PTSD: The Many Faces
Post-traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying
experience. We often associate it with soldiers returning
from combat, but PTSD and PTSD symptoms can develop after any traumatic event.
While its symptoms are well-documented, PTSD is frequently misunderstood, and
its sudden attacks can be mistaken for panic attacks.
Unexpected
and Unseen: Examples of PTSD Triggers
PTSD
surprises people with its breadth. If you’ve experienced any of the following,
you could be at risk for PTSD:
Auto
accident victims: The shock of a car accident, especially a
severe one, can haunt a person long after physical injuries heal.
Spouse
Abuse: Victims of domestic abuse, whether physical, emotional,
or both, often experience recurring flashbacks and emotional disturbances.
Child
Abuse: Any form of abuse during childhood puts individuals at
high risk of developing PTSD later in life, making their relationships and
sense of safety difficult.
Soldiers
Returning from War: The intense horrors of combat and battlefield
experiences leave many veterans struggling with PTSD symptoms.
Near-death
Experience (NDE): Whether it’s a medical emergency, natural
disaster, or violent assault, surviving a brush with death can have
long-lasting psychological effects.
What
is PTSD, and How Does it Affect You?
PTSD
occurs when the brain fails to process a traumatic experience correctly.
Instead of the memory fading, the event remains startlingly vivid, and the
associated emotions remain dangerously close to the surface.
PTSD
has four primary symptom types:
Re-experiencing:
Flashbacks, nightmares, and distressing memories can make sufferers feel as
though they are reliving the trauma repeatedly.
Avoidance:
Intense emotional distress leads people with PTSD to avoid anything that
reminds them of their trauma – places, people, even certain sounds or smells.
Hyperarousal:
People with PTSD often feel constantly on edge, irritable, and prone to angry
outbursts. Difficulty sleeping and concentrating are common.
Adverse
changes in thinking/mood: PTSD often leads to deep feelings of
guilt, shame, or detachment from loved ones. Losing interest in once-enjoyable
activities is also common.
Am I
Losing My Mind, Questions about my mental health, or Is It PTSD?
It is
only natural to feel distressed, anxious, and confused in the
aftermath of
trauma. However, when these symptoms don’t fade over
time and begin to disrupt
your daily life for over a month seriously, it
could be PTSD.
Sudden,
intense episodes with symptoms including rapid heartbeat, sweating, difficulty
breathing, and overwhelming feelings of fear or panic can be mistaken for panic
attacks. But PTSD attacks frequently also include elements of
re-experiencing the trauma. These could be flashbacks, nightmares about the event,
anxiety, or a sense of imminent danger without apparent cause.
Coping
Mechanisms for Dealing with PTSD
PTSD
is severe, but it is highly treatable through therapy, learning
coping
mechanisms, and dissociation from the event. If you suspect
you may have this
condition, seeking professional help from a
qualified therapist with experience
treating trauma is essential.
Effective
treatments include:
Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps you recognize
negative thought patterns and
change them, ultimately altering how
you react to PTSD triggers.
Exposure
Therapy: Facing your fears in a safe, controlled environment with
a therapist can help reduce your power.
Medications:
Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can sometimes help ease PTSD
symptoms.
In
addition to therapy, the following strategies can help you cope day-to-day:
Support
System: Lean on supportive and understanding friends and family.
Healthy
Habits: Prioritize sleep, regular exercise, and a healthy diet to
reduce stress levels.
Stress
Management: Learn techniques like deep breathing,
meditation, and yoga to manage anxiety and flashbacks.
Avoidance
of Triggers: Be mindful of potential triggers and have a
plan to manage them should you encounter them.
Do
PTSD Sufferers Black Out During Attacks?
While
not everyone experiences it, “blacking out” or experiencing
periods
of disassociation during a PTSD attack is relatively standard.
Disassociation
is a defense mechanism the mind uses to cope with
overwhelming distress.
It can
cause the following kinds of experiences:
Emotional
numbness is a disconnection from one’s emotions or feeling like a detached
observer.
Derealization:
Feeling as if your surroundings are unreal or distorted.
Depersonalization:
Feeling like you’re outside your body or your actions are not yours.
It’s
Not Your Fault, and You’re Not Alone
The
most important thing to remember is that PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It’s a normal, although intensely distressing, reaction to abnormal experiences.
With the proper treatment and support, you can manage PTSD and reclaim your
life.
You
are Not Alone in Your Pain
Research
and Data: The CDC researches to understand the prevalence, risk
factors, and long-term impacts of PTSD across different populations. This data
helps inform prevention and treatment efforts.
Education
and Awareness: They have dedicated sections on their website
providing information about PTSD symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment
options. The CDC also works to raise awareness about PTSD, reduce stigma, and
encourage people to seek help.
Resources
and Guidelines: The CDC provides guidelines and toolkits for
healthcare professionals to recognize and treat PTSD effectively. They also
have resources tailored for specific communities like veterans or disaster
survivors.
Public
Health Initiatives: The CDC collaborates with other organizations
to develop public health programs focused on preventing PTSD and promoting
resilience after traumatic experiences.
Here’s
where you can find specific information about CDC’s work on PTSD:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
CDC
website – PTSD in Children: https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/ptsd.html
Clinical
Trials on PTSD
https://www.centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/condition/122/post-traumatic-stress-disorders
List
of States Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
https://www.ncsl.org/health/state-pharmaceutical-assistance-programs
