Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is a mental health disorder that is triggered by a traumatic or terrifying event, it could be an event you have witnessed or experienced.

PTSD occurs when an individual has gone through a traumatic event, they may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping. These symptoms usually last for months or even years and they interfere with their daily lives

Symptoms

PTSD symptoms could begin within a month of a traumatic event or it could appear years after the event. These symptoms usually cause significant problems in social or work situations and in relationships.  

Symptoms include:

Intrusive memories:

  • Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
  • Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again
  • Upsetting nightmares about the traumatic event
  • Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the event

Avoidance

  • Trying to avoid thinking or mentioning the traumatic event
  • Avoiding any place or activity or individuals that remind you of the traumatic event

Negative changes in thinking and mood

  • Negative thoughts about yourself and the world
  • Hopelessness about the future
  • Memory problems
  • Difficulty maintaining close relationships
  • Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
  • Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
  • Feelings of emotional numbness

Changes in physical and emotional reactions:

  • Being easily startled  
  • Always being on guard
  • Having trouble sleeping
  • Having trouble concentrating  
  • Self-destructive behavior
  • Overwhelming feelings of guilt or shame  

Prevalence

The lifetime prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ranges from 6.1 to 9.2 percent in national samples of the general adult population in the United States and Canada.

Prognosis

Cognitive therapy Exposure therapy Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

When to seek help

You should see a doctor when you have disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event that lasted for more than a month. If you feel that you are having severe symptoms that are interfering with your daily life you should seek help as soon as possible to prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.

Treatment

PTSD treatment involves psychotherapy and medication in order to help an individual regain a sense of control over their life. Combining psychotherapy and medication can help improve PTSD symptoms by:  

  • Teaching you skills to address your symptoms
  • Helping you have a better view of the world and yourself
  • Learning ways to cope with symptoms if they arise again
  • Treating other problems that are related to traumatic experiences, such as depression, anxiety or substance use.

Psychotherapy treatments for PTSD include:

  • Cognitive therapy  
  • Exposure therapy  
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

Medications used to treat PTSD include:

  • Antidepressants
  • Anti-anxiety medications
  • Prazosin