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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What is post-traumatic stress disorder?
The mental health condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD can develop in some individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious harm. In the past, PTSD was mostly known as something soldiers suffered when returning from battle (shell shock, combat fatigue), but today we understand that a myriad of traumatic experiences can lead someone to develop post traumatic stress disorder.
These individuals can be left with lasting consequences from the trauma they saw or endured and suffer from horrifying and often debilitating episodes, intense fear, and feelings of helplessness. They may have flashbacks or nightmares forcing them to relive the event. they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they often feel detached or estranged from society, friends and even family.
People with PTSD frequently have a heightened flight-or-fight response, and can have strong, negative reactions to common stimuli or occurrences such as loud, sudden noises or being accidentally touched. Because post traumatic stress disorder alters a person’s sense of danger, they are often on edge or trapped in a constant state of fear.
What causes post-traumatic stress disorder?
Different people will all respond differently when faced with potentially traumatic situations. What causes debilitating PTSD in one person may not cause another person to develop PTSD even if faced with the exact same traumatic event. Speaking broadly, however, events such as a car crash, domestic abuse, a natural disaster, military combat experience, physical or sexual assault or abuse, being the victim of a crime (kidnapping, hostage situations), or having a severe accident can all lead to post traumatic stress disorder and trigger recurrent, intrusive reminders of the traumatic event.
Of course, there are many other stressful, frightening or painful events that are known causes of PTSD. Whether they were experienced physically or emotionally does not matter. And it is also known that the symptoms of PTSD do not always begin to manifest in a person immediately after the trauma. Oftentimes, symptoms only begin to occur days, weeks, months, or even years after the event, or events, took place.
Four Ways PTSD Affects A Person
Below are four ways in which PTSD can impact a person’s life:
- Alterations in cognition and mood: As a defense mechanism, someone with PTSD might block out or repress what they experienced that led them to have this condition. They might also develop negative thoughts or beliefs about themselves, others or society in general. They may feel that they are useless, or that other people cannot be trusted. It is these thoughts which often cause PTSD sufferers to feel estranged and detached from other people.
- Avoidance: A person who has PTSD may try to protect themselves from remembering and reliving the event at all costs. They might stay away from people, places and even objects that could potentially bring back those memories that hurt them so much.
- Intrusion: Recurring intrusive thoughts that take the person back to the traumatic event in a vivid and frightening way. This includes what are commonly known as flashbacks. Sometimes the individual cannot even distinguish between their present reality and the horrifying moment, and have episodes where they are completely dissociated with their current reality. .
- Alterations in arousal and reactivity: Because common occurances can become triggers when a person has PTSD , people who have PTSD can often be irritable, unusually reactive, or be prone to sudden angry outbursts. Individuals can become paranoid, always on guard watching for, and expecting, the worst to happen. This can lead to insomnia or trouble sleeping and makes it harder for sufferers to concentrate on work or daily activities.
What are the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder?
Common signs that someone may suffer from PTSD may include:
- Recurring and unwanted memories of the event causing distress or anguish
- Having recurring flashbacks that cause the person to relive the disturbing event or events repeatedly
- Frightening nightmares of the event
- Always being on guard for danger
- Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
- Reduced interest in doing some of the things they once loved
The symptoms of PTSD can often vary in intensity over time. Typically, when someone with PTSD is placed in high stress situations, they experience more symptoms of their PTSD.
What can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder?
Unfortunately, because PTSD is very broad and encompasses trauma’s caused by a variety of traumatic events, almost anything can be a potential trigger for a person’s PTSD. It can vary widely from individual to individual. Sometimes the most unexpected things can cause a suppressed memory from the event to resurface and trigger a PTSD episode.
Things such as sights, sounds, smells, or even just thoughts can remind you of the traumatic event in some way and trigger an episode that dissociates from your present reality and takes you back to the horrific moment.
Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
If you are struggling with PTSD, come to Stedfast Psychiatry. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of service at each and every visit, no matter the situation. We want to help you live your best life and our team of medical professionals will help treat your PTSD symptoms.
We serve patients from Boynton Beach FL, Palm Beach Gardens FL, Jupiter FL, West Palm Beach FL, Riviera Beach FL, Century Village FL, Lake Park FL, and North Palm Beach FL.