By: Sara E. Teller
For the most part, people tend to think of posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, as an emotional condition. It’s known for its ability to cause serious mental health issues, and those are problems that certainly shouldn’t be overlooked.
But did you know that PTSD can have implications for your physical health, as well? There are physical symptoms that associated with an PTSD diagnosis, so those issues need to be considered and addressed at the same time in order to work towards full recovery from the trauma that caused them.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways PTSD can impact physical health.
Some Common Signs
One of the tricky things about identifying the signs of PTSD when they manifest in a physical form is that the symptoms can overlap with many other conditions. So, it probably won’t be just one thing that leads you to believe you might be dealing with PTSD – rather, it will be a combination of various signals, both mental and physical, that gives it away.
Among the many different physical symptoms that are possible with PTSD are those listed below –
- Headaches and nausea. We start with one that really isn’t going to be very helpful in terms of a diagnosis, simply because there are so many different conditions that can cause these common ailments. These are signs that you won’t want to ignore, of course, but they will be present in combination with others for a diagnosis to be made.
- Sleep disturbance and extreme fatigue. It never feels good to be tired throughout your day, but that might be exactly the case for someone with this condition – even if they have been making an effort to get enough sleep. Of course, another symptom of PTSD is poor sleep, so the two will often go hand-in-hand.
- Elevated heart rate. With this symptom, you’ll want to be sure to have your health checked out by a medical professional to see if other factors are causing palpitations. Whether or not it is related to PTSD, there is still likely something going on (even if it’s anxiety-related) and only a proper checkup can identify the cause.
While this quick list is a starting point, there are plenty of other possible symptoms you might be facing. Those could include pain in your joints, tense and tight muscles, a sore back, lack of appetite and more.
In addition to the symptoms above, which are relatively easy to monitor and track through the use of self-reporting, other physical ailments can be harder to detect and associate with PTSD.
For instance, some studies have found that those with known PTSD were more likely to have heart and associated cardiovascular issues than others, although the findings are limited, and a certain cause-and-effect relationship can’t yet be established. Also, beyond the heart, there may be a link with digestive problems, musculoskeletal disorders, and other health problems.
In general terms, many of the physical issues that arise with PTSD can be accounted for by saying that you simply “aren’t feeling well” or are “feeling off.” While vague statements, both nicely sum up the situation that many people find themselves in when dealing with this condition. They don’t feel great, either mentally or physically, and need a plan and support to get life moving in the right direction again.
An Important Lesson
It’s important to understand that addressing PTSD is essential for all aspects of your health. While it would be important to work on improving your symptoms even if they were “only” mental, the importance of dealing with this condition is taken to a more serious level when you know that physical ramifications are also involved. The double-sided effects mean you can’t afford to sit around and hope this condition gets better on its own.
The physical impacts of PTSD are no less important than the role this condition plays in mental health. Whether it is you or a loved one who is struggling, knowing what you are facing is the first hurdle to clear. Moving forward, consider seeking professional assistance in dealing with these issues and securing the right treatment to alleviate the symptoms. PTSD is a lifelong condition. However, it can be well-managed with medication and/or psychotherapy. Get the help you deserve today!