Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is related to the emotions of people and it can be developed after a traumatic event. This disorder may threaten your safety feelings and may make you feel hapless always. It is quite normal to feel sad, disconnected, anxious, and frightened after a traumatic experience. This upset fades away during the course of time and you may start to enjoy your life again. However, sometimes, trauma can engulf you completely and it may land you in constant sense of painful memories and danger.

If you witnessed or experienced a traumatic event in your life, and feel that you are unable to get back to your normal life, you may be under the grip of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. You may also feel that you cannot lead a normal life again, but it is possible if you get the right treatment. You must also develop certain skills to overcome the present situation.

Events Lead to PTSD

The impact of trauma can be different from individual to individual. Most commonly, the symptoms of PTSD can be developed for hours, days or weeks after the traumatic event. However, sometimes, the symptoms may inflict people for months or even years. Traumatic events, which cause Post-traumatic Stress Disorder are:

* Natural or man-made disasters like fire or flood
* War
* Violent assaults like rape
* Sexual or physical abuse
* Plane or car accidents
* Kidnapping
* Terrorist attacks
* Childhood neglect
* Sudden death of of a loved one
* Diagnose with life threatening diseases
* Senseless acts of violence like shooting in neighborhood or school
* Prison stay
* Domestic abuse, etc

Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

The symptoms of PTSD may appear suddenly, gradually, or intermittently. Some noises, images, smell, or some words can remind you the original traumatic event. Though the experience of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder differ from people to people, the symptoms can be grouped in to three main categories. They are:

* Reliving the event
* Avoidance
* Arousal

Reliving the Event

In reliving or re-experiencing the event, people may feel or act like the event happens again and again. There will also be upsetting or intrusive memories of events. There may nightmares relating to the event or other frightening things. Strong and uncomfortable reactions may remind you the traumatic event. People may also experience some intense physical reactions such as rapid breathing, pounding heart, sweating, muscle tension, or nausea.

Avoidance

During this condition, you may feel detached or emotional numbing. Such people may not care about anything. Depression, avoiding places, thoughts, or people, which remind you the event, lack of interest in normal activities, unable to remember important aspects of trauma, etc are the other symptoms.

Arousal

During this stage, people feel difficulty in concentration, and they startle very easily. Hypervigilance, uncontrollable anger, trouble to falling or staying asleep, irritability, etc are the other symptoms.

People with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder may also experience some other symptoms such as:

* Substance abuse
* Shame, guilt, or self-blame
* Physical pains and aches
* Lonely feeling
* Suicidal thoughts
* Depression
* Hopelessness
* Feeling of mistrust
* Anger and irritability

PTSD Symptoms among Children

The symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among children are different from the symptoms in adult. Children may lose their previously acquired skills like toilet training if they suffer Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Irritability, aggression, pains and aches without cause, new phobias and anxieties, sleep problems, etc are the other symptoms of PTSD among children.

Treatment for PTSD

If you feel that you or your loved one has PTSD, it can be cured by providing treatment on the right time. Treatment helps people to deal with the trauma they faced. If people with PTSD get treatment during the early stage of this disorder, they can relieve from the symptoms before it becomes worse. Treatment helps you to explore your thoughts and feelings regarding the traumatic event. It is also beneficial for finding ways to face and control intrusive memories. You can also solve problems relating to PTSD in your life and relationships.

Types of Treatment

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This is a trauma focused therapy and it carefully exposes people with PTSD to feelings, thoughts, and situations, which remind them the traumatic event. By identifying the upsetting thoughts of trauma, this therapy helps people to cultivate positive thoughts. This helps them to control their mind.

Medication

In order to get relief from secondary symptoms of anxiety and depression, the physicians prescribe certain medications to people with PTSD. The most common medicines used for PTSD are antidepressants like Zoloft and Prozac. Though antidepressants help you to deal with depression and anxiety, these cannot cure the causes of PTSD.

Family Therapy

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder not only affects one individual. But it disrupts the life of the other family members too. Therefore family therapy has greater role in PTSD treatment. Proper counseling and guidance help family members to look after people with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder effectively.

Importance of Finding the Right Therapist

If you are in search of a therapist for treating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, you should approach a mental health professional with specialization in treating trauma and PTSD. Experience and credentials have very impact on PTSD treatment. Instead, you should seek the comfort level and safety feeling of patients. Psychologists, psychiatrists, bereavement specialists, licensed trauma professionals, licensed professional counselors, and licensed clinical social workers can treat patients with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

Self Help Treatment

You cannot expect a rapid recovery from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, because it is a gradual process. The memories of traumatic events will also not disappear completely. However, there are lots of ways to cure the symptoms of PTSD. After a traumatic event, you may feel that you are disconnected from others. There are chances of keeping away from all social activities. You can overcome this problem by joining in a support group of the survivors the same type of trauma.

Tendency to self medicate with drugs and alcohol is very high among people with PTSD. They may provide you temporary relief, but they aggravate the problem in the long run. These substances also worsen the symptoms of PTSD, such as social isolation, emotional numbing, depression and anger.

You can easily deal Post-traumatic Stress Disorder if you overcome your sense of helplessness. You may feel powerless or vulnerable after a trauma. But you should tell to your mind that you have power and skills to overcome the present situation.

Handling Patients with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

If your loved one is in PTSD, you should show patience and hear his/her problem with a sympathetic ear. It is also essential to anticipate and prepare for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder triggers. You should not allow the symptoms of PTSD to disrupt your relationship with your loved one. If the person is not ready to talk, you should not pressurize him/her. Dealing people with PTSD is very challenging, but just like the patients, the family members also should show some courage to help people to cure Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.