Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition affecting human beings mentally and which is initiated by events which terrify the person. These events are perceived as dangerous and hence, can harm a person's life. Encountering an event which is traumatic necessarily does not mean that a person gets to have PTSD. Many people who encounter terrifying events like rape have higher chances of developing this condition. Such encounters are more personal and can cause more harm when compared to encountering events such as natural calamities (Shalev, Liberzon & Marmar, 2017). In this, therefore, one is more likely to develop PTSD on encountering events which are more interpersonal as compared to those like calamities associated with the environment or even accidents.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can affect everybody regardless of one's ethnicity, religion, or even origin. The percentage of those with PTSD continues to rise where females are usually more than females; Women are more vulnerable to develop PTSD than men.
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To initiate a response to the fear one experiences in case of a terrifying situation, the body brings about changes which are helpful in defense in case of danger. Responses such as "fight or flight" are some of the responses which opt to be initiated at this point.
One may not be able to tell if he or she has PTSD. People who have developed PTSD may find themselves thinking so much about this terrifying event that has taken place. Similarly, they may even find themselves having dreams of the same. PTSD may affect a person in that one is not at a position to think straight. Those with this condition tend to avoid any situations that may subject them to such traumatic events.
On encountering that particular traumatizing event, PTSD may prevail at a period not less than one month. People having this condition may need assistance and care from others since they may put their lives in danger (Shalev, Liberzon & Marmar, 2017). They may find themselves wanting to commit suicide or even cause harm to themselves in any way.
Generally, people opt to look for a way in which they can relieve themselves in case of an event or feeling which appears stressful to them. This actions, however, may have adverse effects on those choosing to follow such ways. Similarly, people with PTSD tend to adopt such behaviors; people with PTSD may indulge themselves in behaviors such the urge to commit suicide, indulge themselves in drug and substance abuse, adopt poor eating habits and even find themselves causing self-harm knowingly.
Those with PTSD experience feelings of fear and left out, making them be at a position even to attempt suicide. Many people who tried to injure or harm themselves are more likely to have undergone such traumatic events. By doing this, they may be able to relieve themselves maybe from thinking about a traumatizing event. Equally, those with PTSD tend to indulge in substance abuse. Also, people with PTSD may find themselves having developed eating disorders. Some may find themselves eating a lot which may be accompanied by vomiting, a condition known as bulimia while others may starve themselves in the cause of the day making them lose weight, and appear emaciated; Anorexia nervosa (Arnsten, Raskind, Taylor & Connor, 2015). This kind of people is afraid of adding weight. It is said that many of the people with PTSD have bulimia than anorexia.
In diagnosing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, one is subjected to an event which involves appropriate traumatizing evens like a serious accident or even life-threatening event. When this happens; after being exposed to these situations, one may or may not feel the effects of this exposure in one or more months to come. A person may be having the condition if in any way he or she continues to feel the effects of the exposure. Experiencing this in a period lasting more than one month may be the cause of problems arising such as inability to normally relate with others either at the workplace or even at home. This may also negatively impact one's way of carrying out day-to-day activities.
The doctor attempts to diagnose Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder carrying out a physical examination. In this, he can come up with a conclusive report on what is causing such symptoms and spot that particular condition triggering them. Nevertheless can run a psychological test by regularly talking to the patient. In this, the doctor can be able to know what could be the reason as to why such symptoms manifested. Similarly, DSM-5; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders could greatly be of help in the diagnosis of PTSD.
The symptoms that appear after encountering these traumatic events may or may not go away after some time. Some people may be lucky enough to have these effects lessen. However, this does not occur to everyone. It is therefore very significant for an individual to make a decision and see a professional specialized in that particular field (Martin, Preedy & Patel, 2016). This would be of great help as one can fully understand the things taking place, the how far they have gone and finally make you know the right thing to do to recover and get to live a normal life fully.
On the onset of symptoms associated with PTSD, counseling might be of help. Everybody with this condition, therefore, requires to be subjected to medication, not forgetting psychotherapy. However, counseling is seen to bear more fruits as compared to medication.
How one reacts to a particular way of treatment may differ from the other. Though medication is termed as less effective, some people may respond to it quite fine when compared to counseling. Similarly, others are seen responding positively to counseling. In this, therefore, we cannot conclude that one kind of treatment is the best. People with PTSD need to consult specialized medical practitioners in PTSD so s to acquire the treatment they may require and which should be administered appropriately. These professionals are able to assist those with PTSD on getting better and advise them on what is to be done. Just like people react to different treatment differently, some people can only get to know what is best for them to fully get through their condition.
In some cases, a person with PTSD may also be a victim in another traumatizing event. In this, it would be advisable that in treating PTSD, the other traumatizing event present also be looked into. This would be helpful, allowing positive results.
One of the most common medications used for PTSD is the use of antidepressants. Antidepressants are known to control PTSD symptoms lessening the effects of these symptoms. Similarly, other medications may be administered to those with PTSD and work equally effective, treating some of the symptoms (Yehuda, Hoge, McFarlane, Vermetten, Lanius, Nievergelt, & Hyman, 2015). Efforts in treating PTSD must come from either way to see to it that the condition is effectively treated and that one gets to take the most appropriate medication suitable for him/her.
Counseling may take place if one pays a visit to a professional in this field. Similarly, it may also take place where two or more people go for a consultation. This kind of therapy, psychotherapy is very important in PTSD as it aids a lot in recovery (Yehuda et al., 2015). The various types of therapies carried out are useful in treating PTSD; Cognitive reconstructing gives people an opportunity to look at these bad events in a positive way. It helps them see things in a more realistic way and allows them to stop blaming themselves in case of what has happened. Exposure therapy exposes them to their fears helping them to be in control of it. Here people are able to approach their trauma, not in a harmful manner.
Even after the treatment of PTSD, symptoms may still prevail. It is shown that a percentage ranging up to 50 of people treated of PTSD still experiences its symptoms. PTSD is known to greatly affect people’s lives and those of their loved ones (Hoskins, Pearce, Bethell, Dankova, Barbui, Tol & Bisson, 2015). In this, it would be very important to see to it that there is much less or no recurrence of PTSD symptoms after treatment. When treating PTSD, emphasis should not only be directed on one kind of treatment; concentrating on therapy and ignoring other ways of treatment.
PTSD can be effectively treated if proper, and appropriate treatment is administered. Healthcare providers and other specialized professionals should see to it that they don’t make wrong decisions concerning PTSD treatment, and in this maybe there would be a minimal reoccurrence of the condition (Yehuda et al., 2015).
References
Arnsten, A. F., Raskind, M. A., Taylor, F. B., & Connor, D. F. (2015). The effects of stress exposure on prefrontal cortex: Translating basic research into successful treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder. Neurobiology of stress , 1 , 89-99.
Hoskins, M., Pearce, J., Bethell, A., Dankova, L., Barbui, C., Tol, W. A., ... & Bisson, J. I. (2015). Pharmacotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry , 206 (2), 93-100.
Martin, C. R., Preedy, V. R., & Patel, V. B. (Eds.). (2016). Comprehensive guide to post-traumatic stress disorders . Springer International Publishing.
Shalev, A., Liberzon, I., & Marmar, C. (2017). Post-traumatic stress disorder. New England Journal of Medicine , 376 (25), 2459-2469.
Yehuda, R., Hoge, C. W., McFarlane, A. C., Vermetten, E., Lanius, R. A., Nievergelt, C. M., ... & Hyman, S. E. (2015). Post-traumatic stress disorder. Nature Reviews Disease Primers , 1 , 15057.
