Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault.
PTSD is a real illness that causes real suffering. It can cause feeling of intense fear, helplessness, or horror. These are normal reactions to abnormal events. However, not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, and not everyone who develops PTSD has experienced a particularly traumatic event. The reasons for this are not fully understood, but psychological, genetic, physical, and social factors are involved.
Symptoms of PTSD
People with PTSD continue to have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people.
People with PTSD may avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event, and they may have strong negative reactions to something as ordinary as a loud noise or an accidental touch. Variations of symptoms exist and these could be grouped into re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance symptoms, and arousal and reactivity symptoms.
Impact on Mental Health
PTSD does not just affect a person’s mental health, it can also have a profound impact on their overall wellbeing. PTSD can disrupt a person’s life and make it hard to continue with daily activities. It can also cause feelings of hopelessness, shame, or despair, employment problems, relationship problems, including divorce and violence, physical symptoms, such as chronic pain, hypertension or heart disease.
Furthermore, PTSD often co-occurs with other related mental health disorders like depression, substance use disorder, and anxiety disorders. The capacity for resilience and recovery can be heavily impacted by these comorbidities, often exacerbating an already challenging mental health crisis.
Treatment for PTSD
Treatment for PTSD is available and involves psychotherapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and medications. The aim of the treatment is to reduce the emotional and physical symptoms, to improve daily functioning, and to help the person better cope with the event that triggered the disorder. With the right treatment, people can overcome PTSD and move forward in their life.
Individuals living with PTSD are indeed fighting an invisible battle, but understand this is real. Let us be compassionate and supportive of these individuals whose journey is often misunderstood or overlooked, giving them the support they need to seek help, and encourage them to share their experiences so others might do the same.
Conclusion
PTSD is a serious mental health disorder that can affect anyone, from military veterans and disaster survivors to children and adults who have experienced personal violence or trauma. Understanding the baseline of what PTSD is, its symptoms, and how it can affect individuals is the first step in helping people manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Timely diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce symptoms even when the disorder is severe.
FAQs
1. What is the main cause of PTSD?
PTSD is triggered by a traumatic event – either experiencing it or witnessing it. Events like wars, disasters, abuse, accidents and violence can all cause PTSD.
2. Can PTSD go away on its own?
In some cases, PTSD symptoms may start to reduce on their own over a few months. However, in many cases, if symptoms persist for several months, it’s necessary to seek professional help as untreated PTSD can significantly impact quality of life.
3. Is PTSD a permanent condition?
No, PTSD is not necessarily a permanent condition. With appropriate, timely treatment, someone suffering from PTSD can learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life significantly.
4. Can PTSD lead to other mental health conditions?
Yes, individuals with PTSD are often also diagnosed with other mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. It’s important to seek help if you’re experiencing symptoms of PTSD as it can impact overall mental health.
