What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder it’s a mental health disorder that can develop after a traumatic event. This condition was mainly known in soldiers but it’s not true, anyone that experienced a traumatic event can develop PTSD.
PTSD is a severe issue that can interfere with a person’s life, it can take over your daily routines and make the world seem not a safe space anymore, when something traumatic happens it’s like no one or nothing is good.
When you go through something traumatic, it’s understandable to have PTSD symptoms. They might not appear immediately after the event, it could take months as well as they could disappear in a few weeks. Symptoms can last much longer, they could be there for years. A specialist could give you a PTSD diagnosis.
There are a lot of misconceptions about PTSD, people wrongly assume that you focus too much on the past, and often say ‘get over it’, ‘it’s the past’, ‘move on’, and ‘forget about it’. People should be reminded that they are not alone and that they are supported. These words are just gonna push them away and deal with it alone.
People think that forgetting your past is the solution, but it’s not…unsolved past can lead to problems in the present, issues with your family, friends, in school/job. Some may not even know they have PTSD for years until a certain word or moment triggers it.
There are several types of PTSD:
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Delayed-onset PTSD-if the symptoms emerge months after the traumatic event.
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Complex PTSD-if it lasted for a long time, you might be diagnosed with C-PTSD.
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Birth Trauma- after a traumatic event of childbirth.
Symptoms of PTSD:
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vivid flashbacks (feeling like the trauma is happening right now)
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intrusive thoughts or images
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nightmares
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intense distress at real or symbolic reminders of the trauma
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physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea or trembling.
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panicking when reminded of the trauma
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being easily upset or angry
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extreme alertness, also sometimes called ‘hypervigilance’
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disturbed sleep or a lack of sleep
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irritability or aggressive behaviour
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finding it hard to concentrate – including on simple or everyday tasks
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being jumpy or easily startled
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other symptoms of anxiety.
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feeling like you have to keep busy
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avoiding anything that reminds you of the trauma
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being unable to remember details of what happened
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feeling emotionally numb or cut off from your feelings
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feeling physically numb or detached from your body
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being unable to express affection
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doing things that could be self-destructive or reckless
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using alcohol or drugs to avoid memories.
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feeling like you can’t trust anyone
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feeling like nowhere is safe
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feeling like nobody understands
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blaming yourself for what happened
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overwhelming feelings of anger, sadness, guilt or shame.
Physical symptoms can include:
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Dizziness
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Chest pains
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Stomach aches
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and other similar symptoms of anxiety
If you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, you might also find that you have difficulty with some everyday aspects of your life. School, work, friendship and relationships, driving, remembering things as well as sex.
What can cause PTSD? ⚠️trigger warning⚠️
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being involved in a car crash
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being raped or sexually assaulted
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being abused, harassed or bullied – including racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia or transphobia, and other types of abuse targeting your identity
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being kidnapped, held hostage or any event in which you fear for your life
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experiencing violence, including military combat, a terrorist attack, or any violent assault
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seeing other people hurt or killed, including in the course of your job (sometimes called secondary trauma)
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doing a job where you repeatedly see or hear distressing things, such as working in the emergency services or armed forces
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surviving a natural disaster, such as flooding, earthquakes or pandemics, such as the coronavirus pandemic
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traumatic childbirth as a mother, or as a partner witnessing a traumatic birth
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losing someone close to you in particularly upsetting circumstances
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being sectioned or getting treatment in a mental health ward
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being diagnosed with a life-threatening condition.
People who:
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experienced repeated trauma
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getting physically hurt or feeling pain
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having little or no support from friends, family or professionals
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dealing with extra stress at the same time, such as bereavement, money worries, racism, seeking asylum, homelessness or spending time in prison
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previously experiencing anxiety or depression.
