Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month and we believe that everyone can benefit from understanding more about PTSD. PTSD is estimated to impact 7.8% of Americans in their lifetime, and millions of people worldwide.  If you aren’t impacted by PTSD, you likely know someone or several people who are.

It’s important to note that while most people experience a traumatic event in their lifetime, not everyone experiences PTSD. Typically, traumatic events that bring on PTSD are events that we witness or experience that make us feel that our lives are at risk. Many with PTSD are soldiers in battle or survivors of sexual assault, violence, accidents, and natural disasters. It can also include those who have experienced profound loss or abuse.

Understanding PTSD is essential for those affected and their support networks. Early recognition and treatment can significantly improve outcomes. In the long run, untreated PTSD can be detrimental to an individual’s physical and mental health.

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health disorder triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It can also be triggered by learning of someone very close who has experienced a traumatic event. These events can vary widely. Examples include war, natural disasters, car accidents, and personal assaults like rape or abuse. While not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD, those who do often suffer from severe, prolonged distress. Such distress must interfere with their daily lives.

A person affected by PTSD continues to experience intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their trauma, long after the event has passed. This can lead to persistent anxiety, flashbacks, and an overall sense of being “on edge.”

Who Experiences PTSD?

PTSD can affect anyone who has gone through a traumatic event, though certain groups are at higher risk. These include:

  1. Military Personnel and Veterans. Combat exposure is a significant risk factor for PTSD. Veterans often face life-threatening situations. They can have prolonged stress and loss of comrades, which can lead to severe psychological impacts.

  2. Survivors of Violence and Abuse. This includes past or present survivors of physical or sexual assault. The violation of personal safety and trust can lead to deep-seated psychological scars.

  3. First Responders and Emergency Workers. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency responders frequently encounter traumatic situations. Thus, they are more vulnerable to PTSD.

  4. Accident and Disaster Survivors. Individuals who have lived through natural disasters, serious accidents, or terror attacks are at risk. PTSD may be developed as they process the life-threatening events they experienced.

  5. Individuals with Prolonged Exposure to Trauma. Refugees and those living in conflict zones are also at heightened risk. This is a result of enduring long-term exposure to stressful or abusive environments.

Studies have shown that some individuals and groups are at higher risk for PTSD than others. Some at-risk populations include females, disadvantaged populations, lower intellectual and educational status, people with a history of trauma exposure, those with a tendency to pay more attention to negative stimuli (referred to as “negative emotional attentional bias”), sensitivity to anxiety, challenges with serotonin or cortisol regulation, and personal and family history of psychological challenges.

Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD symptoms can vary widely but generally fall into the following four main categories:

  1. Re-experiencing The Trauma. They experience recurrent, unwanted memories of the traumatic event, vivid flashbacks, and distressing dreams. For some, these intrusive thoughts are so vivid that they feel as though they are re-experiencing the trauma.

  2. Avoidance. Individuals with PTSD often go to great lengths to avoid reminders of the trauma. This might involve steering clear of certain places, people, or activities that trigger memories of the event. They may also try to suppress thoughts or feelings related to the trauma.

  3. Negative Changes in Mood and Cognition. PTSD can lead to persistent negative emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, or shame. Affected individuals might feel detached from others. They could appear emotionally numb, showing a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. They may also struggle with memory, especially surrounding the traumatic event.

  4. Changes in Arousal and Reactivity. This includes feeling easily startled, feeling tense or “on edge,” having difficulty sleeping or concentrating, and experiencing angry outbursts. These symptoms often reflect a heightened state of alertness, known as hyperarousal.

How is PTSD Diagnosed?

Diagnosing PTSD typically involves a thorough evaluation by a mental health professional. This includes discussing symptoms the individual is experiencing and their duration. Evaluations will also consider the extent to which these symptoms interfere with daily life. Technically, for a diagnosis of PTSD, symptoms must persist for more than a month. They must also cause significant distress. Additionally, there will be impairment in social, professional, or other important areas of functioning.

Treatments for PTSD

Treatment for PTSD is essential for helping individuals heal. The most effective treatments often involve a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

  1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is highly effective for PTSD, focusing on altering negative thought patterns and behaviors. One of the most common forms of CBT used for PTSD is cognitive processing therapy (CPT), which helps individuals challenge and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma.

  2. Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE). PE involves gradually exposing individuals to trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations to reduce their power. The aim is to help patients face their fears in a controlled way, thereby reducing avoidance behaviors and emotional distress.

  3. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR is a unique therapy that uses guided eye movements to help individuals process and integrate traumatic memories. It has been shown to be effective in reducing the intensity of PTSD symptoms.

  4. Relaxation-Based Psychotherapies: Such approaches include skills training for managing anxiety and other symptoms. This can make a positive impact, but has been shown to be less effective than PE or other types of treatment.

  5. Medication. Several medications are used with clients with PTSD.  SSRIs in particular are associated with improvements in all four symptom areas: re-experiencing, avoidance, numbing, and hyper-arousal symptoms. They also have shown improvements related to quality of life. Additionally, anti-anxiety medications may be helpful for short-term relief of severe anxiety symptoms. These are not typically recommended for long-term use due to the risk of dependency. A medication called Prazosin, which is ordinarily used for hypertension, is sometimes used. It can help reduce nightmares and other sleep disturbances in individuals with PTSD.

The Importance of Support and Self-Care 

Living with PTSD can be incredibly challenging. However, the support from friends, family, therapists, and others can make a huge difference. It’s important to encourage anyone who you suspect has PTSD to seek professional help. Another way to help is to offer non-judgmental support, which could be as simple as listening to their feelings. Recovery takes time, so patience is essential.

In addition to professional treatment, self-care practices can help. This includes regular physical activity, mindfulness, adequate sleep, and healthy eating. These strategies can contribute to overall well-being and resilience. While it may sound easier said than done for someone suffering greatly, avoiding drugs and alcohol is advised. Yes, they may appear to numb the pain in the moment, yet they are likely to make things much worse in the long run.

Conclusion

PTSD is a complex and often debilitating condition. Dealing with PTSD requires compassionate understanding and comprehensive treatment. By recognizing the symptoms and seeking appropriate help, individuals with PTSD can work towards healing and change their lives for the better.

If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, we are here to help. If we aren’t a fit for your needs, we are very happy to offer direction and referrals to help you get to where you need to be. We invite you to reach out to our client care team at (615) 582-2882 or clientcare@nashvillepsych.com.