PTSD Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment
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It is said that it is easy to heal an external wound, but it is very difficult to heal an injury on the mind. Sometimes some incidents or accidents sit in the mind in such a way that it even becomes the cause of mental illness. One such mental problem is PTSD i.e. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Very few people would know about it, but it is important to be aware of it from the point of view of caution. In this article of My Health Only, we will give information about the causes and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well as the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. So read the article completely for maximum information about PTSD.
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In this article, first of all, know about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? –
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder. This may be due to an accident. Which is either experienced by the person himself or has happened in front of him. These traumatic events can be life-threatening, such as war, natural disasters, car accidents, or sexual harassment. However, sometimes the event is not necessarily dangerous, for example, the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can also cause PTSD. It can also be called an anxiety disorder, which can be caused by emotional shock. Next, we are giving detailed information related to its symptoms and risk factors.
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After knowing about PTSD, here are the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Symptoms Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Here we are giving information about the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Explain that there can be four types of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, about which we are giving information below:
1. Re-experiencing symptoms: This may cause the patient to experience symptoms again. These symptoms may be reminiscent of the event or some trauma and the patient may start to feel that fear again. As if:
- Flashbacks, due to which it feels like the incident is happening again with them.
- Having nightmares.
- Scary thoughts come to mind.
2. Avoidance symptoms: Avoidance symptoms, where patients try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. Including:
- Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminiscent of a traumatic experience or event. For example, if the patient has had a car accident, he may stop driving.
- Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the traumatic event. For example, trying to keep yourself busy to avoid thinking about what happened.
- Feeling like there is no future anymore.
- Showing no interest in normal activities or everyday work.
3. Provoking symptoms: which can cause patients to become irritable or seek escape from danger. These include:
- To be surprised even by the smallest thing.
- Feeling stressed.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Get angry.
- Decrease in concentration.
4. Negative thinking, cognitive, or mood-related symptoms: There can be negative changes in beliefs and feelings. These include:
- Trouble remembering important things about the traumatic event.
- Negative thoughts about yourself or the world.
- Feeling guilty.
- No longer interested in the things that used to be enjoyed.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Blaming other people.
Apart from these, there are some other symptoms as well, which are as follows:
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Headache problem
- The feeling of rapid heartbeat
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Know the causes and risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder following the symptoms of PTSD.
Causes & Risk Factors Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
If seen, experts do not yet know exactly what can cause some people to have PTSD. However, some experts believe that it may be due to hereditary, emotional, and family reasons. However, several risk factors may play a role. These include:
- Women are more likely to suffer from PTSD than men.
- Any childhood accident or trauma.
- Feeling scared, helpless, or extreme fear.
- Going through a traumatic event lingers in the mind for a long time.
- Social distancing after the incident.
- The event is followed by another stressful situation, such as the death of a loved one, pain, injury, loss of a job or home.
- Mental illness or substance abuse.
- Domestic violence.
- Natural calamity.
- Incident of sexual abuse.
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In this part of the article, we are telling you how to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder.
Diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Psychiatrists with experience helping people with mental illnesses may check for PTSD, which includes:
- Physical examination – The doctor can take information about some symptoms from the patient. Then on the basis of the same symptoms, the doctor can advise further treatment.
- Psychiatric consultation – If there is no physical problem, then a psychiatrist can be consulted. Psychiatrists can ask about the patient’s experiences and can diagnose the disease on this basis.
- Lab Tests/Scans – After a physical examination and psychiatric consultation, if the doctor sees some serious symptoms in the person, then he may recommend a physical test to rule out other diseases. In these, depending on the symptoms, a blood test or scan can be advised.
In addition, to be diagnosed with PTSD, the patient must have had all of the following symptoms for at least one month:
- To experience the event at least once again.
- Avoidance symptoms appear at least once, such as staying away from things that are reminiscent of a past event, lack of interest in any work.
- Symptoms of PTSD must last for at least 30 days.
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After diagnosis, here we are telling how post-traumatic stress disorder can be treated.
Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder can be treated in many ways. Medications, psychotherapy (talk therapy), or both may be used as the main treatment for people with PTSD. PTSD affects people differently, so there may be different treatments for each person. A treatment that works for one person may not necessarily work for another. It is important for anyone with PTSD to be treated by an experienced psychiatrist. In such a situation, psychiatrists can treat PTSD in the following ways:
- Medicines:
Doctors may prescribe antidepressant medications to treat PTSD. It can help control the symptoms of PTSD such as sadness, anxiety, anger, and feeling empty inside. Other medications may be helpful for treating PTSD symptoms such as sleep problems and nightmares.
- Psychotherapy:
In psychiatry, a helpful form of therapy is called cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT. CBT may include:
- Talk therapy: Talk therapy with a psychotherapist is the most common therapy used to treat mental illness, Talk therapy can be done one to one with each patient or in a group with several patients, Talk therapy treatment for PTSD can usually last 6 to 12 weeks, but it can sometimes last longer.
- Exposure therapy: This can help people face and control their fears. Through this therapy, the fear sitting in their mind is brought to the fore. In this, the patient tries to convey the fear through imagery, writing or visiting the place where the event took place. This method of therapy can help people with PTSD reduce their fear feelings.
- Cognitive Restructuring: With the help of this treatment, it can help to understand bad memories in people’s minds. Sometimes people remember the incident in such a way that it happened because of them and they may feel ashamed for it, even if it is not their fault in the incident. Then the doctor, knowing deeply about them, tries to convince the patient that it is not at all what they are thinking.
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In this part of the article, we will learn about the ways to avoid Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Ways to avoid post-traumatic stress disorder
There are a few factors that can help reduce the risk of PTSD. These include:
- With the help and support of friends, family members, its risk can be reduced.
- Trying to feel good about one’s actions in the face of danger.
- Trying to learn how to come out of the thoughts of the bad event and get out of it.
- Being able to act and react effectively despite feeling fear.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental disorder that is very important to be aware of. As we have already given information in the article that it can affect the person both socially and personally. Here we have explained in detail the symptoms and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. If someone shows symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, then without delay, pay attention to it and get further treatment based on its severity. Also, let everyone know about PTSD by sharing this important article with others.
Frequently Asked Questions –
After an unexpected event, if a person is afraid of thinking about it again and again, then he or she may be prone to PTSD. Apart from this, if the symptoms given in the article last for several days, then it can be PTSD.
PTSD can affect any person’s social and personal life.
Yes, it is a mental disorder due to which personality can be affected.
Yes, anger and PTSD can often coexist. General anger in this situation can be one of the additional symptoms of PTSD.
No, but adults with PTSD can sometimes feel like they are struggling with a mental problem. They may feel things like a sudden change in mood. However, it is important to note that PTSD is an anxiety disorder that is treatable.
