PTSD AWARENESS
- Camille Moncrieffe
- Jul 3, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 7, 2021
June is observed as PTSD Awareness month.
(Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by a traumatic event. These events can either be something the person experienced first- hand or they may have witnessed something terrifying.
Persons with PTSD may have symptoms that may include flashbacks, terrible nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as recurring thoughts about the event.
Most people who go through traumatic events may have a hard time coping or adjusting after the trauma, but with time and proper self-care, it can better for some persons. If the symptoms last longer like for months or even years to the point where it affects the individual’s daily life and functioning they may suffer from PTSD.
When to see a doctor
If you struggle with disturbing thoughts and feelings about a terrifying experience for a period of time, it is best to talk to a doctor or a mental health expert to help get your life on track.
They are trained professional so they will be able to guide you and help you to get the right treatment so you can move on with life. Getting the right treatment will help persons to cope with their symptoms from getting worst.
To diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder, your doctor will likely:
Do a psychological evaluation this includes a discussion as it relates to the symptoms you are having and the events that led to them.
Perform a physical exam -This is usually done to check for visible signs of physical trauma.
Diagnosis of PTSD requires exposure to an event that involved the actual or possible threat of death, violence or serious injury. Your exposure can happen in one or more ways, you either witnessed the trauma or saw it happened to someone or you also may be the person who directly suffered from the traumatic experience.
The person may re-experience the traumatic event, which may take the form of flashbacks that occur while the patient is awake or nightmares when the patient is sleeping. The patient may also experience exaggerated physical or emotional reactions to events known as triggers.
PTSD is categorized into subcategories Acute, Chronic and Delayed PTSD.
The symptoms of acute PTSD last for a shorter period of time between one to three months and seriously impair the patient’s ability to function. The diagnosis may be changed to chronic PTSD when the symptoms last for longer than three months.
Chronic PTSD is less likely to improve without treatment than acute PTSD, and these patients should seek treatment immediately.
Delayed PTSD occurs when the symptoms recur after being absent for at least several months. This recurrence often happens on the anniversary of the event that initially caused the PTSD or when the patient experiences a similar event.
The treatments for PTSD may be either psychotherapy and medication. Some patients respond well to one treatment option, while other patients require both treatments options to cope. Psychotherapy is usually the best treatment for PTSD when the symptoms are mild.
Some patients may have a medical condition that prohibits the use of psychoactive medication used to treat PTSD. Medication is more likely to be the preferred treatment for PTSD when the symptoms are severe or persistent. Patients who have other psychiatric problems may also benefit from medication, especially when psychotherapy has been ineffective by itself.
Another effective way of coping and recovering from PTSD is to have friends and family members who love and support you, especially if they are great listeners who can provide emotional support. It is never okay to tell persons just to get over it and move on with their lives. Be mindful of a patient's situation and always remember each individual deal with things especially, trauma differently. So be kind and supportive to patients who are suffering. Learning empathy when persons are dealing with trauma is key, even if we don't understand or if we think that maybe we would have dealt with the situation differently.
Patients usually have the best chance of recovering from PTSD when they receive encouragement from people who and love and care for them, who allows them to share the memories of the traumatic event.
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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and it's not intended to treat or diagnose any mental illness. If you or a loved one are experiencing any symptoms of PTSD, speak to a professional.
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