Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

What is post traumatic stress disorder?

Post traumatic stress disorder is also called PTSD. This condition occurs after suffering or facing a traumatic (hurtful) event that brings you much pain or sorrow. The event may make you think you will get hurt or die. You may continue to feel helpless after the event. These experiences are often repeated or re-lived, affecting your daily activities, work, and relationships. Treatment is needed to prevent symptoms from getting worse.

What causes PTSD?

PTSD is caused by a traumatic situation or event that you have experienced. Examples include any of the following:

• An accident.
  
  
• A crime done to you or a crime you may have seen, such as a murder, robbery, or shooting.
  
  
• A death of a loved one.
  
  
• A natural disaster, such as a flood, earthquake, hurricane, or tornado.
  
  
• A serious disease, such as cancer.
  
  
• Physical or sexual abuse.
  
  
• Violence.
  
  
• War or terrorism.

What are the signs and symptoms of PTSD?

Signs and symptoms of PTSD may be divided into three groups:

• Re-living or re-experiencing the event: This may be in the form of:
  
  
  • Nightmares (bad dreams).
    
    
  • Flashbacks (recalling the past).
    
    
  • Images that pop into your head.
    
    
  • Goosebumps, chills, or a pounding, fast heartbeat when reminded of the event.
  
  
• Avoidance:
  
  
  • You may avoid thoughts, feelings, or talking about the traumatic event.
    
    
  • You may avoid activities, places, or people that remind you of the traumatic event.
    
    
  • You may have trouble spending time with friends and family or lose interest in doing enjoyable things.
    
    
  • You may have little or no emotion or be unable to express your feelings.
  
  
• Increased arousal (over reaction) or mood swings:
  
  
  • You may easily get stressed or hurt emotionally.
    
    
  • You may have sudden feelings of sadness, fear, or anger.
    
    
  • You may feel nervous, jumpy, panicky, or irritable.
    
    
  • You may have trouble paying attention or getting things done.
    
    
  • You may have sleeping problems.

How is PTSD diagnosed?

• Psychiatric assessment: Caregivers will ask if you have a history of psychological trauma, such as physical, sexual, or mental abuse. They will ask if you were given the care that you needed. Caregivers will ask you if you have been a victim of a crime or natural disaster, or if you have a serious injury or disease. They will ask you if you have seen other people being harmed, such as in combat. You will be asked if you drink alcohol or use drugs at present or in the past. Caregivers will ask you if you want to hurt or kill yourself or others. How you answer these questions can help caregivers decide on treatment. To help during treatment, caregivers will ask you about such things as how you feel about it and your hobbies and goals. Caregivers will also ask you about the people in your life who support you.
  
  
• Caregivers use a guide to diagnose PTSD. You have PTSD if you have all of the following:
  
  
  • You have seen, faced, or experienced an event that involved serious injury, near death, or death.
    
    
  • Your response was great fear, helplessness, or horror.
    
    
  • You have constant symptoms of re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidant behavior, and increased arousal.
    
    
  • Symptoms last more than one month.
    
    
  • Symptoms cause distress and affect your daily activities, work, and relationships.

How is PTSD treated?

A combination of medication and behavior therapy can successfully help you achieve control of your anxieties. You may have any of the following:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy: With a therapist, you will learn to face the feared object or situation slowly and carefully. You will also learn to control the mental and physical reactions of fear.
  
  
  • Assertiveness training: This training teaches you to stand up for yourself. You will learn how to ask for what you need, how to set limits, and how to say no.
    
    
  • Cognitive restructuring: Caregivers help you learn which thoughts produce anxiety. These thoughts are replaced with more pleasant ones.
    
    
  • Exposure therapy: Exposure or desensitization therapy helps you face a feared object, person, or situation. Fantasy (not real) or real-life situations are used with this therapy. The goal of desensitization therapy is to help decrease your fear or anxiety.
    
    
  • Relaxation therapy: Stress may cause pain, lead to illness, and slow healing. Relaxation therapy teaches you how to feel less physical and emotional stress. Deep breathing, muscle relaxation, and music are some forms of relaxation therapy.
  
  
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: This is also called EMDR and is a type of exposure therapy. Caregivers help you make your eyes move back and forth while you re-imagine the trauma.
  
  
• Psychological debriefing: This is often a single meeting with a therapist to have crisis counseling. You may have this right after a traumatic event to prevent or decrease further emotional problems.
  
  
• Medicine:
  
  
  • Anti-depressants: These medicines are given to decrease or stop the symptoms of depression.
    
    
  • Sedative: This medicine is given to help you stay calm and relaxed.
    
    
  • Tranquilizers: These are also called sedatives and may be given to help you stay calm and relaxed.

Where can I find support and more information?

Having PTSD is a life-changing condition for you and your family. Accepting that you have PTSD may be hard. You and those close to you may feel angry, sad, or frightened. These feelings are normal. Talk to your caregiver, family, and friends about your feelings. You may also want to join a support group. This is a group of people who also have PTSD. Contact the following for more information:

• National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  Phone: 1- 802 - 2966300
  Web Address: http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/
  

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Public Information & Communication Branch
  6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
  Bethesda , MD 20892-9663
  Phone: 1- 301 - 443-4513
  Phone: 1- 866 - 615-6464
  Web Address: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
  

• Victim Assistance Online
  Walker Plaza, P.O. Box 24077
  Windsor , Ontario N8Y-4Y9
  Web Address: http://www.vaonline.org
  

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Copyright © 2012. Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder