Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of mental disorder that occurs in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. The traumatic event can be physical or psychological, such as a natural disaster, war, sexual assault, or a serious accident, and can be accompanied by symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, and negative mood swings. People with PTSD often have nightmares and find reliving the traumatic event very distressing.
But how should this disorder be treated? In this article, we will try to explore the symptoms and ways to treat this disease. If you or someone close to you has this disorder, you can schedule an in-person visit or get advice from the best doctors at Wholesome Mind Psychiatry in Mansfield, TX.
What Is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and intense anxiety and intrusive thoughts about the event.
Coping is difficult for most people who experience a trauma, but with time and self-care, they usually get better. If your symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your daily functioning, you may have PTSD.
Using effective treatment methods after experiencing PTSD symptoms is crucial to reducing symptoms and improving functioning.
Types Of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
There are five main types of post-traumatic stress disorders that have been identified, which we will introduce below.
1. Normal Stress
The normal stress response occurs when healthy adults recall the event and only experience unpleasant, bad, emotionally numbing memories without experiencing tension or distress in the present. This state is called normal stress.
2. Acute Stress Disorder
Acute stress disorder is characterized by panic attacks and acute panic reactions, mental confusion, dissociative disorder, severe insomnia, doubt, and inability to perform basic self-care, and inability to manage work and social activities. These symptoms are exhibited when relatively few members of a family or community survive trauma such as death, destruction, or loss of a home from an accident, earthquake, or other event.
3. Simple PTSD Disorder
This disorder involves the persistent re-experiencing of a traumatic event, in which the individual may resort to emotional numbing agents such as alcohol and drugs to escape the stimuli associated with the trauma. This type of trauma may also respond to desensitization with the help of group psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, pharmacological treatments, or a combination of methods.
4. PTSD With Other Disorders
PTSD is sometimes associated with other mental disorders. This type of disorder is much more common than the simple type. This type of PTSD is usually associated with at least one other major psychiatric disorder, such as depression, alcohol or drug addiction, panic disorder, and other anxiety disorders.
5. Complex PTSD Disorder
Sometimes, complex PTSD occurs in people who have been exposed to long-term stressful situations. This includes those who have experienced childhood trauma, such as sexual abuse or abuse by a trusted relative, or children who have been abandoned or neglected by their parents or primary caregivers.
Also, experiencing severe or prolonged physical and emotional abuse in childhood from parents, relatives, classmates, teachers, neighbors, or any other person is a predisposing factor for the development of this disorder. People involved in these experiences are often diagnosed with borderline or dissociative disorders.
Symptoms Of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)
Although symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder often begin within a month of exposure to the traumatic event, they sometimes don’t appear for years. These symptoms cause significant problems in social or work situations and in relationships. They can also interfere with your ability to perform normal daily tasks.
Doctors and psychiatrists typically look for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder – a person must experience the following for more than a month:
- One or more bothersome symptoms;
- One or more avoidance symptoms;
- Two or more symptoms that affect mood and thinking;
- Symptoms of arousal and reaction that begin after the injury.
Disturbing Symptoms Of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Include The Following:
- Constant exposure to nightmares;
- Flashbacks and the feeling that the event is happening again;
- Persistent fearful thoughts;
- Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds the person of the traumatic event.
Common Avoidance Symptoms Of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Include:
- Refusing to talk about the event;
- Avoiding situations that remind the person of the event.
Symptoms Of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder That Affect Mood And Thinking Include:
- Inability to remember some aspects of the event;
- Feelings of guilt and blame;
- Feelings of separation and alienation from others and emotional and mental numbness;
- Decreased interest in life;
- Difficulty concentrating;
Occurrence of psychological problems such as depression , phobias, and anxiety.
Symptoms Of Arousal And Reactivity In Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Include The Following:
- Trouble sleeping;
- Irritability and outbursts of anger;
- Increased sensitivity to potential risks;
- Feelings of chronic tension and anxiety.
Diagnosis Of Post-Traumatic Anxiety Disorder
Diagnosing PTSD is not an easy task because many people who visit a psychotherapist refer to it as anxiety and depression, as well as reasons such as forgetfulness, inability to do things, etc. The reason for these symptoms is not clearly explained, and it is difficult to explain them to people and even to the person themselves why they occur.
Diagnosing this disorder requires a specialist’s full knowledge of the person’s condition, as well as in-depth conversations and consultations. In addition, this issue not only requires various interviews, but also requires clinical tests. During the diagnosis, the doctor also examines the person’s physical and mental trauma, as well as other types of disorders, including depression, anxiety, etc..
Treatment Of PTSD
There is no fixed treatment for PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder, and we cannot say for sure that this treatment is the most effective treatment for this issue, because the type of incident that has happened to the person may be different, and the person may even have other disorders that have worsened, so doctors use different methods to treat this disorder. In this section, we are going to mention some:
Don't let PTSD control your life
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat PTSD, but how? With the help of articles and books, as well as an expert, all information related to the disorder can be obtained, and the person can learn about that disorder, which helps the person to examine his behavior in different situations and neutralize it in the moment by understanding its root.
2. Psychology
In psychological therapy, which also includes cognitive therapy, the psychotherapist explains to the individual over time how to deal with stress, as well as the methods that are best for him based on his past and morals.
He is also encouraged to control himself in stressful and anxiety-provoking situations. Over time, the person gains control over this, gradually reducing the disorder and gaining more self-confidence in this area.
3. Drug Therapy
Generally, doctors use various medications for treatment, which reduce stress levels and increase serotonin levels in the brain. Of course, you should note that these medications take time to work and may not have the right effects, so you must take them under the supervision of a psychiatrist to avoid other risks.
Which Clinic Is Most Suitable For Treating PTSD?
Post-traumatic anxiety creates various problems for people, which require referral to a mental healthcare clinic to resolve. Psychology clinics consist of various departments that interact with each other and treat diseases. To treat this disorder, you first need to be diagnosed with this problem.
At the beginning, you need to visit the diagnostic department in a psychology clinic to determine the type and severity of your problem. A psychologist who works in the diagnostic department can guide you well as to which department to refer to and what treatment process to take.
You should leave this issue to a specialist because there may be various reasons that contribute to this anxiety, which should be examined by a psychotherapist.
Final words
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the disorders that is not easily diagnosed, so leave its diagnosis to a specialist. Also, if you have such a person in your family, help them to return to normal life, because this disorder disrupts people’s lives in a way and takes away peace from people. Try to socialize with them. If you are aware of the disease, convey it to them and encourage them to see a psychiatrist.
If you are worried that the affected person may commit suicide, talk to them about it and discuss the situation with a counselor and seek their help. Reassure the patient that you are with them and that their behaviors are understood by you and they are not a burden to you.
These people are in crisis. Try not to use statements such as “it will pass” and “everything will be resolved” because it does not help and the person needs to be understood by you. Be patient and do not lose hope.
