Time on the battlefield isn’t the only way to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. While PTSD is most commonly associated with combat veterans, that’s just one of many potential triggers for the condition. In order for people to receive the care they need, it’s important to recognize the many different contexts in which PTSD can originate.
What Is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition which can develop after someone experiences a traumatic event. The symptoms of PTSD are grouped by type: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Examples of these symptoms include:
- Intrusive memories: Frequently having unwanted memories of the traumatic event, and reliving it through flashbacks and nightmares.
- Avoidance: Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event, and avoiding places/activities/people that serve as reminders of the event.
- Negative changes in thinking and mood: Hopelessness about the future, difficulty maintaining close relationships, and feeling emotionally numb and detached from loved ones.
- Changes in physical and emotional reactions: Being easily startled, trouble sleeping, angry outbursts, overwhelming guilt or shame, and self-destructive behavior.
PTSD is relatively common. In fact, about six out of every 100 people will develop PTSD at some point in their lives. Women are twice as likely to have PTSD as men.
Causes of PTSD
During World War I, PTSD was largely referred to as “shell shock.” Later, during World War II, “combat fatigue” was the more common term. These early references to the condition caused PTSD to be very closely associated with veterans with combat experiences. However, PTSD can occur in a wide variety of circumstances.
Some of the traumatic experiences which could potentially cause PTSD include:
- Bullying
- Rape or sexual assault
- Intimate partner violence
- Natural disasters
- Serious accidents
- War combat
- Terrorist attacks
It’s important to note that people with little or no social support after experiencing a traumatic event have an increased likelihood of developing PTSD. A personal or family history of substance use or mental illness is another PTSD risk factor.
PTSD Diagnosis & Treatment Options
If you’re experiencing symptoms of PTSD, talk to a healthcare provider. They can help determine if you have the disorder and advise you on your treatment options. Most people already know that therapy is the recommended treatment, but you may be surprised to learn that there are actually several different types of therapy for PTSD. Some of these therapy options include:
- Cognitive processing therapy: Talk therapy can help you work through your memories and emotions and establish healthier cognitive patterns.
- EMDR therapy: EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a series of guided eye movements used to help heal from trauma by accessing the memories in a therapeutic way.
- Prolonged exposure therapy: Repeated, controlled exposure to symptom triggers can help with PTSD healing. Tools like virtual reality programs are sometimes utilized for exposure therapy.
- Trauma-focused CBT: This type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with reframing negative thoughts and learning symptom management skills.
- Group therapy: Meeting and talking with other survivors of similar traumatic events can be a healing experience for someone suffering from PTSD.
Therapy is usually the primary recommended treatment, but certain types of anxiety and depression medications may be useful for dealing with symptoms while someone with PTSD works to heal from their experience. There are several types of medications which may be prescribed to help with PTSD, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor). These medications work to minimize symptoms of PTSD by reducing fear and anxiety.
Prognosis for PTSD
Can you get over PTSD? That’s a common question among people dealing with the condition. It’s definitely possible for PTSD to be successfully treated. In fact, people can even recover from PTSD many years after having a traumatic experience, so it’s never too late to seek help.
For some people, the symptoms of PTSD fade over time, especially if they have a strong support system of loved ones. But the help of friends and family alone isn’t enough for some people to heal from PTSD. The good news is that many people are able to recover with treatment. Around 30% recover fully, and 40% improve, though they may still have mild to moderate symptoms remaining.
It’s important to remember that PTSD can affect anyone. If you’ve lived through a traumatic event, reach out to a healthcare provider. Even if you’re not sure whether you have PTSD, they can help you work through the trauma you experienced and point you toward the right mental health resources for treatment and support.
Sources:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd
https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/Resources/Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder/PTSD-Risk-Factors/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/25067-exposure-therapy
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/treatment/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9545-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
