Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – What it is and How it Develops

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an emotional condition in which a person has experienced frightening, life-threatening or otherwise distressing events that trigger emotions of fear, panic, or grief. For some individuals, such a traumatic event was the beginning of a substance abuse or other major mental illness. For others, the event was the straw that broke the camel’s back. When PTSD first appears, its symptoms may not be obvious. However, over time, they can become so severe that their effects can interfere with one’s everyday life.

As traumatic as some of these events may have been, however, the symptoms often do not appear until several months or even years later. Therefore, in order for anyone to establish PTSD, symptoms have to be present over a period of at least one year. When developing PTSD, it’s important for medical professionals to rule out any other potential conditions that could have caused the trauma. If this is not the case, the patient will most likely need to undergo additional treatment to address the PTSD as well.

The symptoms of PTSD vary greatly depending on the person experiencing them. For example, some people only feel heightened sensations during times of extreme stress or danger. Others may have symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts. Some sufferers even develop physical conditions as a result of the trauma. As a result, PTSD usually requires extensive treatment in a hospital or mental health clinic. Often, patients are put through long and arduous psychological exercises to help them cope with their feelings of helplessness and confusion.

If your child, spouse or loved one has developed PTSD, you should consider undergoing a form of post-traumatic stress disorder treatment to help them feel better and rebuild their lives. Although there is no known cure for PTSD, there are treatments available to help sufferers manage the symptoms of PTSD. In addition to psychotherapy, some medical professionals recommend drugs as forms of PTSD therapy. Common drugs used to treat PTSD include antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. Sometimes patients are also given opiate-based pain management medication to alleviate the physical and emotional pain associated with PTSD.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms of PTSD, doctors may prescribe a number of different medications to treat the trauma. Commonly prescribed medications for PTSD include anti-depressants, which are often used to treat depression and anxiety, and anticonvulsants, which are sometimes used to treat epilepsy and other types of seizure disorders. Other medications that can be prescribed by doctors to help patients manage symptoms of PTSD include beta blockers, anticonvulsants and beta agonists. Of these, beta blockers are the most commonly prescribed, as they provide patients with a way to control the physical symptoms of PTSD, such as headaches, nausea, diarrhea and excessive sweating. As with any medication, however, these medications carry the risk of dependency and other side effects.

A combination of psychotherapy, medication and behavioral therapy is also often recommended for patients who exhibit symptoms of PTSD. This type of treatment focuses on replacing negative behaviors with positive ones, which in turn helps the sufferer to feel more connected to their body and their emotions. This type of therapy is particularly effective for those who have experienced a history of abusive sexual abuse, as it allows them to recognize their triggers and develop an action plan to avoid their feelings of trauma. With this type of PTSD treatment, patients can learn to effectively manage their emotions and to deal with the physical symptoms of their trauma.

Substance use disorder (SUD) and depression are both considered risk factors for developing PTSD after a traumatic event. Many studies have demonstrated that women who have SUD and depression are at higher risk for developing PTSD. On the other hand, men who have SUD but no depression are not at increased risk for developing PTSD. Although substance use disorders are commonly associated with post-traumatic stress, there is not enough evidence to link these disorders with PTSD.

Unfortunately, researchers are only beginning to understand the complex interactions between genetics and trauma. Because PTSD can be caused by any number of experiences, it is possible that genes play a role in its development. Aside from genetics, environmental factors such as traumatic events may also be important in the development of PTSD. This is especially the case for children who witness domestic violence or sexual abuse. Other studies show that PTSD can be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain, which in turn may result from prolonged exposure to certain chemicals such as alcohol or caffeine. In these cases, treatment of the underlying chemical imbalance may prove to be beneficial in the long-term effects of PTSD.