PTSD...Would You Recognize It?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
What is it?
A natural emotional response to frightening or dangerous experiences involving actual or threatened serious harm to oneself or others.
Symptoms usually appear within 3 months, but for others they can take years to appear which can be confusing for many people.
What are the symptoms?
Intrusive distressing memories of the event
Re-experiencing (acting or feeling like the event is happening again), this can be in the form of flashbacks
Nightmares
Emotional numbness or feeling detached from others
Avoidance of thoughts, feelings, or conversations about the event
Feeling upset when reminded of the event
Avoiding people, places, or activities that are reminders of the traumatic experience
Avoiding friends and family
Losing interest in activities that used to be enjoyable
Inability to feel pleasure/ ongoing negative emotional state
Difficulty sleeping
Feeling jumpy
Having sudden periods where you feel dizziness, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath
Trouble concentrating
Being easily irritated or angered
Reckless behaviour
Constant worrying
Not everyone who experiences traumatic events develops PTSD. There are many factors that contribute to this.
Some identified risk factors include:
Prior trauma exposure
Lack of support after the trauma
Feeling guilty, or responsible for the event
Feeling helpless
Stresses after the trauma occurs such as job loss, pain/injury, divorce
A history of mental health or substance use problems
If you think you or someone you know may be suffering from PTSD, or if you have experienced a traumatic event and you don't have PTSD but you just don't feel "right," talk to someone. One of the best predictors for recovery is early treatment and intervention.