PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a mental health condition that people sometimes develop after one or more life-threatening or otherwise traumatizing events. Some examples of traumatic events that may result in PTSD include a serious car accident, sexual assault, or experiencing live combat. 

It’s completely natural to be afraid during and after a traumatic situation. This fear triggers rapid physiological changes in the body intended to prepare us to protect ourselves or avoid danger. This instinct, commonly called the “fight or flight” response is also a core factor in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

PTSD is a condition in which trauma survivors may keep re-experiencing traumatic memories and the fear and “fight or flight” response associated with them long after the traumatic event has passed. A person with PTSD may be troubled by recurring dreams or memories of the event(s). They may also be triggered into experiencing similar fear by stimuli that remind them of the original trauma. 

For example, a person who has survived a house fire may later have intense and disturbing memories of the fire. They might have realistic nightmares (flashbacks) where they feel as though they are inside the burning house trying to escape again, just as they did on the night it happened. Flashbacks and other PTSD symptoms can continue to trouble someone for many years, even decades after the original events.

Physical symptoms of PTSD may include:

• Sleep disturbances: May include insomnia, nightmares, or sleepwalking.
• Chronic fatigue: Persistent tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest.
• Headaches: Frequent or chronic headaches, often related to tension or stress.
• Digestive problems: Such as nausea, diarrhea, or constipation.
• Muscle tension: Chronic muscle aches and pains.
• Fast heartbeat or hyperventilation: These can occur even when not in danger.

Psychological symptoms of PTSD may include:

• Flashbacks: These are intense, sometimes paralyzing, re-experiences of the trauma.
• Intrusive thoughts: Repeated, involuntary memories of the traumatic event.
• Negative thought patterns: Feelings of guilt, self-blame, or persistent fear.
• Avoidance: Avoiding people, places, or situations that remind them of the trauma.
• Emotional numbness: Feeling detached, lacking emotions,
• Memory loss: Forgetting things, especially during or related to the traumatic event. 

Hyper-vigilance or “jumpiness”: Feeling constantly on edge, looking for signs of danger, anxious, and easily startled.

Only a trained medical professional can formally diagnose a mental health condition like PTSD. However, if you or someone you love is experiencing any of the symptoms of PTSD listed on this page, then exploring the possibility that PTSD is present is worth exploring. PTSD often co-occurs with other mental health conditions, like substance use disorders. 

PTSD can be very disruptive to everyday living. People living with PTSD are often unaware of their diagnosis. It’s not unusual for them to attribute the symptoms to something else entirely, like depression, insomnia, or indigestion, for example. They also may not realize that seemingly unrelated physiological symptoms can all be tied to PTSD. 

Being formally diagnosed can be something of a revelation for those with PTSD. Suddenly everything seems to make sense once they recognize the original event(s) which precipitated their PTSD and they understand how and why their condition has manifested in their PTSD symptoms. 

Time Alone Cannot Heal All Wounds

Unfortunately, time alone cannot heal all wounds. In spite of the saying, the damage caused by trauma often runs too deep and too wide to simply be forgotten about. In fact, it may make little difference whether or not 10 months or 10 years, or more have passed since the traumatic event(s). For a person suffering from PTSD, the passage of time doesn’t insulate them from their symptoms.

The good news is that a great deal of research has been done on trauma and the conditions associated with it. We have a better understanding of the physiological mechanisms at work in a person with PTSD now than ever before. This greater understanding has led to more effective, evidence-based treatment for PTSD and other trauma conditions. If you or someone you love is living with PTSD, there are good reasons to have hope for relief and recovery.