What is post-traumatic stress disorder? According to the American Psychiatric Association, it is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. From nightmares to anxiety, PTSD surely disrupts one’s life greatly. Continue to read to learn more about PTSD, including its symptoms, diagnosis, and causes.
In general, the symptoms of PTSD are grouped into intrusion, avoidance, changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions.
Symptoms of intrusion: flashbacks; recurrent distressing memories of the traumatic event; nightmares; emotional distress or physical reactions to something that can be connected to the traumatic event
Symptoms of avoidance: trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event & trying to avoid places, activities, or people that remind one of the traumatic events
Symptoms of changes in thinking and mood: negative thoughts about oneself, other people, or the world; feeling hopeless; feeling detached from family and friends; lack of interest in activities once enjoyed; continuous negative emotions
Symptoms of changes in physical and emotional reactions: easily frightened; self-destructive behavior; insomnia; aggressive behaviors
To be diagnosed with PTSD, the symptoms listed above must last for more than a month and must cause significant distress or problems in the individual’s daily functioning. In addition, PTSD often occurs with other problems such as depression, insomnia, and memory problems.
According to the Mayo Clinic, PTSD is probably caused by a mix of stressful experiences, inherited mental health risks, inherited features of personality, and the way one’s brain regulates the chemical and hormones the body releases in response to stress.
Getting help and support often prevents the stress reactions from developing into PTSD. Therefore, turning to family and friends or seeking out a mental health professional for therapy probably offers comfort and security.
Hope this article helped you learn more about PTSD! Thanks for reading!
Written by: Benetta Wang
Sources:
“What Is PTSD?” Web Starter Kit, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd. Accessed 24 July 2021.
“Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 6 July 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967.
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