Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in a person following a direct or indirect contact with the same event or experience that caused the traumatic experience in the first place. The post-traumatic stress disorder can be associated with witnessing a physical trauma, or any other kind of experience associated with the initial traumatic experience. If a close family member is hurt, it can remind them of a previous family member’s loss or death. There are different kinds of post-traumatic stress disorder; some are short term, called acute stress disorder, while others are long term and develop slowly over time. Kids try to rid themselves of any negative thoughts that remind them of that trauma. They often experience post-traumatic stress disorder in the form of flashbacks, recurring nightmares and scary thoughts.

There are many causes of PTSD such as early involvement with fire, physical abuse, witnessing an event where you were helpless, such as an accident or an assault, death of a loved one, or witnessing someone being diagnosed with life threatening disease. Reactions to trauma can be triggered any time. They can either be triggered right after the traumatic event or weeks, months, or years later.

Common Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The symptoms of this disorder are often similar to the symptoms of traumatic experiences that they experienced earlier. However since the disorder is more prolonged now, the symptoms have a higher risk of being detrimental to the mental and physical health of that person.

Symptoms OF PTSD in Adults

• Avoiding people, places and things that are reminders to the traumatic event.
• Moodiness, including anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, fear and anger.
• Numb.
• Nightmares – Sleep disturbance.
• Intrusive thoughts.
• Flashbacks.
• Hypervigilant.
• Irritability.
• Isolation.
• Loss of interest in activities which once seemed enjoyable.
• Changes in habits or behavior since the trauma.
• Memory issues about the trauma or incident.
• Relationship problems – not as able to be emotional present in the relationship.
• Distracted at work – trouble at the job.
• Angry on the road.
• Control issues. (Feels out of control so wants to control everything around him.)
• Weight gain or loss.
• Unexplainable aches and pains.
• Fear of death.
• Distortion of reality.