PTSD

(Posttraumatic Stress Disorder)

Jim Heitmeyer

14 November 2007

   Following a traumatic event, people typically describe feeling things like relief to be alive, followed by stress, fear, and anger. They also often find they are unable to stop thinking about what happened. Having stress reactions is what happens to most people and has nothing to do with personal weakness. Many will also exhibit high levels of arousal. For most, if the following symptoms occur, they will slowly decrease over time. Some people have a very difficult time living with their illness, pain and suffering, but today’s medicines have helped some people cope better while living their life.

Remember that most trauma survivors (including veterans, children, disaster rescue or relief workers) experience common stress reactions. Understanding what is happening when you or someone you know reacts to a traumatic event will help you be less fearful and better able to handle things. These reactions may last for several days or even a few weeks and may include:

Some reactions may include the following:

• Anxiety attacks
• Having trouble concentrating, indecisiveness
• Isolation from others
• Easily forgetting things, people or events
• Feeling hopeless about the future and detached or unconcerned about others
• Hearing loud explosions in the mind
• Startle easily at a sudden noise
• On guard and constantly alert
• Having disturbing dreams, memories or flashbacks
• Work or school problems

• Pounding heart, rapid breathing, edginess
• Stomach upset, cramps, and trouble eating
• Restlessness while trying to sleep and exhaustion
• Certain weather conditions may set off a bad memory
• Severe headache if thinking of the event, sweating
• Failure to engage in exercise, diet, safe sex, regular health care
• Worsening of chronic medical problems
• Excess smoking, alcohol, drugs, food
•  

Or have more emotional troubles such as:

• Feeling shock, numb, unable to experience love or joy
• Feeling nervous, helpless, fearful, sad
• Avoiding people, places, and things related to the event
• Becoming easily upset or agitated
• Self-blame or negative views of oneself or the world
• Distrust of others, conflict, being over controlling
• Withdrawal, feeling rejected or abandoned
• Loss of intimacy or feeling detached
• Being irritable or outbursts of anger

   Use your family and friends, for an affective support system when you are ready to talk. Recovery is an ongoing gradual process. It doesn't happen through suddenly being "cured" and it doesn't mean that you will forget what happened. For most, fear, anxiety, remembering, efforts to avoid reminders, and arousal symptoms, if present, will gradually decrease over time. Most people will recover from trauma naturally. Remember, having PTSD does not mean that you are crazy. PTSD and Mental Illness are similar in some ways and that a specialist can diagnosis your problem accurately. If your emotional reactions are getting in the way of your relationships, work, or other important activities you may want to talk to a certified counselor or doctor who specializes in PTSD. Good treatments are available.

   Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD, is a condition that can develop after someone has experienced a life-threatening situation. People with PTSD often can't stop thinking about what happened to them. They may try to avoid people and places that remind them of the trauma and may work hard to push thoughts of the event out of their head. Feeling numb is another common reaction. Finally, people find that they have trouble relaxing. They startle easily and are often on guard. If left untreated, PTSD symptoms generally become worse.

Depression: Involves feeling down or sad more days than not, and losing interest in activities that used to be enjoyable or fun. You may feel low in energy and be overly tired. People may feel hopelessness or despair, or feeling that things will never get better. Depression may be especially likely when a person experiences losses such as the death of close friends. This sometimes leads a depressed person to think about hurting or killing him or herself. Because of this, it is important to get help.

   Self-blame, guilt and shame: Sometimes in trying to make sense of a traumatic event, people take too much responsibility for bad things that happened, for what they did or did not do, or for surviving when others didn't. Remember, we all tend to be our own worst critics and that guilt, shame and self-blame are usually unjustified.

   Suicidal thoughts: Trauma and personal loss, can lead a depressed person to think about hurting or killing themselves. If you think someone you know may be feeling suicidal, you should directly ask them. You will NOT put the idea in their head. If they have a plan to hurt themselves and the means to do it, and cannot make a contract with you to stay safe, try to get them to a counselor or call 911 immediately.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Department of Veterans Affairs (PTSD Treatment)

   Anger or aggressive behavior: Trauma can be connected with anger in many ways. After a trauma people often feel that the situation was unfair or unjust. They can't comprehend why the event has happened and why it has happened to them. These thoughts can result in intense anger. Although anger is a natural and healthy emotion, intense feelings of anger and aggressive behavior can cause relationship and job problems, and loss of friendships. If people become violent when angry, this can just make the situation worse as people can become injured and there may be legal consequences.

   Alcohol/Drug abuse: Drinking or "self-medicating" with drugs is a common way many cope with upsetting events to numb themselves and to try to deal with the difficult thoughts, feelings, and memories related to the trauma. While this may offer a quick solution, it can actually lead to more problems. If someone close begins to lose control of drinking or drug use, it is important to assist them in getting appropriate care.

   Immediately following a trauma, almost everyone will find themselves unable to stop thinking about what happened. Many will also exhibit high levels of arousal. For most, fear, anxiety, remembering, efforts to avoid reminders, and arousal symptoms, if present, will gradually decrease over time. Use your personal support systems, family and friends, when you are ready to talk. Recovery is an ongoing gradual process. It doesn't happen overnight and it doesn't mean that you will forget what happened. But, most people will recover from trauma naturally over time, others will need special care for the remainder of their lives.

   If your emotional reactions are getting in the way of your relationships, work, or other important activities you may want to talk to a certified counselor or a doctor who specializes in PTSD. Early signs of detecting PTSD symptoms will often prevent the problem from becoming worse. More severe PTSD cases are treated with therapy and special medications that can help a person cope. If you or someone you know show signs of the symptoms I have written here, seek help immediately. You owe it to yourself and to your loved ones. Remember that good treatments are available.