Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - What Are The Symptoms?
Many people suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after experiencing a traumatic event. They often have disturbing thoughts and memories of the event and experience "fight, flight, or freeze" reactions in response to triggers that remind them of the trauma. If these issues have been present for more than one month and interfere with daily living, it is important to seek professional help. The following symptoms are common to all types of PTSD. In some cases, people who develop PTSD may never experience three or more of these symptoms at the same time. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for people with PTSD to experience many of them, especially those who have been exposed to exceptionally traumatic events.
PTSD Symptoms
These are the most common symptoms that someone with PTSD will experience:
- Flashbacks - Intense and disturbing memories related to traumatic experiences.
- Nightmares - Reliving parts of the traumatic experience through nightmares.
- Numbing - Feeling emotionally detached. Willing yourself to do something can make you feel as if you are outside of yourself.
- Shame - Feeling that they have done something wrong or are a bad person.
- Guilt - Feeling that they could have prevented the trauma, or feeling guilty about surviving when others did not.
- Avoidance - Avoiding situations, feelings, and thoughts related to the trauma.
- Vomiting - Feeling nauseous and having an urge to vomit when feeling anxious or frightened.
- Sleep Problems - Difficulty sleeping, often feeling as if something awful is about to happen whenever you try to relax.
-'Feeling Not There' - When feelings of anxiety or depression overwhelm people with PTSD, they may not feel as if they are "real." They may feel as if safety and security have been lost or have gone from the world.
- Problems Breathing - Difficulty breathing, feeling tightness in the chest, and dizziness.
- "Fight, Flight, or Freeze" - The body's physical reaction to trauma is part of how the brain responds to stress and is useful in certain situations. However, the body's fight, flight or freeze reaction can be overdone when it occurs without warning. It can leave someone feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for perceived danger in their environment.
- Hypervigilance - Being overly aware of every detail than normal.
- Visual Disturbances - Seeing people, animals or objects in abnormal ways.
- Nightmares - Reliving parts of the traumatic experience through nightmares.
- Flashbacks - Intense and disturbing memories related to traumatic experiences.
- Difficulty Concentrating - Difficulty thinking, concentrating and making decisions, such as trying to figure out what to do when faced with a threat or not feeling sure about their actions on the battlefield.
- Sleep Problems - Difficulty sleeping, often feeling as if something awful is about to happen whenever you try to relax.
- 'Fight, Flight, or Freeze' - The body's physical reaction to trauma is part of how the brain responds to stress and is useful in certain situations. However, the body's fight, flight or freeze reaction can be overdone when it occurs without warning. It can leave someone feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for perceived danger in their environment.
- Hypervigilance - Being overly aware of every detail than normal.
- Visual Disturbances - Seeing people, animals or objects in abnormal ways.
- Nightmares - Reliving parts of the traumatic experience through nightmares.
- Flashbacks - Intense and disturbing memories related to traumatic experiences.
- Difficulty Concentrating - Difficulty thinking, concentrating and making decisions, such as trying to figure out what to do when faced with a threat or not feeling sure about their actions on the battlefield.
- Sleep Problems - Difficulty sleeping, often feeling as if something awful is about to happen whenever you try to relax.
- 'Fight, Flight, or Freeze' - The body's physical reaction to trauma is part of how the brain responds to stress and is useful in certain situations. However, the body's fight, flight or freeze reaction can be overdone when it occurs without warning. It can leave someone feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for perceived danger in their environment.
- Hypervigilance - Being overly aware of every detail than normal.
- Visual Disturbances - Seeing people, animals or objects in abnormal ways.
- Nightmares - Reliving parts of the traumatic experience through nightmares.
- Flashbacks - Intense and disturbing memories related to traumatic experiences.
- Difficulty Concentrating - Difficulty thinking, concentrating and making decisions, such as trying to figure out what to do when faced with a threat or not feeling sure about their actions on the battlefield.
- Sleep Problems - Difficulty sleeping, often feeling as if something awful is about to happen whenever you try to relax.
- Flashbacks - Intense and disturbing memories related to traumatic experiences.
- Nightmares - Reliving parts of the traumatic experience through nightmares.
- Numbing - Feeling emotionally detached. Willing yourself to do something can make you feel as if you are outside of yourself.
- Guilt - Feeling that they could have prevented the trauma, or feeling guilty about surviving when others did not.
- Anger - Feeling angry, irritable, and aggressive without any reason.
Conclusion
PTSD is a real disorder which can affect soldiers and civilians alike. While there are many treatments available to help people with PTSD, there are also ways to avoid getting it in the first place. The most effective way to avoid getting PTSD is not to go through a traumatic experience but that is not always possible. If a person does go through something traumatic, it is important for them to seek help as soon as possible so that they do not develop PTSD Symptoms.