Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A terrifying event can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that is brought on by experiencing or witnessing it. Flashbacks, nightmares, excruciating anxiety, and irrational thoughts about the incident are possible symptoms.

Most survivors of traumatic events may experience short-term difficulties adjusting and coping, but they typically recover with time and appropriate self-care. You might have PTSD if the symptoms worsen, persist for several months or even years, and affect your ability to function on a daily basis.

When PTSD symptoms appear, receiving good treatment can be essential to symptom reduction and function improvement.

Symptoms

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can arise as soon as one month after a traumatic event, but they can also take years to manifest. Relationships, relationships at work, and social situations all suffer greatly from these symptoms. They may also make it difficult for you to carry out your regular daily activities.

Four broad categories characterise symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): intrusive memories, avoidance, negative cognitive and affective changes, and altered physical and emotional responses. Symptoms can change over time or between individuals.

Invasive recollections

Among the signs of intrusive memories are:

• unwanted, recurrent flashbacks to the traumatic experience that cause distress
• flashbacks: the sensation of reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again
• disturbing nightmares or dreams involving the traumatic incident
• extreme mental anguish or bodily reactions to stimuli that bring up the traumatic experience

Avoidance symptoms can include:

• attempting to keep the traumatic incident out of your mind and conversation
• Keeping away from people, places, or activities that bring up the traumatic memory
• negative shifts in perspective and attitude

Negative shifts in perspective and attitude

Negative shifts in thought and mood can manifest as the following symptoms:

• negative ideas about the world, other people, or yourself
• lack of optimism for the future
• memory issues, such as forgetting significant details of the traumatic experience
• having trouble sustaining intimate relationships
• feeling cut off from friends and family
• loss of interest in things you used to enjoy doing
• having trouble feeling good feelings
• having a numb emotional state
• alterations in the body’s and the mind’s responses

Arousal symptoms, which are indicators of altered emotional and physical responses, can include the following:

• having a high threshold for shock or fear
• being alert for danger at all times
• self-destructive habits, like binge drinking or speeding while driving
• difficulty falling asleep
• difficulty focusing
• intolerance, furious outbursts, or hostile conduct
• extreme shame or guilt

In children aged six and under, additional indications and symptoms could be:

• playfully reenacting the traumatic event or certain parts of it
• terrifying dreams that might or might not contain details of the traumatic incident

Symptom severity

The severity of PTSD symptoms can change over time. When you’re under a lot of stress or are reminded of your past experiences, you might experience more symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. For instance, you might experience combat again and hear a car backfire. Alternatively, you might be struck with flashbacks to your own assault after seeing a news report about a sexual assault.

Causes

When you experience, witness, or learn about an incident involving real or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation, you run the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder.

The reason behind some people’s PTSD is unknown to doctors. Like the majority of mental health issues, PTSD is most likely brought on by a combination of

• Stressful situations, such as the volume and type of trauma you have experienced in your life
• Risks associated with inherited mental health, such as a family history of depression and anxiety
• Your temperament, or inherited traits of your personality,
• Your body’s reaction to stress is regulated by the way your brain releases chemicals and hormones.

Prevention

Many survivors of traumatic events initially experience symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as an inability to stop thinking about what happened. Anger, sadness, guilt, fear, and anxiety are all typical responses to trauma. On the other hand, not everyone who experiences trauma goes on to develop persistent PTSD.

Receiving support and assistance in a timely manner can help keep typical stress reactions from getting worse and turning into PTSD. This can entail reaching out to loved ones and friends who can console and listen. It might entail contacting a mental health specialist for a short-term therapeutic programme. It might be beneficial for some people to seek support from their religious community.