Post traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that interferes with daily activities through flashbacks, night terrors, insomnia, and other symptoms caused by uncontrollable reliving of terrifying events. Witnessing or being a victim of a traumatic situation may result in coping and adjusting issues. Doctors may diagnose patients with post-traumatic stress disorder if the symptoms do not abate through self-care and persist for months after the traumatic event.

Any terrifying, dangerous, and harmful situation that triggers the fight-or-flight response can become the cause of post-traumatic stress disorder. Every person processes events and emotions in a unique way, so there’s no way to tell which events will trigger PTSD. However, in most cases, post-traumatic stress disorder is caused by situations that promote severe adverse emotional reactions, such as physical, psychological, or mental abuse, violence, etc.

While self-assessment and treatment are possible and helpful, severe cases of PTSD require the help of a medical professional. The two most common treatment approaches for PTSD include medication and psychotherapy, which are often used simultaneously. Antidepressant medication helps patients control negative emotions and restore control over their daily lives. Talk therapy may comprise exposure therapy or cognitive reconstruction, depending on the cause of PTSD and the patient’s response to psychotherapy.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is a mental health condition that’s been recently recognized. Aside from typical PTSD symptoms, patients with CPTSD may demonstrate additional symptoms, including suicidal thoughts, inability to control negative emotions, social isolation, and dissociation. In some cases, complex PTSD can result in physical symptoms such as chest pain, headache, vertigo, etc. Anyone suffering from symptoms of CPTSD for over a month should seek medical assistance from a certified psychologist.

It’s important to remember that everyone processes trauma at their own pace, so pushing someone with PTSD to move on or ridiculing their experiences is inappropriate. Beyond that, listening to them and letting them share what they feel at their own pace is usually helpful. So is learning potential triggers and minimizing them if possible. Giving PTSD patients plenty of personal space is advisable. Learning how to talk someone through flashbacks can also be helpful. If there’s someone close to you with PTSD, you should encourage them to seek professional help. At the same time, you should take care of your mental and emotional well-being to be able to provide support without sacrificing your health.