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If you are feeling down or depressed for more days than not, please seek medical attention. If you are feeling like you cannot go on, please call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or chat here>>> https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/ Or visit the suicide prevention lifeline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. However, if the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.
PTSD can happen to anyone. It’s not just something that war veterans experience. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and people who have experienced long-term or multiple traumas are also at higher risk.
PTSD can be treated and managed effectively with therapy, medication, or a combination of both. If you think you might have PTSD, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional.
What causes Post-traumatic stress disorder?
PTSD can be caused by any event that is experienced as traumatic. This could include:
- Military combat
- Terrorist attacks
- Natural disasters (such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods)
- Serious accidents (such as car or plane crashes)
- Abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal)
- Violence (including domestic violence and witness to violence)
- Childhood trauma
Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD. It’s not yet known exactly why some people develop PTSD and others don’t, but several risk factors seem to make it more likely.
These include:
- Previous exposure to trauma or other mental health problems
- Having a history of physical or sexual abuse
- Growing up in an environment where violence was common
- Experiencing multiple traumas
- Being injured during the traumatic event
- Feeling powerless or helpless during the event
- Having little or no social support after the event
- Having a pre-existing mental health condition (such as anxiety or depression)
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What are the symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder?
PTSD symptoms can be grouped into four main categories:
- Intrusive thoughts
- Avoidance
- Negative changes in thinking and mood
- Changes in physical and emotional reactions
Intrusive thoughts:
- Memories of the traumatic event coming back unexpectedly
- Flashbacks or feeling like you’re going through the event again
- Bad dreams
- Feeling upset by things that remind you of the event
- Intense physical reactions to things that remind you of the event (such as a pounding heart, sweating, or trouble breathing)
Avoidance:
- Avoiding thinking about or talking about the event
- Avoiding places, activities, or people that remind you of the event
- Trying to take care of yourself in an unhealthy way (such as using alcohol or drugs to avoid memories)
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Negative changes in thinking and mood:
- Negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world (such as “I’m bad,” “No one can be trusted,” or “The world is completely dangerous”)
- Blaming yourself or others for the event or your reactions to it
- Feeling hopelessness, shame, guilt, or despair
- Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Feeling detached from other people or numb
- Having a hard time experiencing positive emotions (such as happiness, love, or satisfaction)
Changes in physical and emotional reactions:
- Easily startled or frightened
- Always being on guard for danger
- Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much, driving recklessly, or having unsafe sex
- Trouble sleeping
- Anger or irritability
- Overwhelming guilt or shame
These symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe. They may come and go, or they may always be present. Everyone experiences PTSD differently.
How is Post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosed?
If you think you might have PTSD, the first step is to see a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, social worker, or therapist. They will ask about your symptoms and your past. It’s essential to be honest, and open to get an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment for Post-traumatic stress disorder
There are several effective treatments for PTSD.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT):
CBT is a type of therapy that helps people change their thinking patterns and behaviors. During CBT, you’ll work with a therapist to identify negative thought patterns and replace them with more positive ones. You’ll also learn new coping skills, such as relaxation techniques and problem-solving strategies. CBT can be done in individual or group therapy sessions.
EMDR:
EMDR is a type of therapy that uses eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation to help people process trauma. During EMDR, you’ll work with a therapist and EMDR pulsers to identify negative thoughts and emotions related to the trauma. You’ll then track the therapist’s fingers with your eyes as they move back and forth across your field of vision. The goal is to help you process the trauma and reduce the intensity of your symptoms.
Medication:
There are several types of medications that can be used to treat PTSD. These include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and beta-blockers.
Antidepressants can help improve your mood and sleep.
Anti-anxiety medications can help reduce anxiety and irritability.
Beta-blockers can help with physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heart or sweating. Working with a mental health professional is important to figure out what medication is right for you. Everyone responds differently to different medications.
If you think you might have PTSD, don’t hesitate to seek help. Many people find PTSD can be a debilitating condition, but there are treatment options available that can help. If you think you might have PTSD, the first step is to see a mental health professional. They will assess your symptoms and come up with a treatment plan that is right for you.
If you are feeling down or depressed for more days than not, please seek medical attention. If you are feeling like you cannot go on, please call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or chat here>>> https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/ Or visit the suicide prevention lifeline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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This is such a well-written and insightful article on PTSD! Raising awareness about the symptoms, causes, and coping strategies is so important for those affected and their loved ones. I appreciate how you’ve broken down this complex topic in an easy-to-understand way while also emphasizing the importance of seeking professional help. Thank you for shedding light on this critical issue!
These are some really great points that you have highlighted! I believe that we all should be a little considerate towards each other as we don’t know what the other person is going through. I was also facing mental health issue and then I started seeking therapy from KB Psychotherapy. I must admit that I have started seeing improvement in my behavior.
https://www.kbpsychotherapyllc.com/post/when-to-seek-therapy-for-childhood-trauma