it is always very normal in human life to experience psychological distress after going through a traumatizing scenario. Most of cases the feelings always wane after a period of close to four weeks after the event.
In some cases, however, the feeling may persist and continue to torment one. The most preferred treatment method for this condition is psychological support through guidance and counseling that will make one bold and ready to let go of the past.
Some of the horrifying events that usually trigger this condition are:
- Car accidents.
- Inferno.
- Sexual harassment.
- Natural disasters such as floods.
1-What is post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD?
This is a condition that is experienced by a person after going through a traumatizing event and continues to suffer emotional and psychological distress for more than four weeks after the event. The symptoms may also be constant and strong which disable an individual from carrying out his or her daily duties.
2-What are the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder may be accompanied by several symptoms. These symptoms can be grouped depending on their nature and how long they occur.
Here are some groups of symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder:
- Re-occurring symptoms
- Stimulative symptoms
- Isolative symptoms
Re-occurring symptoms
- Memories of the past even.
- Nightmares.
- Fearful thoughts.
Stimulative symptoms
- Being high tempered.
- Tensing most of the time.
- Staying awake for longer periods.
Isolative symptoms
- Keeping off places or objects that may remind you of the event.
- Worried.
- Loss of interest in your hobbies.
3-Who is prone to experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder?
Everyone is prone to experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. It starts from war survivors, accident survivors, and inferno survivors to victims of sexual assault.
There are also cases where the individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder did not experience any traumatizing event though they have friends or family members who underwent horrifying events.
4-What are the causes of post-traumatic stress disorder?
Not every traumatizing occurrence in an individual’s life will always make one be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. On very rare occasions individuals will be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Doctors claim that there is no exact cause of post-traumatic stress disorder, however, it may be triggered by things like environmental factors, biological, personality, and mixed gene factors.
5- What period does post-traumatic stress disorder take?
If not treated, post-traumatic stress disorder may last for a lifetime an individual. There are also some cases where the symptoms of post-traumatic disorder wane after a while.
Those who usually do not seek treatment are individuals whose symptoms intensity is low and they can carry out their daily activities. Another group of people always experience post-traumatic stress disorder when they encounter places or objects that trigger memories of a past event.
6-How do I know if I am undergoing post-traumatic stress disorder?
The right answer will always be pronounced by a qualified medical doctor upon conducting tests and coming out with the test results.
However, some methods can be used to evaluate if you may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
To test positive for post-traumatic disorder you must have experienced all the following symptoms in the last four weeks:
- At least three isolative symptoms.
- At least one re-occurring symptom.
- At least two stimulative symptoms.
- Symptoms that alter your relationship with friends, legal plans, and other crucial events.
7-Are there available treatment plans for post-traumatic stress disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a medical problem that has several treatment options that can be used to treat it. Just like bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder treatment plans may be combined or used alone.
Some of the most common treatment approaches may include:
- Behavioral therapy may be used to help victims of post-traumatic stress disorder realize what usually triggers the condition and therefore learn how to train their brains to adapt.
- Exposure therapy will always aid the victims to learn how to tactfully adapt to the feelings whenever they strike hence enabling an individual to regain self-control.
- Use of medications to help individuals relax and have comfort. These medicines may be informed of sedatives and antidepressants.
8-Is there hope in being treated if you experience post-traumatic stress disorder?
Post-traumatic disorder may be treated depending on an individual’s treatment plans and needs. These treatments can eliminate many of the symptoms hence making an individual control over his or her life.
9-Do children also experience post-traumatic stress disorder?
Children are also human beings though they are not mature as compared to adults. Children may also be victims of post-traumatic stress disorder.
However, children may experience more intense symptoms as compared to adults. These are some of the extreme symptoms that may be noticed when a child is undergoing post-traumatic stress disorder:
- Avoiding relations with older people.
- Bedwetting even after using a toilet in the previous days.
- Forgetting how to talk or avoid communication.
10-Why do some people not experience post-traumatic stress disorder?
It is not a must that every individual who undergoes post-traumatic stress scenes is likely to be diagnosed with the condition. Many will always walk out of it as clean as cotton.
However, you need to understand that there are factors that will always escalate the rate or slow down the rate at which one may experience the condition after being through horrifying scenes.
Factors that may escalate experiencing the condition include:
- Suffering from a different ailment.
- Getting injured.
- Witnessing people get killed or hurt.
- Having no psychological support after the event.
Factors that may slow down experiencing post-traumatic stress include:
- Getting support from friends and relatives.
- Being strong amid fears.
- Engaging in group support after the event.