PTSD
First, ask yourself some questions...
- Did you experience a traumatic event?
- Do you regularly relive or re-experience a traumatic event?
- Do you avoid certain people, places, and events?
- Do you have difficulty remembering aspects of a traumatic event?
- Are you irritable, numb, feel guilty, hyper-aware, or easily startled?
- Have you withdrawn from friends and loved ones or stopped participating in activities?
- Do you use substances to cope with your symptoms?
- Has functioning in daily life been adversely affected by a traumatic event?
- How long have your symptoms been going on?
Source: Clearview Treatment Programs
Definition: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation.
Signs and Symptoms
- Re-experiencing involuntary and intrusive distressing memories, flashbacks of the trauma, bad dreams, and intrusive thoughts.
- Avoiding certain places or things that are reminders of the traumatic event.
- Trouble recalling the traumatic event
- Negative thoughts about one’s self
- A person may also feel numb, guilty, worried, or depressed
- Cognitive symptoms can in some instances extend to include out-of-body experiences or feeling that the world is "not real" (derealization).
- Hypervigilance. Examples might include being intensely startled by stimuli that resemble the trauma, trouble sleeping, or outbursts of anger.
Self Help Goals
You can get better with treatment. Here are some things you can do to help yourself:
- Talk with your healthcare provider about treatment options and follow your treatment plan.
- Engage in exercise, mindfulness, or other activities that help reduce stress.
- Try to maintain routines for meals, exercise, and sleep.
- Set realistic goals and focus on what you can manage.
- Spend time with trusted friends or relatives and tell them about things that may trigger symptoms.
- Expect your symptoms to improve gradually, not immediately.
- Avoid the use of alcohol or drugs.