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Post-traumatic stress disorder

introduction

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of psychological disorder that appears after one or more frightening events, such as a person being exposed to a catastrophic event, the threat of death, actual or threatened injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence. There are many traumatic events that may trigger PTSD, such as fires, natural disasters, robberies, plane crashes, torture, kidnapping, discovery of life-threatening illnesses, terrorist attacks, and other severe or life-threatening events.

We can summarize it in the following way:

  • Direct exposure
  • Watch the shock
  • Knowing that a relative or close friend has experienced trauma
  • Indirect exposure to traumatic details usually occurs in the context of professional duties.

Symptoms of the disease include recalling events, Nightmares and severe anxiety, In addition to uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Most people who experience traumatic events may experience temporary difficulty coping and adapting. But with time and good self-care, They usually get better. If symptoms worsen, Or last for months or even years, If it gets in the way of your daily life, You may have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

the reasons :

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an organism’s attempt to survive despite a traumatic situation when a threat to life appears. And therefore, It is not an expression of failure (or defect), But it forms a healthy and appropriate response to the event.

PTSD does not arise from psychological instability, nor is it an expression of a psychological illness, as psychologically healthy people can develop PTSD. However, there are some risk factors for some people that make it more likely that they will develop PTSD. Risk factors include life events and stressful living conditions, which either individually or in combination contribute to the formation of PTSD. Risk factors can be present before trauma occurs (pre-traumatic risk factors), or develop during or after trauma (post-traumatic risk factors). Among the risk factors for the formation of post-traumatic stress disorder, we can list here

  • The length of the shock event and its intensity.
  • Compared to natural disasters, Human-caused violence (for example, rape, war, political persecution or torture) have more severe psychological consequences for the victim than natural disasters.
  • Individuals who lack a strong social network,
  • People who suffered from pre-existing psychological problems such as depression and anxiety, They are usually more likely to develop PTSD if they have experienced psychological trauma.
  • Lack of emotional support from parents or relatives,
  • Growing up in want and poverty,
  • Low educational level of parents,
  • Growing up in families with many members and limited residential space.
  • decreased family harmony,
  • A psychological disorder in one or both parents,
  • Authoritarian behavior of parents.
  • Children’s lack of relationship and communication with their peers.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder .

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder may begin to appear within one month of the event that caused the psychological trauma. But sometimes symptoms may not appear until years after the event. These symptoms cause major problems in social or work situations and in relationships. It can also interfere with your ability to perform normal daily tasks. Symptoms vary over time or from one person to another.

Symptoms of PTSD generally fall into four types or criteria:

  • Criterion for intrusive symptoms

It may include the following:

  • Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the psychologically traumatic event.
  • Recalling the details of the psychologically painful event as if it were happening again.
  • Disturbing dreams or nightmares about the psychologically traumatic event.
  • Severe emotional tension or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the psychologically traumatic event
  • Avoidance criterion

Symptoms of avoidance may include:

  • Trying to avoid thinking about or talking about the psychologically distressing event.
  • Avoid places, activities, or people that remind you of the traumatic event.
  • Criterion for negative changes in thinking and mood

Symptoms of negative changes in thinking and mood may include the following:

  • Negative thoughts about yourself, others, or the world.
  • Despair about the future.
  • memory problems, Including not remembering important aspects of the psychologically traumatic event.
  • Difficulty maintaining close personal relationships.
  • Feeling separated from family and friends.
  • Loss of passion for activities you always enjoyed.
  • Difficulty feeling positive emotions.
  • Feeling emotionally dull.
  • Standard changes in arousal and physical and emotional reactions

It may include the following:

  • Startling or feeling frightened easily.
  • Always be aware of danger.
  • self-destructive behavior, Such as drinking too much alcohol or driving too fast.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Easily irritable, angry outbursts, and aggressive behavior.
  • Feelings of guilt or embarrassment are difficult to bear.

For children 6 years of age and younger, Signs and symptoms may also include:

  • Reenacting a psychologically traumatic event or aspects of it through play.
  • Frightening dreams may include aspects of the psychologically traumatic event.

How severe the symptoms are

The severity of PTSD symptoms can vary over time. More symptoms of PTSD may appear when you experience stress in general or when you encounter reminders of what you went through. For example, You may hear a crackling sound from a car and recall war experiences. Or you may see a report in the news about sexual assault and feel overwhelmed by memories of the assault you experienced.

Cases that require a visit to the doctor

If you have been having disturbing thoughts and feelings about a psychologically distressing event for more than a month, Or if these thoughts and feelings control you, Or if you are finding it difficult to regain control of your life, Talk to your doctor or mental health professional. Receiving treatment as soon as possible can help you prevent worsening symptoms of PTSD.

If you are having suicidal thoughts If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, seek help immediately in one or more of the following ways:

  • Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
  • Call the suicide hotline.
  • Make an appointment with your doctor or health professional.

Complications

PTSD can disrupt your entire life, Including your job, relationships, health, and enjoyment of daily activities.

