PDF PTSD : Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Overcome The Pain, Start Living Again

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The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have a significant impact on your day-to-day life. But in a minority of cases, there may be a delay of months or even years before symptoms start to appear. distressing images or sensations; physical sensations, such as pain, sweating, feeling sick or trembling.
Table of contents

Untreated PTSD takes a toll on the body as well as the mind. In the June 28, , Archives of Internal Medicine , researchers from the Veterans Administration reported that women with PTSD have more medical conditions and worse physical health than non-traumatized women, even those with depression. Using imaging techniques, researchers have begun to construct a picture of the brain under the influence of PTSD.

Posttraumatic stress disorder

The body responds to a traumatic event by releasing adrenaline, a stress hormone that prepares the body to flee or fight. In the brain, adrenaline and the brain chemical norepinephrine stimulate the amygdala, a deep brain structure that spurs the formation of vivid, emotional memories of the threat. In evolutionary terms, that's a good survival strategy — for example, putting a hunter on high alert if he later nears the same cave where an animal attacked him. In PTSD, however, the system goes overboard.

What is PTSD?

Memories and environmental cues provoke out-of-proportion fear responses to ordinary situations, thus interfering with normal functioning. We're currently examining whether it is already overreactive, making someone more vulnerable to PTSD, or becomes that way in response to trauma," says Roger K. Pitman, M. In some imaging studies, these two areas were found to be smaller than average in people with PTSD.

They were also smaller in women who had been sexually or physically abused as children. These women may already have had PTSD as a result of the childhood trauma, and they may be at high risk for developing the condition following traumatic incidents in adulthood. Researchers are investigating the contributions of both brain structure and previous experiences to vulnerability to PTSD. If symptoms last more than a month, if they are severe, or if you'd like professional help, consult a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, psychiatric nurse specialist, or other mental health care provider experienced in working with trauma.

Remember that treatment isn't about forgetting a trauma or feeling as if it never happened. The goal is to eliminate or reduce its ability to disrupt your life. Psychotherapy is the centerpiece of most PTSD treatment. The most specific is a cognitive behavioral approach called exposure therapy , which provides a safe environment for you to confront a situation that you fear. People with PTSD often feel that the only way to reduce their anxiety is to avoid anything that stirs their memories of the trauma.

But gradual and repeated exposure can reduce symptoms and help change how you respond to the triggering situations. The particulars of the trauma and personal history influence not only the likelihood of developing PTSD but also the effectiveness of therapy. Specialists from the University of Pennsylvania found that, even after cognitive behavioral therapy, female assault victims had more severe PTSD symptoms if they were physically injured during the attack or had been subject to trauma during childhood. To plan treatment, a therapist is likely to ask about any history of sexual or physical abuse.

If several weeks of psychotherapy don't resolve symptoms or if additional help is needed , medications may be prescribed. Depending on how well an individual tolerates the medication, and how long she's had PTSD symptoms, an approved drug may be prescribed for 6—24 months.

These and other such antidepressants also reduce anxiety. They're preferable to anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines, which cause sedation, can be addictive, and haven't been shown to work particularly well in PTSD. Although medication and psychotherapy have not been directly compared, the combination seems to work better than medication alone. If everyone received some treatment soon after a trauma, could they be spared PTSD?

Both psychological and medical approaches have been considered.


  • Posttraumatic stress disorder.
  • PTSD: What you need to know!
  • What is traumatic stress?.

A model called "critical incident stress debriefing" has been introduced into many settings. The idea is that providing a little treatment early on — encouraging people to talk about the traumatic event and educating them about common stress reactions — might help prevent PTSD down the road. Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD can develop following any event that makes you fear for your safety.

Most people associate PTSD with rape or battle-scarred soldiers—and military combat is the most common cause in men. But any event, or series of events, that overwhelms you with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness and leaves you emotionally shattered, can trigger PTSD. This may happen especially if the event feels unpredictable and uncontrollable. PTSD can affect people who personally experience the traumatic event, those who witness the event, or those who pick up the pieces afterwards, such as emergency workers and law enforcement officers.

Following a traumatic event , almost everyone experiences at least some of the symptoms of PTSD. These are normal reactions to abnormal events. For most people, however, these symptoms are short-lived. They may last for several days or even weeks, but they gradually lift. In fact, you may start to feel worse. After a traumatic experience, the mind and the body are in shock. But as you make sense of what happened and process your emotions, you start to come out of it.

With PTSD, however, you remain in psychological shock. Your memory of what happened and your feelings about it are disconnected. Sometimes symptoms appear seemingly out of the blue. At other times, they are triggered by something that reminds you of the original traumatic event, such as a noise, an image, certain words, or a smell. In children — especially very young children — the symptoms of PTSD can differ from those of adults and may include:.

Many risk factors revolve around the nature of the traumatic event itself. Traumatic events are more likely to cause PTSD when they involve a severe threat to your life or personal safety: the more extreme and prolonged the threat, the greater the risk of developing PTSD in response. The extent to which the traumatic event was unexpected, uncontrollable, and inescapable also plays a role. Trauma or PTSD symptoms can result from many different types of distressing experiences, including military combat, childhood neglect or abuse, an accident, natural disaster, personal tragedy, or violence.

But whatever your personal experiences or symptoms, the following can offer strategies to help you heal and move on:.

For all too many veterans, returning from military service means coping with symptoms of PTSD. You may have a hard time readjusting to life out of the military. Or you may constantly feel on edge, emotionally numb and disconnected, or close to panicking or exploding. Whether the trauma happened years ago or yesterday, you can get over the pain, feel safe again, and move on with your life.

The trauma of being raped or sexually assaulted can be shattering , leaving you feeling scared, ashamed, and alone, or plagued by nightmares, flashbacks, and other unpleasant memories.

Coping With PTSD

Recovery from PTSD is a gradual, ongoing process. This can make life seem difficult at times. But there are many steps you can take to cope with the residual symptoms and reduce your anxiety and fear. Overcoming your sense of helplessness is key to overcoming PTSD. Trauma leaves you feeling powerless and vulnerable. One of the best ways to reclaim your sense of power is by helping others: volunteer your time , give blood, reach out to a friend in need, or donate to your favorite charity.

Taking positive action directly challenges the sense of helplessness that is a common symptom of PTSD. Rhythmic exercise that engages both your arms and legs , such as walking, running, swimming, or dancing. Instead of focusing on your thoughts, focus on how your body feels. Notice the sensation of your feet hitting the ground, for example, or the rhythm of your breathing, or the feeling of the wind on your skin.

Rock climbing, boxing, weight training, or martial arts. Like adults, children with PTSD may also lose interest in activities they used to enjoy, and may have physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach aches.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: MedlinePlus

They'll ask whether you have experienced a traumatic event in the recent or distant past and whether you have re-experienced the event through flashbacks or nightmares. Find out more about treating PTSD. Page last reviewed: 27 September Next review due: 27 September In most cases, the symptoms develop during the first month after a traumatic event.