PTSD: Symptoms and How It Can Happen

PTSD, also known as “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder”, is a mental health condition triggered by a traumatic event that happened in the past. People with PTSD may have experienced or witnessed terrifying events that would later haunt their lives. Its symptoms may include panic attacks after having flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts.

A person who has experienced a traumatic event may temporarily have difficulty coping and adjusting to their lives. But with time and good self-care, they may overcome the obstacles. However, if the symptoms worsen and start to interfere and affect their day-to-day living after a month or even years, they may have PTSD.

But do not worry. Life is not over when you have PTSD because therapists can still reduce its symptoms with proper treatment and consultation.

What are the Symptoms?

PTSD’s symptoms are generally grouped into intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and moods, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms may vary over time or from a person to another.

Intrusive Memories

• Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event.
• Having flashbacks and reliving the traumatic event as if it were to happen again.
• Constantly having nightmares about the said event.
• Severe anxiety, panic attacks and physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event.

Avoidance

• Avoiding thinking and talking about the traumatic event.
• Avoiding people, places and other things that remind you of the traumatic event.

Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood Swings

• Having negative thoughts about yourself and other people.
• Hopelessness about yourself and the future.
• Lack of interest and will to do the activities you once enjoyed doing.
• Memory problems.
• Finding it difficult to maintain close relationships.
• Feeling detached from your loved ones.
• Feeling emotionally numb.
• Finding it challenging to experience positivity in mind and emotions.

Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions (Arousal symptoms)

• Being easily startled.
• Constantly on guard and watching out for danger.
• Having a self-destructive behaviour
• Feeling irritated, angry outbursts and aggressive behaviour
• Overwhelming shame and guilt.
• Trouble sleeping
• Finding it difficult to concentrate

These symptoms may get more severe over time, and you may have more of these symptoms when you’re generally stressed out. You may also have a hard time dealing with things that might remind you of the traumatic event you went through in the past.

Traumatic Events

PTSD is often caused by going through or witnessing a traumatic event in the past. You may have absorbed any of those traumatic events into your mind until it overwhelms you entirely.

Just as stated above, you may develop PTSD through experiencing and witnessing traumatic events. These traumatic events may include:

• Physical and sexual abuse
• Harsh experiences during military or combat training
• Exposure to a violent environment
• Witnessing a death
• Accident

How PTSD May Affect Your Life

PTSD is a severe mental health condition. It may affect anyone regardless of age, gender and ethnicity. If it is left unattended, it may completely disrupt your life—your daily living, your relationships and your social life. PTSD may also increase the risk or lead you to other mental illnesses or abuses such as depression and anxiety , drug abuse, self-inflicted injuries, and suicidal thoughts.

Consult With an Expert

If you or someone you know shows any of these symptoms, do not hesitate to consult an expertand reach out to your loved ones to get the help you need. PTSD requires proper medical treatment as soon as possible to prevent it from getting any worse.

With that being said, Cooks Hill Counselling offers the best counselling services that may help you with overcoming PTSD. You will be taken care of by our down-to-earth professionals through unbiased judgment.