written by Sarah Doleschal (nuts&needles)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that is triggered by a terrible event - either experiencing or witnessing one. A traumatic event is something that is likely to make someone feel scared, stressed, or upset. It may be an accident, a physical or sexual assault, a serious injury or death to another person, a natural disaster, or a kidnapping.
There are three types of PTSD: acute (short-term), chronic (long-term), and complex. Acute PTSD develops within the first month after a trauma, while chronic PTSD develops between one and six months later. Complex PTSD (cPTSD) is a condition resulting from multiple or long-term childhood trauma that persists into adulthood. It often occurs in people who grew up in an abusive home or experienced domestic violence as children.
It is normal to feel stressed, upset or scared after an intense or life-threatening experience. This is a normal part of the body's stress response.
But for people with PTSD, these feelings don't go away and can last for months or years. These feelings can also cause problems in daily life. For example, it may be difficult to get through the workday or to enjoy yourself with friends and family.
It is important to know that PTSD is not only a psychological problem, but also a physical one. Symptoms of trauma sequelae disorder include:
- Flashbacks or nightmares
- Avoidance of places or activities that remind you of your trauma
- Emotional numbness or feeling cut off from others
- Being angry, irritable, or irritable
- Feelings of guilt and shame
- Dissociations & panic attacks
Symptoms of PTSD may appear soon after the traumatic event, but they may also appear years later.
People with PTSD may have nightmares about the event and have a hard time stopping to think about what happened. Some people with PTSD also have flashbacks from their traumatic event. These are memories of the event that suddenly resurface and cause them to relive the experience as if it were happening again right now. They may also avoid situations or people that remind them of their trauma - or they may want to stay away from places that remind them of their trauma because they fear that something bad will happen again if they go there.
They may also feel emotionally numb, have trouble sleeping, and startle easily. They may also become very angry or irritable, have trouble concentrating or remembering things, and feel very nervous (as if they are "on guard," hyperarousal).
PTSD is characterized by extreme and prolonged emotional distress that can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide.
How does PTSD develop?
There are many ways that PTSD can occur. It is not as simple as "an accident" or "a bad event." The way the disorder develops is complex and varies from person to person.
In fact, there are three different types of trauma that can trigger PTSD: external (i.e., an outside source), internal (i.e., your body), and relational (i.e., your relationships). PTSD can be caused by any of these things.
The first type of trauma is external, meaning something that happens to you from the outside. This can be anything from a car accident to sexual assault or abuse. You may also witness violence against another person or an animal. If you were physically hurt during the event or if someone else was hurt, this would also be considered external trauma.
The second type of trauma comes from within your body: things like severe physical pain or illness, exposure to toxic chemicals, drug or alcohol abuse, or extreme neglect and lack of love from parents or caregivers as a child. This type of trauma affects not only mental health but also physical health and well-being.
The third type is relational trauma: this means that something happened between two people in a relationship that caused serious harm to one person.
What are the challenges of those affected?
It is a common misconception that PTSD is just an anxiety disorder. While there are many similarities, it's not just about anxiety.
PTSD can lead to flashbacks and nightmares that can be triggered by something as simple as the smell of a gas station or the sound of an ambulance. Symptoms can be severe enough to interfere with the ability to function normally.
Symptoms of PTSD can also include depression, hypervigilance (the feeling of being watched all the time), insomnia, and difficulty trusting others or feeling close to someone.
The biggest challenge for people with PTSD is that they often feel alone and misunderstood in their pain. Many people with PTSD have difficulty finding others who understand what they are going through, and this can make it difficult to connect with others - and even with themselves.
PTSD can have a significant impact on social life and the ability to meet work and school obligations.
How can the trauma sequelae disorder be treated?
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can be very distressing. There are many options for treating PTSD, but it is important to find the right treatment for your individual needs.
The most common treatments for PTSD include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - This involves learning coping skills and changing negative thinking patterns.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - This form of confrontation therapy helps people process trauma by working through negative memories by moving the eyes back and forth.
- Medication - Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications can help reduce symptoms, but are not always effective. While there are no medications that can directly treat PTSD (although some medications can help relieve other symptoms), there are many effective treatments that can be used in combination.
DOs in dealing with affected persons
When trying to help someone suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can be difficult to know what is best. You want to offer support, but also respect the person's limitations. For example, if the person is having a hard time getting out of bed, do you suggest strategies for them to move around? Or do you simply give the person as much time as they need?
- It's important to remember that there are no easy answers here. The only thing that really matters is being present. The more you are there for the person, the better off they will be - and that's true whether they have PTSD or not.
- Listen without judging or criticizing.
- Believe what the person is telling you! It's hard for her to talk about her trauma because feelings of shame, emotional & physical pain can quickly overwhelm her.
- One of the best ways to show up is to simply be present. Don't push yourself too hard: If the person doesn't want help at the moment, don't force them either. Just be ready and willing when they ask for help.
- Respect your loved one's boundaries - and respect the fact that they may not want help from you at all!
- If you feel your loved one is in danger, call 911 immediately.
DON'Ts in dealing with affected persons
They are trying to help. But if you don't know what to avoid when dealing with people with PTSD, it can be difficult to know what to do.
So here is a list of things that are not helpful:
- Showing pity for the perpetrator or giving the impression that their trauma is their fault
- Asking them about their trauma over and over again
- Telling them they are "overreacting" or being "dramatic"
- Make jokes about the trauma
- Don't assume the person is fine because she is acting normal. She may be hiding her symptoms well, but she is still suffering in silence.
- Avoid words that trigger memories of the trauma. This includes using words like "victim" or "war."
- Avoid asking questions about the trauma itself (or anything related to it). If the person is willing to talk about it with you, they will start on their own. Please do not push them to do so. Doing so would lose their trust in you.
- Avoid telling the person what to do the next time something happens - for example, if someone has been sexually abused.
- Don't assume the person will never get over their PTSD.
- Don't try to fix them - just listen if they want to talk about it, and let them know you are there for them if they need help.