Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and It's Effects

Since it is PTSD awareness month I have decided to start a discussion on PTSD and it's effects on individuals who suffer from it. My heart goes out to you all who suffer from it currently and to those who will in the future struggle with this condition.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a series of reactions which can develop in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event which threatens their life or safety or the safety of others around them. This could range from a serious car accident or work related accident to physical or sexual assault, war-related events or torture, to a natural disaster like tornadoes or hurricanes.

It can often be stressful to endure life changing events such as being displaced, getting divorced, or the loss of a family member. This can be the cause of mental health issues but are not considered events which may cause PTSD. During the initial days and weeks after a traumatic event. Individuals often experience intense feelings of anger, fear, grief, guilt, and sadness. More often than not these symptoms will resolve on their own. In the event that these stressors continue, it may mean the individual has developed PTSD or another mental health condition.

Anyone can develop PTSD following a traumatic event, but people are at greater risk if:

1.The event involved physical or sexual assault of the individual

2.The individual has had repeated traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse or living in a war zone

3.The individual has suffered from PTSD in the past.

Identifying the Symptoms of PTSD

A person with PTSD has four main types of difficulties:

1.Individuals often relive traumatic events through recurring unwanted memories, flashbacks or even vivid night terrors. There may be intense emotional or physical reactions when reminded of these events including sweating, heart palpitations or panic.

2.It can often be a struggle trying to avoid reminders of a traumatic event whether it be activities, feelings, people, places, situations, or thoughts that bring back memories of said event.

3.Trauma will often lead to negative changes in feelings and thoughts, such as feeling afraid,angry, guilty, or numb. The individual will even begin developing beliefs such as "I'm a bad person" or "The world's not a safe place". This can lead the individual towards feeling isolated from other people and the outside world.

4.Trauma can even lead to an individual being overly alert or "wound up" indicated by sleeping difficulties, irritability, lack of concentration, becoming easily startled and constantly being on the lookout for signs of danger.

A healthcare professional may diagnose PTSD if an individual has symptoms in each of these four areas for a month or more, which lead to significant distress or impacts on their ability to work and study, their relationships and everyday life. People with PTSD may also have what are termed ‘dissociative experiences.

PTSD in children and teenagers

It is somewhat typical for older children and teenagers to experience similar problems as adults when they develop PTSD. Younger children will often express distress in a different way than adults. The child may re-live the traumatic event through repetitive play as opposed to having unwanted memories of the event during the day. Children often have frightening dreams without recognisable content rather than nightmares that replay the traumatic event. Children might also lose interest in playing, become socially withdrawn, or even have severe temper tantrums. Around one third of children who experience a traumatic event will go on to develop PTSD. Other issues which can develop alongside PTSD include anxiety or depression, defiant behaviour, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and in teenagers and young adults, suicidal thoughts and alcohol or drug use.

Impact of PTSD on Relationships and Daily Life

PTSD can negatively affect an individual's ability to work, perform daily activities or relate to their friends and family. It is not uncommon for an individual with PTSD to appear distant as they try not to think or feel as an attempt to block out painful memories of traumatic experiences. This could lead the individual to refuse to participate in family life and even ignore the offers of help family and friends provide. This ultimately leads to those people feeling shut out of the individual's life. It is important to remember that these behaviours are part of the problem. People with PTSD require the support of family and friends, but may not want to acknowledge or admit that they indeed need help from those people.

It is not unusual for people with PTSD to experience other mental health problems concurrently. In fact, up to 80 percent of people who have suffered from PTSD in the long term develop additional problems. Anxiety, depression and substance abuse are the most common disorders associated with individuals who have PTSD. These disorders typically develop as a response to the traumatic event or sometime after the onset of developing PTSD.

The Downside of Abusing Alcohol or Substances with PTSD

It is common for individuals suffering from PTSD to dull or numb the emotional pain using alcohol or other substances. This ultimately prevents obtaining a successful recovery despite offering short term benefits in blocking out the painful memories.

When Should a Person Seek Help for PTSD

An individual who has experienced a traumatic event should seek professional help if they:

1. Don't feel any better after two weeks

2. Feel highly anxious or distressed

3. Have reactions to the traumatic event that are interfering with home, work and/or relationships

4. Are thinking of harming themselves or someone else.

Several of the precursors that a problem could be developing are:

I. If the individual is often on edge or very irritable

II. If the individual has difficulty performing tasks at home or at work

III. If the individual has been unable to emotionally respond to others

IV. If the individual is staying busy as a means to avoid issues

V. If the individual copes by using alcohol, drugs or engages in gambling

VI. If the individual is struggling with difficulty sleeping

Support is important for recovery

For many the symptoms of PTSD are experienced within the initial two weeks following a traumatic event, however most of these individuals recover on their own or with assistance from friends and family. Due to this treatment for PTSD does not typically begin for at least two or more weeks after suffering a traumatic experience. It is very beneficial to receive any help needed over the course of the first few days and weeks following a traumatic event. Whether this be accessing available information, people or resources, any of which can help the individual recover. For some it may only take family and friends to overcome a traumatic experience. For others, a Doctor may be the best place to seek additional help.

Treatment for PTSD

Say two weeks go by and an individual is still experiencing issues with a traumatic experience; seeking the help of a doctor or mental health professional can be beneficial as they may discuss starting treatment for PTSD. There are effective treatments available. Many of these treatments involve psychological treatment like counselling, yet medication may be helpful as well. Starting with psychological treatment as opposed to medication usage is typically the first and often only solution needed for the problem.The cornerstone of PTSD treatment involves confronting the traumatic memory head on while working through thoughts and beliefs associated with the experience. Trauma-focused treatments can:

1. Reduce PTSD symptoms

2. Lessen anxiety and depression

3. Improve a person's quality of life

4. Be effective for people who have experienced prolonged or repeated traumatic events, but treatment may be required for a longer period.

Where to get help

I. Your doctor

II. Mental health specialist, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker, with experience in treatment of PTSD

III. Community health center/ Mental health center

There is no need to be afraid to seek treatment when one feels treatment is necessary to facilitate their recovery. Stigma is a feeling which must be overcome as well in regards to PTSD. There is no need to think less of oneself for struggling with PTSD. This is one of the main factors which prevent individuals from seeking help as they do not want to bear the label. Before I end this post I want to wish you all a better today than yesterday, in hopes of a much brighter tomorrow!!!!!