Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms vary; however, it’s essential to be familiar with them and know how to cope.

We have heard about soldiers who returned from combat with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People who have never been in a combat situation but have been exposed to stressful situations can experience this disorder.

These situations threaten their perception of personal safety concerning events such as rape, accidents, and kidnapping. Acts of terrorism, physical abuse, natural disasters, and sudden death of a loved one can trigger PTSD.

PTSD Symptoms

PTSD symptoms

Each person may manifest post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms differently, but some symptoms are common to all:

  1. Re-living the trauma in the form of nightmares, frightening thoughts, and experiencing the first event, with or without physical symptoms such as sweating and palpitations. The triggers can include dreams, thoughts, words, sounds, or situations that remind the person of the event.
  2. Avoiding reminders of the trauma, whether they be places, thoughts, activities, or objects.
  3. Being easily startled, anxious, and experiencing depression may be constant features that steadily increase feelings of anger or stress, and these feelings may prevent the person from doing routine tasks, or they may have difficulty concentrating or falling – and staying – asleep.
  4. Changes in thinking and mood such as the inability to remember key points about the trauma, feeling guilt or blame, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, or negative feelings about self or others or society.

Other symptoms may include substance abuse, physical aches, and pains, suicidal thoughts, and feelings of distrust or betrayal.

PTSD symptoms can affect anyone at any age and could take days, weeks, or months to manifest. Children may show different symptoms such as loss of previous skills, irrational fear, separation anxiety, acting out the trauma during play or story-telling, or via drawings of the trauma.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Effects Of PTSD Symptoms On The Brain

Changes do occur within the brain matter as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. The changes occur in the areas known as the hippocampus, amygdala, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The areas control different responses and are affected to a greater or lesser degree:

The Hippocampus

Located in the medial temporal lobe it is responsible for memory function and reduces in size in people who have ongoing PTSD, causing them to lose the ability to interpret situations objectively, resulting in the triggering of extreme responses to conditions that slightly resemble the traumatic event.

The Amygdala

Located near the hippocampus it plays a role in memory, as well as emotional reactions and decision-making. This part of the brain becomes hyperactive in people with PTSD, making them overreact to stimuli and experience recurring flashbacks.

The Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex

Found in the brain’s frontal lobe it plays a role in decision-making and the inhibition of emotional responses. The decrease in size as a result of PTSD can also lead to overreaction to stimuli.

The sooner treatment is started, the better the prospects of reversing the damage. Why do some people get PTSD while others don’t? Some of the factors are:

  • Getting hurt or seeing others get hurt and die.
  • Feeling helpless or experiencing extreme fear.
  • Having a pre-existing mental illness.
  • Little or no support after the event.

Treatment For PTSD Symptoms

Every person’s experience is unique, and there is no single successful treatment for everyone. There are many different types of therapy, and one type may not be effective in treating some of the people who have experienced a traumatic event, such as a terror attack or car accident. Some people will be able to recover from the event, but others won’t.

And telling someone to “get over it” is not going to work. If it were that simple, PTSD would not exist. Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder includes psychotherapy and medication.

Psychotherapy

This is a term for therapy that involves talking to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or any other mental health practitioner. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

It helps people to recognize and challenge their negative feelings and emotions to develop coping skills that will address and eliminate their unwanted behavioral patterns, emotional problems, and/or depression.

Exposure Therapy

It enables PTSD sufferers to gradually face the thoughts or places they previously avoided that are related to a traumatizing event. Virtual reality computer programs are a great option. Gradual desensitization occurs, and the PTSD symptoms decrease.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy I

It is an eight-phase treatment that combines cognitive behavioral therapy and specific eye movements to help the PTSD sufferer to regain their normal coping mechanisms.

Medication for PTSD Symptoms

Different types of drugs may be prescribed by a psychiatrist for PTSD, such as anti-depressants and or anti-anxiety medication. These are not “magic pills” and will not take effect after the first dose, but rather provide a gradual improvement in the level of depression and decreased anxiety and stress over time.

Tell your doctor about unwanted side-effects as soon as possible so that the medication can be reviewed and amended accordingly.

Coping with PTSD

coping with PTSD symptoms

Once you have seen your healthcare professional, you can include these steps to further your recovery:

  • Follow and persevere with the treatment plan. Recovery takes time.
  • Avoid alcohol, drugs, caffeine, and nicotine as these will negate your treatment.
  • Take care of yourself – rest when necessary, eat correctly, exercise, get a good night’s sleep, and take up a hobby.
  • Join PTSD support groups. Being with people who also have PTSD and understand how you feel can be reassuring.

Supporting Someone With PTSD Symptoms

support for PTSD symptoms

Although you might not be able to imagine what the person is experiencing, there are steps you can take to support your friend or family member:

  • Learn about PTSD.
  • Be willing to listen when they want to talk, but also accept that the memories may be too painful to recall. Don’t force someone to speak if they’re not able to.
  • Attend doctors’ appointments and support groups if asked to.
  • Join Post-traumatic stress disorder support groups and get help from people who have experience with the disorder.
  • Plan activities to provide distractions.
  • Look after yourself and do speak to healthcare professionals if you need advice.
  • If the person with PTSD lives with you and has abusive or violent outbursts, have a plan to withdraw to a safe place.

Prevention of PTSD Symptoms

woman coping with PTSD symptoms

Is post-traumatic stress disorder preventable?

There are differing points of view amongst members of the medical health fraternity regarding this question. Some think it is, whilst others think it isn’t. What they do agree on is that early detection is vitally important.

Two types of preventive treatment:

1. Universal prevention: This would be aimed at people who, for example, have stressful occupations such as military personnel, policemen, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders; and all of them would receive early psychological debriefing after a particular event is recommended.

2. Targeted prevention: Although many people may be exposed to the same trauma, only some people might be at high risk of developing PTSD, and both psychological and pharmacological treatment would only be used for those identified.

One of the biggest barriers to overcome in the prevention of PTSD is that of people not seeking help because they fear they will be stigmatized if anyone finds out.

PTSD is a very serious condition. It can have life-altering effects on the sufferer and their amily, friends, and work. The reality is, though, that the sooner treatment begins, the less intense the disorder will be, and recovery will also be faster.

Final Thoughts

Finally, for greater insight into interacting with patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms or if you would like to chat with others affected by them, I highly recommend joining the app, WeAreMore.