Understanding
Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder
(PTSD)
You may have
post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) if you’ve been through a traumatic event and are having trouble
dealing with it. Such events may include the death of a loved one, a car crash, rape,
domestic violence, military combat, or violent crime.
Some
anxiety after such an
event is normal.It
usually goes away in time. But with PTSD, the anxiety is
stronger
and keeps coming back. And the trauma is relived through nightmares, intrusive memories,
and flashbacks (vivid memories that seem real). The symptoms of PTSD can cause problems
with relationships and make it hard to cope with daily life. But it can be treated.
With
help, you can feel better.
How does it feel?
Symptoms of PTSD often start within
a few months of the event. Here are some common symptoms:
-
You startle more easily, and feel anxious and on edge all
the time.
This can lead to sleep problems. It
can
make
you
feel
overwhelmed.
You
may
become angry or upset more easily. Panic attacks (sudden, intense feelings of
terror and a strong need to escape from wherever you are) can also occur.
-
You relive the event
in
nightmares and flashbacks.
During these, you may feel strong emotions and
as though you’re reliving the event all over again.
-
You stay away from people, places, or activities that remind
you of the trauma.
You may hold in your feelings and become emotionally
numb. It may be hard to focus at work or school or to relax with friends. You may
be afraid to let people get close to you.
-
You may also have
trouble remembering parts of the traumatic event.
Negative thoughts about
oneself and feelings of guilt and shame are also common PTSD symptoms.
Who does it affect?
Not everyone who survives a trauma
will have PTSD. But many will. In fact, millions of people have the condition. PTSD
can
happen to anyone, but it most often develops after a person
feels
their life, or
someone
else's,
is
threatened.
You’re at risk for PTSD if you have
experienced or witnessed:
-
A rape or sexual abuse
-
A mugging or carjacking
-
A car accident or plane
crash
-
A life-threatening
illness
-
War
-
Domestic violence
-
Childhood abuse
-
Natural disasters such as
earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes
-
The sudden death of a loved
one
Finding help
The first step is to talk with a
trusted counselor or healthcare provider.
They
can help you take the next step to treatment. This may include
talk
therapy
(counseling
and medicine.You may hear talk
therapy called trauma-focused psychotherapy. It is done in a safe environment, either
one-on-one or in a group.
Your
counselor or healthcare provider can talk with you about other therapies like eye
movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), prolonged exposure (PE), and cognitive
processing therapy (CPT).
Are you having suicidal thoughts?
You may be feeling helpless,
hopeless, and that you can’t go on. You may even have thoughts of suicide. But help
is
available. There are ways to ease this pain and manage the problems in your life.
If you are thinking about harming
yourself
or others, call or text
988
You will be connected to trained crisis counselors at the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline. An online chat option is also available at
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You can also call the Lifeline at
800-273-8255. Lifeline is free and available 24/7.