Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that develops after a “fight-or-flight” response to a traumatic event. This response is a survival mechanism that automatically dumps stress hormones (cortisol, glucagon, catecholamines) and neurotransmitters into your system in an effort to prepare your body for evasive action to avoid injury or death. Normally, these biological changes only occur while you’re in a dangerous situation.
However with PTSD, this otherwise healthy reaction continues to be triggered over and over in the absence of any real danger. And unfortunately, you’ll experience a heightened physical state of stress again and again, marked by some of these symptoms:
- pallor
- trembling
- dizziness
- headache
- feeling faint
- palpitations
- tense muscles
- hyperventilation
- queasy stomach
- excessive sweating
- agitation, excitability
Everyone experiences events that trigger these stress response symptoms throughout their lives. Why some folks repetitively recycle this natural trauma invoked physical alertness is unknown. But psychological, genetic, physical and social factors are implicated in the process.
A traumatic event, or events, associated with war is the most publicized catalyst for post traumatic stress disorder. Yet, PTSD may incited by numerous other intensely fearful episodes you might live through or witness as well, such as:
- rape
- crime victim
- bad accident
- terrorist attack
- physical abuse
- natural disasters
- sudden, unexpected death of another
- extreme pain, suffering caused by a health condition
After living through a horrific occurrence, it is very common to have some post traumatic stress. So depending on what took place, enduring a similar activity or surroundings may cause you to be a jumpy, anxious, hypervigilant, tense or edgy. Usually, any stress symptoms gradually subside in a matter of months.
With PTSD, there’s no easing of your physical manifestations of the event, that may be brought to you in the form of:
- flashbacks
- nightmares
- flashes of frightening thoughts
- discomfort in situations that bear some similarity
As a consequence, you’ll try to avoid any triggering situations or quell the anxiety produced by PTSD. And some of the health conditions, changes in behavior and emotions that commonly stem out post traumatic stress disorder involve:
- irritability
- insomnia
- startle easily
- panic attacks
- hopelessness
- partial amnesia
- feeling detached
- outburst of anger
- emotionally numb
- experience phobias
- abuse alcohol, drugs
- concentration problems
- feeling alone, nobody understands
- lack interest in activities previously enjoyed
- feeling guilty (survivor’s guilt), depressed, worried
- avoiding places, people, objects causing a reminder
- difficulty with common daily tasks ~ eating, hygiene, work, play
Although it’s natural to cycle through some of these traumatic event symptoms, it’s not normal for them to continue for months, or even years. And for some, post traumatic stress disorder may not develop immediately afterwards, there may be a substantial delay before their PTSD symptoms materialize.
Standard treatment for post traumatic stress disorder is psychotherapy to gain control over your autonomic response and medication to ease your symptoms. Some of the various forms of therapy used to treat PTSD are:
- biofeedback
- group therapy
- family therapy
- exposure therapy
- cognitive behavioral therapy
- psychodynamic psychotherapy
Because everyone is different, there is no magic formula. Your treatment may require one or several forms to work you past your debilitating symptoms.
Antidepressants and sedatives may be prescribed to calm your anxiety or alleviate depression and help you get some much needed sleep. Albeit, you may experience some of these drug side effects:
- nausea
- agitation
- headache
- drowsiness
- sleeplessness
- reduced sex drive
Many of these effects typically subside within a couple of days.
To reap the best outcome from post traumatic stress disorder, you need to be treated right away. And having PTSD is nothing to ashamed of because the fact that your “fight or flight” system goes off course is not your fault. Gaining control of it to steer it back on track may not be easy, but it’s well worth the effort.
So reach out for support and don’t you dare give up!