By: Sara E. Teller
Post-traumatic stress disorder, otherwise known as PTSD, is a severe disorder that a number of people develop after experiencing a life-changing traumatic event. Nearly 75 percent of individuals will experience some form of severe trauma in their lifetimes and a degree of stress reaction in the days following the event – however not everyone will develop PTSD. This is because stress reactions are highly individualized. In fact, two people can experience the exact same event and have very different reactions to it.
Those who begin to experience symptoms that interfere with day-to-day functioning and notice that they last longer than a month have most likely developed PTSD. Symptoms usually appear within that timeframe (or escalate to become evident by that time) but can sometimes take longer to begin significantly impacting a person’s life to the point that they seem unmanageable.
PTSD is characterized by a distinct set of symptoms. Here’s what to look out for:
Re-experiencing the initial event.
Some ways a survivor can re-experience an event include:
Nightmares: Trauma survivors are much more likely to have nightmares, and the survivors who do usually have them very often. Some survivors may experience nightmares on a nightly basis. These distressing dreams often involve the same terrifying elements that were evident in real-life, even if certain aspects of the dreams change.
Flashbacks: Flashbacks of the traumatic experience will often come back intensely and unexpectedly. This can happen at any time, bringing back the same feelings of fear and anxiety that were present during the initial event. While experiencing a flashback, a person with PTSD may feel as if the traumatic event is actually recurring – which can be so powerful, it wields them right back into the past. It is very common for the person to lose all awareness of what is going on around them This sudden disconnect from reality can, of course, be terrifying, and not being able to control its onset can be even more frightening. After the first occurrence, a person can feel as if they are paralyzed from fear that it will happen again.
Triggers: Simple things such as words, objects or places may remind the individual of the event and trigger re-experiencing symptoms. It is important for people who suffer from PTSD to know their triggers with time and practice. But it is also common for new ones to appear when it’s least expected. Changing patterns and routines in order to avoid known triggers can help.
Hyperarousal (hypervigilance).
People who experience PTSD also experience hyperarousal. Because most PTSD sufferers exist in a constant state of panic, this excess of nervous energy will commonly lead to:
•Difficulty sleeping
•Trouble concentrating
•Becoming easily startled by noises or sudden movements
•Feeling a content urge to always remain “on guard”
•Life-altering irritability and angry outbursts
Living with PTSD is difficult. Remember to be kind to yourself.. Many sufferers experience feelings of guilt, shame and anger, and they isolate because they feel as if they cannot manage these symptoms. This is not healthy. Remember, PTSD is relatively common, and there is professional help and peer support available. It can be relieving to know there are plenty of others out there who are going through the same thing and many have found ways to effectively manage their symptoms.
Break the silence, break the cycle.