Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

What PTSD is:

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health disorder triggered by viewing or experiencing a terrifying, dangerous, or scary event. It is induced by the fear that one feels during the experience, as fear triggers several changes in the body to either fight or avoid danger. PTSD is a lasting consequence of trauma that causes fear, helplessness, shock, nervousness, anger, and even guilt. Most people experience these emotions after a traumatic situation, but they are said to have PTSD if these feelings continue and increase to the point that it affects their quality

of life. Some events that can cause PTSD include assault, either sexual or physical, an accident, war, or natural disasters.

Signs and symptoms of PTSD:

Symptoms of PTSD most commonly appear 3 months after the event, but they can also not appear until years after the event. The severity and period of the illness may vary. The symptoms are divided into four categories: relieving symptoms, avoidance symptoms, arousal and reactivity symptoms, and cognition and mood symptoms. Relieving symptoms include flashbacks, bad dreams, and frightening thoughts. These symptoms cause problems in one's daily life. Avoidance symptoms include staying away from places or events that remind one of the events and also avoiding thoughts and feelings related to the event. This symptom affects one's personal routine. Arousal and reactivity symptoms comprise being easily startled, feeling tense, having difficulty sleeping, and having angry outbursts. These symptoms make one stressed and agitated, and they have difficulty with

simple tasks such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating. Cognition and mood symptoms include trouble remembering important details regarding the event, negative thoughts about oneself, feelings like guilt and blame, and also losing interest in enjoyable activities. These symptoms make the person alienated from family members and friends. A person is diagnosed with PTSD only when they have a specific numeric of symptoms from each category for at least one month because it is quite normal for a person to experience such emotions after a traumatic event.

Risk Factors for PTSD:

One is more likely to develop PTSD after a traumatic event if they have a history of mental health problems, have blood relatives with mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, or have a history of alcohol or drug abuse. People who have been abused as children, or who have been repeatedly exposed to life-threatening situations are at risk of developing PTSD. Victims of assault are also at risk of developing PTSD. People lacking a good support system or family are also at risk of developing PTSD.

There are also factors that promote recovery after facing trauma include seeking out support from family and friends, finding a support group, having positive coping mechanisms, and acting effectively even when faced with fear triggered by stimuli.

Treatment for PTSD:

The main forms of psychological treatment for PTSD patients are medication, psychotherapy, or both. Medications most commonly used to treat PTSD are antidepressants, which help with the symptoms of PTSD such as sadness, anger, and anxiety. The different types of medications used are SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and atypical antipsychotics. There

are also medicines used for specific symptoms PTSD patients suffer from, such as

sleeplessness, nightmares, and minimizing the formation of traumatic memories.

Several forms of psychotherapy are used to help treat PTSD and reduce symptoms, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, psychodynamic therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. There are also factors that promote recovery after facing trauma and may help prevent PTSD. These factors are seeking out support from family and friends, finding a support group, having positive coping mechanisms, and acting effectively even when faced with fear triggered by

stimuli.

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd#:~:text=Post%2Dtrau

matic%20stress%20disorder%20(PTSD,danger%20or%20to%20avoid%20it.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967