POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

"Life is ten percent what you experience and ninety percent how you respond to it." ~Dorothy M. Neddermeyer

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: PTSD

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)?

Post traumatic stress disorder , also known as PTSD, is a mental illness that someone can develop after undergoing or seeing a life-threatening event, like a car accident, physical or sexual assault, or combat. It is common for victims of the traumatizing event to have recurring nightmares and exhibit insomnia. In the beginning, it is often hard for people to have a hard time with completing daily activities, like get out of bed, eat, or go to work/school. Fortunately, most people feel alot better after a couple weeks or months. If a person does not feel better after a short period of time, then it is very likely that they have ptsd and should contact help. Others may have their PTSD symptoms start later on down the road or may be occasional.

What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

Re-experiencing a traumatizing event: This is often in the form of nightmares and can cause insomnia in a PTSD victim. This is called a flashback to the event and is the most common.

Avoiding confrontation of the event: you may fear confronting situations that bring back memories of the event. You may also avoid triggers and even talking or thinking about the situation altogether.

Negativity: It is often for you to feel alone and posses negative feelings about life and the others around you. You may even feel survivor's guilt for living at all, and even more commonly feel numb to those around you. The hobbies and interests you used to have may not interest you anymore. It is overall harder for you to be happy.

Hyperarousal: You may feel anxious day to day, and have trouble sleeping and concentrating. Your mood may also change drastically throughout this time, like suddenly get sad or mad, and be completely fine the next minute. You may also posses unhealthy habits like drinking, smoking, and overall putting yourself in danger.

Young Children Can Exhibit PTSD Too!

Children can exhibit PTSD too! They may have the common PTSD symptoms and develop into more if left untreated.

Symptoms in Children

Trouble sleeping, inability to leave their children, and act out traumatising event through acting or sleep talking.

Morbid drawings of traumatizing event, recurring nightmares, aggressiveness, and avoid going to school or fighting at school.

If 12-18 they often have more symptoms similar to adults like, depression, recklessness, and overall anxiety.

How to counteract Negative PTSD thoughts?

To counteract negative thoughts brought on by PTSD, it is most important that you talk about your experience in a safe and comfortable environment. This can be done through therapy, or even a close friend/family member (although therapy is most structured). Although, it may be hard to re-experience the event, it is needed for you to ground yourself.

How to help someone with PTSD?

DO'S	Don'ts
Help your loved one seek help and be a good listener. Offer them different methods of coping with their pain, while not pressuring them into anything they might not want to do.	Don't make your loved one re-experience the event! You have no idea how they might react while re-experiencing the event, and it might do more damage to them.
DO NORMAL ACTIVITIES! It is important that your loved one feel as normal as possible. Positive distractions are recommended.	Don't go along for the ride. If your loved one is acting reckless, do not encourage them by going along with it. It isn't "keeping them safe" while they are reckless, it's just dangerous overall.
Let them take the lead. They should feel in control of their future and present, and it will bring them emotional stability.	Don't control them. This will make them feel suffocated and not want to be by your side.
Manage your own stress! Is is just as important for you to be stable, as it is for your loved one to be stable.	Don't blame your loved one for your stress! This will add to their negative mindset. Take some time to yourself if you need to ever cool off.
Be patient! Recovery for a PTSD victim is long and strenuous, but it will be better over time.	Don't rush the recovery process. Everyone is different and it might make your loved one feel worthless for not recovering quicker.
Give construction to your futures. Make plans about what you will do tomorrow, or even a year from now. It gives them something to look forward to.	Don't give dry help like "it's okay" or "it will be okay". It doesn't feel like that to your loved one and it is important that you acknowledge their pain.

CITATIONS

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/ptsd-overview/basics/what-is-ptsd.asp

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/helping-someone-with-ptsd.htm

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/

https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd