Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Many of us will experience trauma at some point in our lives. With time, most people recover from their experiences without needing professional help. However, for a significant proportion of people the effects of trauma last for much longer, and they develop a condition called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is thought that between 3 and 5 people out of every 100 will experience PTSD every year. Fortunately, there are a range of excellent psychological therapies for PTSD.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
It is normal to be affected by traumatic experiences. If you have been through a trauma you might feel shocked, scared, guilty, ashamed, mad, vulnerable, or numb. With time most people recover from their experiences, or find a way to live with them, without needing professional help. However, for many people the effects of trauma last for much longer and may develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of PTSD can be split into groups.
Re-experiencing symptoms
Re-experiencing the trauma means that memories of the event play over and over in your mind. These memories can come back as ‘flashbacks’ during the day, or as nightmares at night. The memories can be re-experienced in any of your five senses – you might see images of what happened, or experience sounds, smells, tastes, or body sensations associated with the trauma. Emotions from the trauma can also be re-experienced and many trauma survivors say that it can feel as though the events are happening over and again.
Re-experiencing symptoms include:
• Upsetting memories of the event intruding into your mind.
• Having nightmares about the event.
• Feeling physical reactions in your body when you are reminded of the event.
• Dissociation and feeling disconnected from the present moment.
Arousal symptoms
It is common to be ‘on edge’ or ‘on guard’ following a trauma. For people who have PTSD these feelings tend to persist for even longer than normal. You might find it very difficult to relax, or find that your sleep is affected.
Arousal symptoms include:
• Always looking out for danger. Psychologists call this ‘hypervigilance’.
• Feeling ‘on edge’ or easily startled.
• Having difficulty falling or staying asleep.
• Having difficulty concentrating.
Avoidance symptoms
A normal human way of dealing with physical or emotional pain is to avoid it, or to distract ourselves. When you have PTSD you might try to avoid any people, places, or any other reminders of your trauma. You might try very hard to distract yourself in order to avoid thinking about what happened.
Avoidance symptoms include:
• Avoiding reminders of the trauma.
• Trying not to talk or think about what happened.
• Feeling ‘numb’ or like you have no feelings.
Negative thoughts and mood.
Trauma has a powerful effect on how we think. Many people with PTSD blame themselves for what happened, even when it was not their fault. Or you might replay parts of the trauma and think “what if …?” or “if only …”. Many people with PTSD also experience depression.
Negative thoughts and mood about the trauma might include:
• Thinking negatively about yourself.
• Feeling guilty or ashamed about what happened.
• Feeling depressed or withdrawn.
• Feeling that no-one can be trusted.
We can separate the effects of PTSD into things that affect your mind (thoughts, images and memories), feelings, and behaviors
If you are experiencing similar feelings, reach out to us a call today.
There’s a path that’s best for you, we can help you find it.
