Understanding PTSD

Learn More About PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an illness that occurs after someone has been exposed to an overwhelming or stressful event that has caused the person to experience a significant amount of distress. These severe feelings of distress can lead those who suffer from PTSD to find difficulty functioning appropriately on a daily basis as they may being experiencing things such as vivid flashbacks, periods of depersonalization, and debilitating anxiety that cause dysfunction in various areas of their lives. Many times, traumatic experiences will involve a violation of a person’s familiar ideas about the world and his or her basic human rights, which can lead to strong feelings of insecurity and confusion.

There are a vast number of different events that can lead a person to experience PTSD, including, but not limited to:

War
Terrorist attacks
Natural disasters
Car accidents
Plane crashes
Experiencing the sudden, unexpected death of a family member or loved one

Statistics

Statistics of PTSD

The projected lifetime risk for individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in the United States is 8.7%, while the yearly prevalence rates are estimated to be around 3.5%. Currently, PTSD is believed to affect approximately 7.7 million adults in the U.S. and an estimated 5% of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18.

Causes & Risks

Causes and Risk Factors for PTSD

The causes and risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder are characterized differently than those associated with other mental disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) breaks down whether or not people will develop post-traumatic stress disorder following a traumatic event based on the presence of certain risk factors and resiliency factors. The NIMH defines risk factors as characteristics that make people more susceptible to developing the disorder, while resiliency factors are aspects that work towards reducing the likelihood that someone will develop the disorder following a traumatic or stressful event. Listed below are some examples of possible risk factors and resiliency factors that are believed to play a role in whether or not an individual will develop post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of experiencing a traumatic event:

Risk Factors:

Being exposed to extreme violence
Suffering from physical abuse and/or neglect
Being sexually abused
Being emotionally abused
Family history of mental illness
Being exposed to extreme violence
Living through natural disasters that have devastating consequences on the world directly around them

Resiliency Factors:

Having people around them who can help them regain feelings of safety
Having healthy coping mechanisms that can be successfully applied in the aftermath of a traumatic event
Being removed from a situation that could potentially cause future harm
Receiving therapeutic interventions such as individual therapy, group therapy support, and/or possible medication implementation (such as anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications)

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

Symptoms of PTSD commonly appear within three months following the traumatic event. However, there are times when symptoms may not appear for years following the event. Symptoms of PTSD cause significant problems in social, work, and interpersonal relationships and include:

Intrusive symptoms:

Recurrent, unwanted, distressing memories of the event
Vivid flashbacks where the person feels as though he or she is reliving the trauma
Night terrors
Experiencing severe emotional or physical reactions when faced with a situation that reminds him or her of the trauma

Avoidance symptoms:

Trying to avoid thinking about or discussing the event
Avoiding people, places and situations that act as reminders of the trauma

Negative alterations in thinking and mood symptoms:

Negative feelings about oneself or others
Inability to experience positive emotions
Feeling emotionally numb or detached
Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities
Hopelessness about the future
Lapses in memory
Difficulty maintaining close relationships

Changes in emotional reactions and arousal symptoms:

Irritability, angry outbursts, aggressive behaviors
Hyperarousal, always feeling on guard for danger
Overwhelming feelings of guilt or shame
Self-destructive behaviors
Trouble concentrating
Trouble sleeping
Easily startled or frightened

Symptoms of PTSD in children and teens:

While children and teens can have extreme reactions to trauma, some of their symptoms will present differently than they do in adults. Symptoms of PTSD in children and teens may include:

Bedwetting
Refusing to speak (selective mutism)
Acting out scary events using toys
Being unusually clingy
Participating Disruptive, disrespectful, destructive behaviors

Effects

Effects of PTSD

While PTSD can be a debilitating illness, it is often successfully managed through a combination of medications and therapeutic interventions. If left untreated, PTSD can cause a great number of consequences, including:

Depression
Trouble with interpersonal relationships
Challenges with memory and concentration
Poor academic and work performance
Excessive anxiety
Drug or alcohol abuse and addiction
Eating disorders
Self-harming behaviors
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Please remember, it is never too late to receive treatment for you or your loved one suffering from PTSD.

Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-Occurring Disorders & the Complexity of PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder often develops in people who have existing mental health problems, causing symptoms to be further exacerbated. These co-occurring mental health disorders may include: