Post traumatic stress disorder is a condition that is originally triggered by a terrifying event. The symptoms include repetitive flashbacks to the event, nightmares and severe anxiety. Only PTSD therapy can help in putting control back into the hands of the sufferer.
Many people who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder will eventually get better. In some cases, however, the symptoms worsen and persist for months and even years. It is when this happens that PTSD therapy is in order.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
The symptoms usually occur within three months of the traumatic event happening. In some cases, the symptoms may not appear for years, but that is rare. The symptoms are usually groped into three specific types; Intrusive memories, avoidance of the issues and emotional arousal.
- Intrusive memory symptoms may include flashbacks to the time of the traumatic event or upsetting dreams about the event.
- Symptoms of avoidance include; anger, behavior considered to be self-destructive, sleeping problems, easily startled and hearing and seeing things that don’t exist.
The symptoms usually come and go. Simple things, such as a car back-fire can bring back experiences from combat from many years ago or hearing about a brutal rape may trigger memories of a personal experience of assault.
When should the sufferer see a doctor?
It is perfectly natural and normal to have a wide range of feelings and emotions after any trauma. A person may experience fear, a lack of focus, changes in sleeping patterns and crying spells. Even having a nightmare of the event are normal and do not point to PTSD.
However, if these feelings persist for a month or more or if you feel you are having difficulty in regaining control over your life, then it may be time to seek the help of a mental health care practitioner. Getting PTSD therapy as soon as possible can stop the symptoms from getting worse.
At times, the sufferer can get so stressed that he may even consider harming himself, under these circumstances call 911 and seek the help of a family member or friend.
The causes of PTSD:
Developing post traumatic stress disorder can start when you see, go through or otherwise learn about an event that causes you to suffer feelings of horror and helplessness. Doctors have yet to identify exactly why some people are affected with PTSD, and others are not; it is believed, however, to be a combination of factors, including:
- Inherited mental health risks, perhaps anxiety or depression
- The severity of trauma experienced in your own life since early childhood
- The aspects of your personality, temperament
- The brain’s way of regulating chemicals and hormones
There are many other things that can lead to PTSD, they include fire, robbery, assault, civil disorders and plane crashes. Anything that a person sees as being a life threatening event can be the root cause.
PTSD therapy is but one of the medical health therapies that are being employed by the psychiatrists and psychologists at Red River Recovery Center in Wichita Falls, TX.