Having PTSD may also increase your risk of developing other mental health problems, like:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Drug or alcohol abuse problems.
  • Eating disorder
  • Suicidal thoughts and actions

protection

After surviving painful and traumatic events, Most people initially develop symptoms resembling post-traumatic stress disorder, Like not being able to stop thinking about what happened. Fear, anxiety, anger, depression, And guilt — all common reactions to trauma. However, The majority of people who experience trauma do not develop long-term PTSD.

Timely support and assistance may prevent normal stress reactions from getting worse and developing into PTSD. This may mean seeking support from family and friends who will listen to you and provide comfort. It may mean seeking a mental health professional for a course of treatment. short.

Support from others may help prevent unhealthy coping methods. Such as addiction to alcohol or drugs.

Diagnosis

To diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder, Your doctor will likely:

  • A physical examination to detect medical problems that may be causing your symptoms
  • Conducting a psychological evaluation includes discussing your signs and symptoms and the event or events that led to them.

A diagnosis of PTSD requires exposure to an event that involves an actual or potential threat of death, Or violence or serious injury. You may experience the event in one or more of the following ways:

  • Direct exposure to the traumatic event
  • Watching the traumatic event that others are exposed to, privately
  • Knowing that someone close to you has been or is threatened by a traumatic event
  • Being repeatedly exposed to vivid details of traumatic events (for example, If you are the first to respond to the scene of traumatic events)

You may develop PTSD if your problems after the exposure last longer than a month, cause significant problems with your ability to function in social and work settings, and negatively impact your relationships.

Cases suffering from PTSD are diagnosed according to the following:

  1. The presence of at least one symptom of traumatic experience recovery.
  2. The presence of at least three symptoms of avoidance.
  3. The presence of at least one symptom of irritability.

treatment

Receiving treatment for PTSD will help you regain control of your life. Psychotherapy is the main method of treatment, This may also include drug therapy. Combining both treatment methods will improve symptoms. and that is through:

  • It teaches you skills to deal with the symptoms you suffer from.
  • Helping you re-view yourself, others, and the world around you in a better way.
  • Learn about different ways you can cope if symptoms reappear.
  • Treating other problems associated with trauma incidents, Such as depression, anxiety, And misuse of alcohol and drugs.

You shouldn’t try to cope with PTSD alone.

Psychotherapy

Several types of psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, can be used to treat children and adults with PTSD. Some types of psychotherapy used to treat PTSD include:

  • Cognitive therapy. This type of talk therapy helps you identify ways of thinking (cognitive patterns) that keep you engaged — such as negative beliefs about yourself and the risk of traumatic things happening again. Cognitive therapy is often used for PTSD in conjunction with exposure therapy.
  • Exposure therapy. This behavioral therapy helps you safely confront both situations and memories that you find frightening so that you can learn to cope with them effectively. Exposure therapy can be particularly beneficial for flashbacks and nightmares. One method uses virtual reality software that allows you to re-enter the place where you experienced trauma.
  • Desensitization and reprocessing of eye movement.

This therapy combines exposure therapy with a series of guided eye movements that help you process traumatic memories and change the way you react to them.

Your therapist can help you develop stress management skills to help you better deal with stressful situations and cope with stress in your life.

All of these techniques can help you manage persistent fear after a traumatic event. You can discuss with your mental health professional the type of treatment or combinations of treatments that may best meet your needs.

You may try individual therapy, group therapy, or both. Group therapy can offer a way to connect with others who are going through the same experiences.

pharmaceutical

Several types of medications may help improve symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as:

  • Antidepressants.
  • Anti-anxiety medications.

You and your doctor can work together to determine the best treatment, with minimal side effects, For your symptoms and condition. You may feel an improvement in your mood and other symptoms within a few weeks.

  • Tell your doctor about side effects or problems with your medications. You may need to try more than one drug or combination of drugs, Or your doctor may need to adjust the dosage or treatment times before finding what works for you.
  • Relieves severe anxiety and related problems. Some anti-anxiety medications may be addictive; So they are usually only used for a short time.

Coping and support

If you are experiencing stress or other problems because of a traumatic event that has affected your life, See your doctor or mental health professional. You can also take these actions while continuing treatment for PTSD:

  • Follow your treatment plan. Although it may take some time before you feel the benefits of treatment or medications, Treatment can be effective and most patients recover. Remind yourself that it takes time. Following a treatment plan and contacting a mental health professional routinely will help you move forward.
  • Learn about post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ). This knowledge can help you understand what you are feeling, You can then develop coping strategies to help you respond effectively.
  • take care of yourself. Get enough rest, eat a healthy diet, exercise, and take time to relax. Try to reduce or avoid your consumption of caffeine and nicotine, as they can make anxiety worse.
  • Do not take medications on your own. Resorting to alcohol or drugs to numb feelings is not healthy, although it may be a tempting way to cope with the situation. It can lead to many problems in the future, interfere with effective treatments, and prevent true healing.
  • Break the routine. When you feel anxious, Take a walk or practice one of your hobbies to refocus.
  • Stay in touch. Spend time with supportive and caring people, such as family, friends, or others. You don’t have to talk about what happened if you don’t want to. Just sharing time with your loved ones can give you peace and comfort.
  • You could consider a support group. Seek help from a mental health professional to find a support group or search for local support groups in an online directory.