PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) is a severe mental condition that not many people develop after a shocking, dangerous, or terrifying event. These events are called trauma.
After a trauma, it is common to struggle with fear, anxiety, and sadness. You may have overwhelming memories or have trouble sleeping. Most people improve over time. But if you have PTSD, those thoughts and feelings don’t go away. They last for months and years and can even get worse.
PTSD brings about problems in your daily life like in contacts and at work. It can also damage your physical transformation health. But you can live a fulfilling life with treatment.
How Does PTSD Occur?
During a trauma, your body reacts to a threat by going into “flight or fight” mode. It releases stress hormones, like adrenaline and noradrenaline, to give you a burst of energy. Your heart beats faster. Your brain also puts some of its normal tasks, such as filing short-term memories, on hold.
PTSD brings about your brain to get stuck in hazard mode. Even after you are no longer in danger, he remains on high alert. Your body continues to send signals of stress, which leads to symptoms of PTSD. Studies reveal that the part of the brain that handles emotions and fear is more active in people having PTSD.
Over time, PTSD shifts your brain. The hippocampus (area that controls your memory) becomes smaller. This is one of the reasons experts recommend getting treatment early.
What are the effects of PTSD?
There is a lot of. They can include disturbing flashbacks, trouble sleeping, emotional numbness, outbursts of anger, and feelings of guilt. You might also avoid things that remind you of the event and lose interest in the things you love.
Symptoms usually begin within 3 months of trauma. But they might not show up until years later. They last at least a month. Without treatment, you can suffer from PTSD for years or even the rest of your life. You may feel better or worse over time. For example, a television report about an assault may trigger overwhelming memories of your own assault.
PTSD interferes with your life. You find it more difficult to trust, communicate and solve problems. This can lead to problems in your relationships with friends, family, and colleagues Traumatic Stress Disorder. It also affects your physical health. In fact, studies show that it increases your risk of heart disease and digestive disorders.
Who gets it?
PTSD was first described in veterans. It utilized to be known as “combat fatigue” and “shell shock”. But PTSD can affect anyone at any age, including children. In fact, about 8% of Americans will develop the disease at some point in their lives.
Women have double the risk of PTSD. This is because they are more likely to experience sexual assault. They also guilt themselves for a stressful event more than men.
About 50% of women and 60% of men will experience emotional trauma in their lifetime. But not everyone develops PTSD. The following factors increase your risk:
- Previous experience with trauma, such as childhood abuse
- Have another mental health problem, such as depression and anxiety, or a substance abuse problem
- Having a close family member, such as a relative, with a mental health condition, such as PTSD or depression
- Working in a job that may expose you to traumatic events (the military or emergency medicine)
- Lack of social assistance from family and friends
Living with PTSD
There is no cure for this condition. But you can treat it with family therapy near me successfully. Your doctor may also prescribe medications, such as antidepressants. With proper treatment Traumatic Stress Disorder, some people may stop having symptoms of PTSD. The night becomes less intense for others.
It is essential to seek out assistance if you believe you have PTSD. Without it, the condition usually does not improve.
