Finding Peace After Trauma: PTSD Symptoms and Recovery
You don't have to suffer in silence from PTSD. There is help and treatment available to you.
It seems with all of the wars, natural or human disasters, and domestic crimes, it’s no wonder health care professionals are seeing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on the rise. PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that develops after an individual has witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. PTSD was thought to primarily be associated with war veterans, but it is now prevalent amongst victims of sexual assault, abuse, domestic violence, divorce and accidents. PTSD is also being reported amongst our emergency response personnel like firefighters, police officers and paramedics.
In terms of mental health disorders, anyone can be susceptible to PTSD simply because we are all human and have the same response to extreme stress and trauma. Our brain and body is designed to handle stress, especially the threat of physical danger. We have a fight or flight reflex that sends messages from our brain to our body to help keep us protected. However, someone suffering from PTSD still feels threatened or re-lives that threat even when there is no danger present.
It’s hard to get exact statistics with number of people who have PTSD because many people do not want to report they have a mental health disorder. However, it is estimated in the United States 3.5 percent of adults suffer from PTSD and the average onset of PTSD is 23 years old.
People who suffer from PTSD may experience symptoms such as trouble sleeping, memory loss, blackouts, and phobias about certain places or people. In addition, they can suffer from flashbacks, hyper-vigilance, irritability and anger. Unfortunately, those who suffer from PTSD are more likely to turn to alcohol and drug use, especially if their PTSD goes without treatment.
It’s best to seek out professional help if you suspect you are or a loved one is affected by PTSD. There are a variety of treatment options, including counseling, group therapy, educational classes and medication. Health care professionals have found that educating their patients about PTSD is therapeutic because the patients understand that they are not the only ones going through it.
The first step in recovering from PTSD is to seek out professional help. During treatment, patients can acquire the tools and skills necessary to cope with their traumatic experience. It is possible to find joy and peace after trauma and that is what seeking treatment is all about.
In terms of mental health disorders, anyone can be susceptible to PTSD simply because we are all human and have the same response to extreme stress and trauma. Our brain and body is designed to handle stress, especially the threat of physical danger. We have a fight or flight reflex that sends messages from our brain to our body to help keep us protected. However, someone suffering from PTSD still feels threatened or re-lives that threat even when there is no danger present.
It’s hard to get exact statistics with number of people who have PTSD because many people do not want to report they have a mental health disorder. However, it is estimated in the United States 3.5 percent of adults suffer from PTSD and the average onset of PTSD is 23 years old.
People who suffer from PTSD may experience symptoms such as trouble sleeping, memory loss, blackouts, and phobias about certain places or people. In addition, they can suffer from flashbacks, hyper-vigilance, irritability and anger. Unfortunately, those who suffer from PTSD are more likely to turn to alcohol and drug use, especially if their PTSD goes without treatment.
It’s best to seek out professional help if you suspect you are or a loved one is affected by PTSD. There are a variety of treatment options, including counseling, group therapy, educational classes and medication. Health care professionals have found that educating their patients about PTSD is therapeutic because the patients understand that they are not the only ones going through it.
The first step in recovering from PTSD is to seek out professional help. During treatment, patients can acquire the tools and skills necessary to cope with their traumatic experience. It is possible to find joy and peace after trauma and that is what seeking treatment is all about.
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