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Anxiety - PTSD

Wendy Bennett
Jul 15, 2015
2 min read

So this week my focus is on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or, as it is better known, PTSD. PTSD has been getting some press lately regarding soldiers who have returned from active service. In the past this disorder was largely ignored and untreated by the armed forces but, thankfully, times have changed. However, what constitutes a traumatic event is not limited to the atrocities of war.

PTSD

Feeling intense fear, helplessness and horror is the normal response to experiencing a traumatic event. However, for some those feelings do not dissipate, they remain intense and prevent the sufferer from living the life they used to.

The symptoms of PTSD can include:

Feeling very frightened or helpless after experiencing or seeing something that possibly involved death, injury, torture or abuse.
Having upsetting memories or dreams of the event for at least a month.
Finding it hard to go about daily life.
Avoiding activities that are a reminder of the event.
Experiencing difficulty in recalling all aspects of the event.
Disinterest in previously enjoyed activities.
Having difficulty experiencing intensely positive emotions such as love or excitement.
Thinking less about future goals and aspirations.
Difficulty sleeping.
Losing temper quicker.
Having trouble concentrating.
Feeling on guard or are easily startled.

As with most mental health issues the individual symptoms on their own are not indicative of suffering from PTSD. However, a combination of these symptoms that have persisted over a period of at least of month may indicate that further assistance is required.

I have purposely tried to avoid listing what constitutes a traumatic event. This is because we are all different. We all have different pasts, experiences and ways of interpreting events. Therefore, I believe, it is impossible to provide a comprehensive list of events that can be classed as traumatic. One person may be involved in a car accident and after a couple of days is able to return to their regular life before the accident happened. However, someone else even in the same accident can have a very different response. For months after the event they can be plagued by intrusive memories, avoid travelling, won’t go along the road where the accident occurred and feel unable to be in a car.

The message I am trying to get across is not to judge. Just because an event is not traumatic for you, does not mean that everyone will react in the same way.

Treatment for PTSD is usually therapy. While medications are prescribed in some cases, working with the individual to recognise their triggers, develop coping strategies that work for the individual and other therapeutic interventions have been shown to have great results for those suffering from PTSD.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms or issues please, in the first instance visit your GP. Counsellors, Psychologists and Psychiatrists are all trained professionals that can help you.

Wendy xo