Most of the time when you hear about PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) it’s about people that have served in the military and suffered great traumas in war (whether they just saw horrible things or experienced them firsthand). However, military personnel aren’t the only people with PTSD.
Causes of PTSD
Anyone that has experienced a traumatic event can have PTSD. Here are some of the things that might cause a person to have PTSD:
- Sexual assault and rape
- Muggings and robberies
- Serious automobile accidents
- Severe neglect (from a romantic partner or family member)
- Kidnappings and hostage situations
- Witnessing death or murder
- Military combat
- Terrorist attacks
- The unexpected death of a member of your family or close friend
- Experienced natural disasters firsthand
Other things can happen to a person to cause them to suffer from PTSD, but it does not happen just because you fight with a friend, get a divorce, or lose your job. It has to be something that is life-threatening, to you or someone you know.
What is PTSD, Exactly?
Let’s start with the PTSD definition, according to Dictionary.com. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a result of severe shock, psychologically. It doesn’t have to include an injury, but can. It’s a persistent condition that affects a person’s mental state and causes them emotional stress. Dictionary.com goes on to say that sufferers have sleep disturbances.
According to the statistics, 20 percent of the 70 percent of adults that experience a traumatic event in their lifetime will develop PTSD. PTSD doesn’t reserve itself for adults though. Children can also develop this disorder that can make life harder to live.
Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD symptoms can vary per person. Children and adults with the disorder may have some of the same symptoms, but they can also differ greatly. Military personnel suffering from this illness will often relive their traumatic moments and can harm themselves or others when their illness is left untreated.
Here are the most common symptoms in adults and children with PTSD:
1. Avoidance
When you’ve lived through a traumatic event, it can make it difficult for you to do some of the things that tie in with that event. If your business gets robbed, you might be afraid to go back to work. If you got jumped outside the bar, you might never want to return to that particular bar again.
You might even find yourself avoiding situations that don’t necessarily have a direct connection to the thing that happened to you. You might avoid getting help or talking to friends or family about things because you’re afraid of reliving the experience again.
2. Reliving
Reliving the event can happen when you’re forced to talk about it, but it can also happen at other times. If you were in a major car accident, a trigger for you could be getting in a vehicle or hearing about other people’s auto accidents.
For veterans, something as simple as hearing fireworks or a car backfiring can be a trigger. That’s why many communities try to do what they can to help military personnel, past and current, during Fourth of July events.
3. Mood Changes
People that have PTSD can have all sorts of mood changes. At one point, they may be hyper-alert, anxious and always ready for something to happen. They may at other times be shut off and not show any emotions.
PTSD can cause you to have a hard time sleeping, including nightmares. It can cause feelings of guilt. You may also be easily startled or angered.
Treatments for PTSD
PTSD doesn’t have to continue to traumatize a person the rest of their life. Therapy helps you learn how to deal with the triggers. Once you know your triggers, you can work to get past them. Therapy will also help with self-esteem, which can be seriously flawed after trauma of any kind.
Numerous types of therapy are used in the treatment of PTSD. They include Prolonged Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy. Through these therapies, you’ll learn breathing techniques and processing skills that will get you through the tough moments.
Medications also help with the treatment of PTSD. Everyone responds in a different way to drugs, so your doctor will work with you to figure out which medications and dosages will help you. Anytime you seem to have a side effect, or a medication is working as well as you feel it should, you should communicate with your doctor. Antidepressants, beta blockers, and antipsychotics are just a few of the medications you may try.
Get Help if You Have PTSD
Even if you only think you might have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, talk to your doctor about it. There is help, and it can allow you to live a more normal life again.
