Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, refers to a mental health condition that an individual can encounter after a traumatic event. An estimated 3.9% of the entire world population is known to have experienced PTSD at some point in their lives. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can disrupt your daily life, so understanding key aspects of PTSD is the initial step toward healing. When you suffer from PTSD, your ‘flight-or-fight’ response comes into play, which allows you to react to the potential danger. People usually recover from the initial symptoms over time. Individuals who do not recover might get diagnosed with PTSD.
Post traumatic stress disorder symptoms are associated with four domains, including intrusions, cognitive and affective dysregulation, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Post traumatic stress disorder ICD 10 is used to classify and diagnose this condition. As per post traumatic stress disorder DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), this condition is classified under Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders.
Who Suffers From Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms?
Regardless of age, anybody can suffer from PTSD symptoms. The sufferers may be people who have witnessed or experienced a major traumatic event, including but not limited to sexual or physical assault, abuse, disaster, accident, or other severe events. PTSD patients may feel afraid or stressed, even in situations when no danger is present. Occasionally, the disorder may be diagnosed after knowing that a family member or friend has experienced trauma. As per the National Center for PTSD, nearly six out of 100 people have suffered from this disorder at some point in their lifetime.
4 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms
The symptoms of this disorder can deteriorate your day-to-day activities and may make you inefficient at work. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms are categorised into four groups:
Intrusion
In this group, you suffer from:
- Flashbacks that make you feel as if you re-experience the event repeatedly
- Upsetting memories of the event can abruptly appear in thoughts that seem unconnected.
- Frequent bad dreams about the event
- Severe physical or mental discomfort when recalling the event
Avoidance
The symptoms are focused on avoiding places, people, or situations that retell you of the traumatic event.
Arousal and Reactivity
The post traumatic stress disorder symptoms for this category are:
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Getting upset easily and being overstated when you get upset or surprised
- Continuously feeling of being an edge
- Irritability
- Getting angry frequently
- Self-critical thoughts
- Misleading feelings of guilt, anxiety, or self-blame
- Difficulty recalling major details of the event
- Decreased interest in activities you once enjoyed
Depression and Panic Attacks
The related symptoms are:
- Feeling dizzy
- Restlessness
- Lightheaded sensations
- Fainting
- Rapid or strong heartbeat
- Migraines or head pain
With this overview of post traumatic stress disorder symptoms, let’s get familiar with its treatment options.
Treatment Options
Post traumatic stress disorder treatment can aid you in regaining the normal functioning of your life. The primary treatment is talk therapy (also called psychotherapy), and another prevalent treatment option is medication.
1) Psychotherapy
Several types of psychotherapy are useful to treat this condition in the patients. Here’s an overview of certain types of psychotherapy used in post traumatic stress disorder treatment:
Exposure Therapy:
This therapy helps you safely deal with memories or situations that seem frightening to you. It prepares you to cope with them. Exposure therapy is especially beneficial for symptoms like nightmares and flashbacks.
Cognitive Therapy:
Cognitive therapy helps you identify thought patterns or particular cognitive habits that may hold you back. For example, it helps you identify negative beliefs you have about yourself and feel afraid of traumatic things happening repeatedly in your life. Cognitive therapy is frequently used along with exposure therapy to treat this condition.
2) Medications
Here’s an overview of several types of medicines that can alleviate PTSD symptoms. The below information is meant to provide an in-depth knowledge to the readers. Don’t handpick any of the options on your own.
Antidepressants:
These medicines aim to alleviate anxiety and depression. They also help you get better sleep and improve your concentration. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved paroxetine (Paxil) and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medicines to treat PTSD.
Anti-anxiety Medicines:
These medicines can help relieve intense anxiety and related issues. Certain anti-anxiety medicines could be misused and are typically prescribed for short-term use only.
Note: You can take the help of your healthcare professional to identify the most suitable medicine that has the fewest side effects to treat PTSD in a short time.
Takeaway
You may be experiencing PTSD if you are repeatedly getting upsetting thoughts, are incapable of managing your actions, or have a fear that you may hurt yourself or others. If you encounter post traumatic stress disorder symptoms, your healthcare professional would prescribe an appropriate therapy medication or a combination of both. Availing proper treatment can help you with faster relief and regain normal activities.
