Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder which develops as a result of psychological trauma caused by a truly disturbing and frightening event. People who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder re-experience the traumatic event with persistent thoughts, memories and flashbacks of their terrifying ordeal. As a result of this, they will be inclined to avoid anything that reminds them of the event and become highly anxious and sensitive to normal life experiences.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is a variation of PTSD that is caused by a more prolonged or repetitive exposure to a traumatic event. Common examples of C-PTSD include domestic and child abuse. Some of the effects and characteristics of C-PTSD differentiate slightly to PTSD, see C-PTSD for more details.

Who gets PTSD?

Statistics indicate that around 5 million people in the US suffer from PTSD at any one time. It is believed that up to 8% of the US population will experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at some point in their lives. Women are twice as likely to develop PTSD following a tragic event than men are. The rates of PTSD in African Americans and Hispanics are higher in comparison to Caucasians in the US.

Research suggests that up to 21% of children and youths who have experienced at least one traumatic event are thought to develop PTSD, 6% boys and 16% girls. Up to 60% of children who have survived a tragic death defying disaster suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder, almost all children who have witnessed the murder of a loved one or sexual assault are diagnosed with PTSD.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms

The symptoms of PTSD usually appear within half a year of the traumatic event, they can however, start immediately or within a few weeks. Those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder may experience some of the following symptomatic behaviours:

Flashbacks and nightmares: living through the experience all over again, seeing what happened and feeling the same emotions and physical sensations as when it happened. These may be triggered by anything that reminds you of the tragic event, no matter how remote. Flashbacks can occur in both the day and at night.

Avoidance: avoiding anything that is associated or reminds you of the traumatic event. Some who suffer from PTSD will keep their minds occupied by becoming heavily preoccupied in something such as work or a hobby, anything that can help them forget.

Emotional Numbing: a lack of interest in activities and things that you used to enjoy. Many attempt to feel nothing by becoming emotionless, closed and socially unavailable.

Hypervigilance: feeling constantly anxious, irritable, alert and on edge. You may have troubles sleeping and find it very hard to relax due to high levels of anxiety.

In addition to these, Post-traumatic stress disorder can also cause:

• Inability to concentrate properly
• Insomnia; difficulties in sleeping
• Hypervigilance; closely and anxiously monitoring surroundings
• Feelings of self torment and irritability
• Mixed feelings of shame, anger and guilt
• Diminished aspirations
• Depression and suicidal thoughts
• Increased likelihood of alcohol and drug abuse; in attempt to relieve the suffering
• Dissociation; cutting yourself of from anything that is happening around you
• Inability to be happy or enjoy yourself
• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness

Some of the physical effects and symptoms of PTSD include:

• Headaches/Tension headaches
• Heart palpitations and irregular heartbeats
• Muscle aches and pains
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal pains
• Depression
• Alcohol and drugs use
• Tiredness and exhaustion

PTSD Diagnosis – Do I have PTSD?

Acute Stress Reaction
Anyone who experiences a traumatic event will display some of the symptoms associated with PTSD, this is known as an ‘acute stress reaction’ and is perfectly normal. Symptoms of acute stress reaction include anxiety, irritability, bad moods, poor sleep, isolation, headaches, poor concentration and nausea. The symptoms should usually reside within a few days or a few weeks. Unfortunately, those who suffer from PTSD will not display such rapid improvements.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
The following criteria must be present for a diagnosis of PTSD:

• The person must have experienced a traumatic event where there was threat of death or serious injury, and the person responded with feelings of helplessness and horror
• The person experiences at least one re-experiencing symptom of PTSD; such as flashbacks, nightmares, upsetting memories or very strong feelings of distress when thinking of the event
• The person experiences at least 3 avoidance symptoms of PTSD; including emotional numbing, diminished aspirations and hope, loss of happiness and excitement, having difficulties remembering crucial parts of the traumatic event
• The person experiences at least 2 hyperarousal symptoms associated with PTSD; including trouble sleeping, feeling irritable, agitated, angry, on edge, unable to relax and anxious.
• The symptoms are having a significant negative effect on your life including professional life and social relationships
• The symptoms mention must have been present for over 1 month

If you feel that you are suffering from PTSD then it is crucial that you seek help from your local GP or a trained medical health professional who has been trained in assessing and treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

What causes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Any trauma that is life-threatening, emotionally compromising or that cause’s intense levels of fear can cause PTSD. Some of the most common causes of PTSD include:

• Serious accidents
• Personal assault; rape, robbery, abuse, physical
• Witness to a hideous crime
• Involvement in traumatic scenes; war veterans, emergency services
• Devastating life events; divorce, death of a loved one, natural disasters, war

Of course, not all people who experience such events will develop PTSD. There are many factors which can influence the likelihood of PTSD developing, some of these include:

• The mental state of the individual prior to the traumatic experience; those who already suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety or depression are likely to suffer from more adverse repercussions
• The severity of the traumatic event itself
• The duration in which the trauma was experienced
• The age at which it occurred, those who are younger tend to suffer more later on in life
• If there is still an exiting compromise to your safety or a likelihood that the event could happen again
• If you do not seek professional help
• If you isolate your self and do not welcome support from others

Treating PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a very serious illness which can have profound effects on a person’s life, particularly if left untreated for a considerable amount of time. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatments available to help those with the condition reduce and overcome its effects. When treating PTSD, mental health professionals must also take into account the possibilities of other underlying mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders. This will allow them to tailor the most suitable treatment to meet the specific needs of the patient.

There are both medications and specific forms of therapy that can be used to treat PTSD. A combination of medication and therapy is usually the most effective solution to overcome PTSD.

Psychological Treatments

Referred to as psychotherapy, psychological treatments for PTSD can either be in the form of cognitive-behavioural therapy or psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)is specifically focused on identifying and correcting negative thinking patterns and the behaviours associated with such ways of thinking. Common cognitive-behavioural treatments used to treat PTSD include:

• Exposure Therapy
• Behavioural Activation
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapy focuses on the patients past experiences in attempt to comprehend the causes of trauma and alleviate the fear, tension and anxiety such trauma is causing.

Medications for PTSD

Medications can be used to alleviate some of the adverse symptoms and effects of PTSD, these include:

• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
• Tricyclic Antidepressants
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
• Alpha Blockers
• Other forms of anti depressants

For details about medications, therapy and other forms of treatment used to treat PTSD and other anxiety disorders please visit our treatments section.