Victims of traumatic experiences can include witnesses of disasters, traffic accident survivors, victims of assault, and soldiers who have been in war – all of these people can have one thing in common: the inability to recover from a traumatic event. Victims of such events may suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What is posttraumatic stress disorder? How does it manifest? How is it treated? Keep reading!
PTSD can affect people of any age, nationality, religion, ethnicity, or cultural background. It can result from a terrorist act, natural disaster, violent attack – including rape or attempted murder. It can also develop in people who have witnessed murders, rapes, or other brutal attacks on another person or who have witnessed massive disasters that have claimed many lives. Statistically, PTSD is more common in women – they have twice the likelihood of developing this disorder than men.
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER – SYMPTOMS
How does posttraumatic stress disorder manifest itself? Symptoms can vary with age – adults and children experience traumatic events differently and react to them differently. In adults, symptoms that indicate PTSD include:
- Nightmares related to the traumatic event
- Constantly remembering the traumatic event – unable to get rid of thoughts that cause great suffering.
- Feeling emotions as if the traumatic event is repeating itself
- Outbursts of anger
- Excessive vigilance
- Sleep problems
- Feeling that nothing good will happen in the future
Concentration problems PTSD can also occur in children, and the symptoms that appear include:
- Nightmares
- Insomnia and sleep problems
- Aggressiveness
- Irritability
- Fear of separation from parents
- Depicting trauma in drawings or all kinds of stories
- Development of new phobias – fear of darkness, monsters
Regardless of age, posttraumatic stress disorder has a very negative impact on a person’s life and their entire environment, so it is necessary to take appropriate steps to address this disorder.
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER – TREATMENT
A destructive disorder that negatively affects the human mind, interpersonal relationships, can lead to the development of further phobias and other anxiety disorders, and can also be a factor leading to addiction – that is posttraumatic stress disorder. Treatment is necessary to improve the quality of your life and deal with your trauma.
You won’t get it overnight. However, you can still recover from PTSD and regain the feeling that there are still many good things waiting for you in life. First, learn as much as you can about PTSD – if you gain knowledge, you will better understand your enemy and better understand the mechanisms that control this disorder and why you behave in a certain way. Try to spend time in nature and engage in physical activities – cycling, fishing, canoeing, walks in the park, dancing, running, swimming – you will definitely find something suitable for yourself.
Surround yourself with close people you trust and care about. However, avoid all kinds of stimuli that can only worsen the problem.
Posttraumatic stress disorder is a very serious problem that many people are struggling with. Join a group that is struggling with the same problem. This is precisely where group psychotherapy brings such people together. A group of people who understand what you are struggling with will be a great support and motivation for how to deal with the problem.
It is also worth learning different types of relaxation techniques to release stress and internal tension in a healthy and appropriate way. Individual psychotherapy can also help you understand what is exactly happening with you. This way, you can cope with emotions and problems that paralyze you.