Recognizing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that can occur following exposure to a life-threatening event. Trauma exposure can sometimes be so overwhelming that people are unable to fully absorb the experience at the time it occurs. In some circumstances this leads to constant "reliving" of the event, avoidance of things associated with the trauma, and feeling anxious or irritable. Recent research suggests that this kind of constant state of stress results in chemical changes in the brain perhaps making trauma survivors more vulnerable to other conditions such as depression.
It is important to remember even a "perceived" or "imagined" threat of violence
or danger can be as emotionally disturbing as a real threat of violence. When a person experiences an event as life-threatening, it shatters one’s basic
assumptions about self and the world we live in.
Symptoms to watch for include:
- Nightmares or flashbacks
- Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings and activities associated with the trauma
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying awake
- Exaggerated startle response
- Outbursts of anger
Helpful Strategies:
- Remember to breathe. When we receive a shock, we often take a sudden but shallow breath
in. When we are under stress our breathing may become more shallow resulting in increased tension in our bodies. Taking deep breaths helps our bodies
to relax.
- Monitor your self talk: "Of course I’m feeling overwhelmed; what happened
was too big to manage all at once."
- Schedule time for recalling the stressful event for limited periods of time.
- Plan time daily for a small act of self-care such as listening to a favorite song
or taking a walk.
- When thoughts or feelings intrude try to acknowledge them to yourself and tell
someone else. These intrusions flood you temporarily to allow you to absorb what has happened a little at a time. The intensity and duration
of these intrusive thoughts and feelings will decrease over time, especially if you do not try to avoid them altogether.
- Talk with someone who can listen.
- Ask for help. If the first source doesn’t help, ask someone else.
- Make lists of things to do and work on one task at a time.
- Rest. A good night of sleep helps to restore the body and increases energy needed to work through traumatic events.
- Give yourself permission to laugh and to cry.
- Try to eat small meals that include protein. Avoid caffeine and sugar.
- Avoid use of alcohol or drugs in an effort to cope.
Resources - Internet sites:
Notes on Treatment
If posttrauma symptoms have been present for more than three months and you have not already done so, seek an assessment with a mental health
professional. Treatment selection depends on many factors including how long symptoms have been present, how severe the symptoms are and whether
there are complications such as a co-occurring depression or substance abuse problems. Treatment may include individual, group or family therapy
as well as medication. A mental health professional can assist you in determining the best course of care for you.
Remember that Working Solutions has a virtual library full of information on these and other topics...go to their site, and look at Today's Library™ for the topics that best suit your situation. Call them anytime at 800-358-8515 to talk with someone now.
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