What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can arise following exposure to a traumatic event. This condition is not limited to those who directly experience the trauma; it can also affect individuals who witness such events or learn about them happening to someone close, like a friend or family member. PTSD is characterized by a range of symptoms including flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the traumatic event. These symptoms can significantly impair daily functioning and well-being. The impact of PTSD can be profound, affecting not only the individual but also their family and social circles. It is important to recognize that PTSD is a treatable condition, and seeking professional help can be a crucial step in the recovery process. Early intervention and support can greatly improve outcomes for those suffering from this challenging disorder.
Events that Most Often Cause PTSD:
- Military duty
- Gun violence
- Physical assault
- Sexual assault
- Severe accident
- Natural or man-made disasters
- PTSD often develops after a family member or friend dies
What symptoms develop due to PTSD?
Symptoms may appear shortly after the event that caused your PTSD, or there may be a delay of months or years. General anxiety and frightening thoughts and memories are some of the most common symptoms, but patients with PTSD may also:
- Have flashbacks or dreams about the event
- Experience hypersensitive emotions
- Feel on edge or angry
- Be easily startled
- Become depressed
- Blame themselves for the event
- Avoid people and places that remind them of the event
- Flashbacks and dreams may be so vivid that you or your child relive the traumatic event, which can trigger anxiety and physical symptoms such as shortness of breath and a rapid heartbeat
Experiencing PTSD? You are not alone . . .
Here is a list of famous people who have spoken about their PTSD:
- Ariana Grande after a suicide bombing in Manchester, UK, which killed 22 people in May 2017.
- Whoopi Goldberg after witnessing a mid-air collision between two planes in 1978.
- Mick Jagger after losing his long-term partner L’Wren Scott to suicide.
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis after witnessing JFK’s assassination.
- Monica Seles, grand slam winner, after being stabbed in the back with a nine-inch kitchen knife in Hamburg, Germany.
- Shia LaBeouf after overhearing his mother being raped when he was 3 years old.
- Charlize Theron, after witnessing her mother shoot and kill her father during a domestic dispute.
How is PTSD Treated?
The team at Inspired Psychiatric Care (IPC) may prescribe one of several medications that target specific symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and recurring nightmares.
Additionally, IPC may recommend trauma-focused psychotherapy which consists of treatment modalities that address how trauma affects your mental, behavioral, emotional, and physical well-being. During therapy, you learn skills such as relaxation, cognitive coping, emotional processing, and desensitization.