Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) And Symptoms

Submitted by Kevin Pederson on August 11, 2009

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is often seen in people who have been exposed to a severe trauma. PTSD is an anxiety disorder which may be caused when a person is exposed to a particularly traumatic event, especially one which causes serious loss. This incident could be somebody else’s death, severe threat to one’s life, serious physical injury, or an attack on physical or emotional integrity. PTSD is most commonly seen in soldiers who are returning from a war or tour of duty as well as in victims of rape and violent crimes. A large percentage of a country’s population may be suffering from PTSD after a war. It is estimated that 7%–8% of the American population suffers from PTSD.

PTSD is defined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – IV edition or DSM-IV. In the earlier editions, it was defined as being caused by a single traumatic event, but is now accepted to also be caused by recurring exposure to traumatic events, or repeated exposure to horrifying sights (like accidents or war), or sudden exposure to violent deaths.

PTSD symptoms can be classified into three different categories.

Recurring episodes of re-experiencing the event that caused the trauma. For example, a person might have nightmares, troublesome memories or flashbacks caused by reminders of the events, or go thru episodes of reliving the event.

The person may display avoidance to the extreme, where he or she may almost reach a point of having a phobia of places, people and experiences. This person may withdraw from daily life, and avoid all situations that remind him (or her) of the trauma. There may also be a general numbness of emotions, and he or she may display bipolar symptoms.

Chronic signs of hyperarousal may also be seen. These include sleep problems like insomnia and night terrors, irritability, anger, poor concentration, blank patches in memory, and hypersensitivity to one’s surroundings.

PTSD treatment includes psychological therapies like Cognitive Therapy and Exposure Therapy. Medical treatment in the form of medication may also be used. Patients are made aware that they are suffering from PTSD, and explained that their problem comes from a traumatic experience, and not weakness. Patients are also trained to cope with the problems that PTSD brings, like anger and avoidance.

Alternative treatments can also be used to help with PTSD. Yoga has been found to benefit those suffering from this problem. This ancient Indian method of mental and physical exercise has great healing benefits. The aim of yoga is to bring together the mind, body and breath, and on this journey, bring people in touch with their inner feelings. Many sufferers have been taught yoga and report feeling much calmer, and are better able to accept the past. Yoga gives one an awareness of the body and mind, and has no negative benefits.