Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) is a condition that occurs after experiencing a terrifying event in life. It is a mental problem and often happens when a person either experiences or witnesses a horrifying happening. Its symptoms include flashbacks, endless nightmares, extreme anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about that horrible event. Most individuals with PSTD may have difficulty in adjusting to situations. However, they may get well with time as well as proper self-care. PSTD often has symptoms that may interfere with the normal activities of an affected person.
Symptoms may start to manifest within one month of that particular event. They are often categorized into four parts: avoidance, adverse alteration in mood and thinking, intrusive memories, and variations in emotional and physical reactions. An example of A PSTD patient is Michael Blois, a Canadian soldier who joined a rehab centre to recover from the problems he was facing (The Globe and Mail, 2015). Blois had hard difficulty maintaining close relationships, and he was emotionally numb after a horrifying event in the line of duty. Also, he was always on guard and easily startled by things. Notably, he had trouble sleeping, which then prompted him to seek medical help.
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PSTD is a mental problem and does not have a cure. However, prevention is highly recommended. One can turn to family and friends who can listen and provide the required comfort ( Alisic et al., 2014) . Also, seeking help from a mental health professional is necessary as one may get counselling and therapy as per the problem at hand. Further, the support from the community can help one cope with the problem rather than turning into drugs and alcohol.
In summary, PSTD is a mental problem and often occurs after a traumatic event. It is characterized by signs such as nightmares, sleeplessness, endless thoughts, flashbacks, and much more. One actual example is that one of Blois who joined a rehab after being diagnosed with PSTD. The problem can be prevented mainly by the help of the people around such as family and friends. Also, a mental health professional can come in handy to offer necessary therapy as needed.
References
Alisic, E., Zalta, A. K., Van Wesel, F., Larsen, S. E., Hafstad, G. S., Hassanpour, K., & Smid, G. E. (2014). Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed children and adolescents: a meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry , 204 (5), 335-340.
The Globe and Mail . (2015). Life with PTSD: A Canadian veteran shares his story [Video File]. Youtube . Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R63RlLqLK0
