and again in your hearing as the glass shatters all around you, and time seems to be moving slowly. You feel frightened and shaken after the frightening encounter, which you won’t soon forget. But what if the memory of that event persisted long after the accident? What if hearing a vehicle backfire or seeing a damaged bumper caused you to experience severe anxiety, terror, and fear?
That’s the reality for people who suffer from PTSD. It’s a disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, physical or sexual assault, military combat, or a serious accident. Anyone can fall prey to PTSD regardless of age, gender, or background.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can vary from one person to another, but generally fall into four categories:
- Intrusive thoughts and memories: Thoughts can include distressing memories of the traumatic event, flashbacks, nightmares, and intense reactions to recalls of the event.
- Avoidance: This can involve keeping away from people, places, or things that remind the person of the traumatic event, as well as avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the event.
- Negative changes in mood or thinking: People with PTSD will have persistent negative beliefs or expectations about themselves, others, or the world; feelings of detachment or estrangement from others; and difficulty experiencing positive emotions.
- Hyperarousal: This can include irritability, anger, and hypervigilance; feeling jumpy or easily startled; and having difficulty concentrating or sleeping.
To be diagnosed with PTSD, a person must have experienced a traumatic event and have symptoms in each of these categories that last for at least one month and greatly impair their daily functioning. With effective treatments from a mental health professional for the condition, one can bring back their life to a place.
Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder
- Psychotherapy: Out of all the treatment approaches, psychotherapy has been proven to be effective in treating PTSD, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people to identify and change negative mindsets and behavior related to the traumatic event. Exposure therapy is also used to gradually expose the person to reminders of the trauma in a safe and controlled environment.
- Medication: It has been found that antidepressant drugs, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are helpful in decreasing PTSD symptoms, such as intrusive thoughts and mood changes. In some circumstances, additional drugs may also be used, such as anti-anxiety drugs and prazosin (which can help reduce nightmares).
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): This is a type of therapy that involves focusing on a traumatic memory while the therapist guides the person’s movements of the eye or other forms of bilateral stimulation. The goal of EMDR is to help the person process the memory in such a manner that reduces its intensity and emotional impact.
- Group therapy and support groups: Group therapy can provide a healing, supportive, and validating environment for people with PTSD and help reduce feelings of isolation and stigma. Support groups, such as those offered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), can also help connect with others who have similar experiences.
Treatments work differently for everyone and it can take some trial and error to find the right combination of treatments that work best for each individual. Seek a mental health professional and receive the right guide to the treatment process who will develop a personalized plan for managing PTSD symptoms.
Your partner in recovery
Our team provides an online resource and is dedicated to helping you through the misery post-traumatic stress disorders bring their way. Call +1 (917) 267 8635 and schedule an appointment to get a tailored treatment plan for you or a loved one.
