PTSD
What is PTSD?
PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It develops when a person has experienced a dangerous, scary, terrifying, or shocking event. Typically, these events usually involve a person being severely injured, or their life threatened, or even ended.
What are the causes?
You can develop PTSD from witnessing a traumatic event, such as war, a natural disaster, or assault. PTSD makes you feel stressed and afraid, even after the event is long over, affecting both yourself, and the people around you.
It can start at different times for different people. Some folks may develop PTSD soon after a frightening event, while other people develop it months or even years later. This is related to whether the trauma was repeated or not, what the individual’s proximity to the trauma was, and what their relationship is with the victim, or perpetrator, of the trauma.
In order to be diagnosed with PTSD, signs and symptoms must last more than a month and be severe enough to interfere with your daily life.
What are the symptoms?
- Flashbacks – feeling like the event is happening again
- Trouble sleeping/nightmares
- Feeling alone or detached from others
- Losing interest in activities
- Angry outbursts or extreme reactions
- Feeling worried, guilty, or sad
- Frightening thoughts
- Trouble concentrating
- Physical pain like headaches and stomachaches
- Avoidance of memories, thoughts, or feelings associated with traumatic events
- Problems remembering
- Negative beliefs about themselves or others
- Irritability
- Vigilance
- Startling easily
Prevention
Getting timely help and support may prevent normal stress reactions from getting worse and developing into PTSD. This may mean seeking out a mental health professional.
When to see a doctor
If you have disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month, if they’re severe, or if you feel like you’re having trouble getting your life back under control, talk to a mental health professional.
If you have suicidal thoughts
If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, get them help right away by
calling 988, the national suicide hotline.
When to get emergency help
If you think you may hurt yourself or others, get yourself to a hospital emergency room, and make sure there’s a loved one with you.
Resources
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967
