Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Have you ever seen someone swinging between depression, anger, frustration, anxiety, and mood swings after facing a calamity or trauma? If this situation stays for long, it becomes post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD according to the psychiatrists. Having PTSD is not an uncommon happening and it usually is an outcome of witnessing or facing some shockingly painful event. According to the Centre for PTSD, 7-8% of adults will go through PTSD at some point in their lives only in the U.S. alone. Many factors contribute to making someone a victim of this disorder and many a time, the sufferer feels helpless to cope with it healthily.

So, what are the several reasons behind someone facing post-traumatic stress disorder and how can it be combatted successfully? Well, let’s take a deeper look at these burning questions:

• WHAT CAUSES PTSD IN PEOPLE

A generally laid-out reason behind facing post-traumatic stress disorder by people is the exposure to

• Hurtful, shocking, and disturbing life events including seeing the death of someone close, war scenes, and sexual and physical assault.
•  For the rape survivors, it becomes very hard to return to normal life because of the appallingly painful experience they get.
• The family of rape survivors is more likely prone to be facing PTSD because of the shocking and excruciatingly painful revelation.
• A woman who had a stillbirth might not be able to function properly because of the extremely painful event of giving birth to a deceased child.
• A very painful delivery with no proper post-op care.
• Thus, this is a broad topic and needs to be dealt with full expertise to beat it like a pro.

Thus, learning to identify its presence in you is the key to moving on with its resolution or treatment. If you do not recognize it on time or brush it aside like a whim, it will creep into your mind and deplete you of your mental peace and the ability to make relationships work healthily.

• HOW TO IDENTIFY PTSD

PTSD may unveil itself days or even months after something saddening and hurtful occurred. If the following symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, it is highly recommended to head towards the journey to self-reclamation and healing:

• Getting flashbacks or painful recollections of the event that triggered trauma within you.
• Losing sleep, mental peace, and calm because of the harrowing thoughts.
• Tripping into self-blame and experiencing guilt-trips when you had nothing to do with the horrendous event. (E.g. taking divorce or refusing to be played with!)
• Avoiding family, friends, and gatherings because of aggravating anxiety.
• Feeling of detachment with the trauma yet staying stuck in a state of dissociation and indifference.
• Experiencing frequent panic attacks, palpitations, self-sabotaging acts including physical and emotional harm.

These are a few symptoms of PTSD and if you witness these in someone around you, extend yourself to help them cope with it expertly. 

• COPING WITH PTSD SUCCESSFULLY

Recovering from PTSD is a gradual but sure way that helps you come back on track and take the reins of life in your hands. Following steps and treatments are offered to beat this vicious disorder:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aka CBT or the ‘talk therapy’ is a very successful way to help the victim come out of the despondent and helpless state. The therapist makes sure the patients look at the event critically and learn what they could have or still can do to get back to a normal routine
• Another method of ‘desensitization’ is also used via talk therapy in which the therapist replays the traumatic event time and again through discussion and gradually strips the victim of the fear and shock associated with it. Frequently talking about these events help the warriors develop grit to accept reality and actually move on.
• In severe cases, immediate medication is to be used. These medications usually include anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills that help in calming down and thinking more strongly in the days to come.

Getting over PTSD is not going to be like a walk in the park but with consistent efforts, familial support, and a great therapist by your side, PTSD can easily be beaten and you may start a brand new, happy life.