PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and is considered to be a nervous disorder that affects millions of individuals across the globe. It is usually caused by a person or through going through a disturbing event, including war, natural calamities, a machine-related mishap, rape, or other equivalent incidents. Even though PTSD is a fairly recognised diagnosis, the general public still tends to underestimate or overlook it. Therefore, this article seeks to provide the reader with more information on PTSD, briefly discuss some of the symptoms of this stress disorder, and stress that healing has to start from within.
Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is not just stress or anxiety of an unpleasant situation; rather, it is a disorder that can make an individual’s life nearly impossible. Effects of PTSD can include reliving the trauma through flashbacks and nightmares, powerful feelings of the event, and avoiding things that may remind the person of the trauma. This disorder can also affect one’s mood and behaviour, which may include having a feeling of being disconnected or irritable, anger management issues or an abnormal startle reflex.
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People should not underestimate the fact that PTSD does not spare anyone, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. Although this condition is strongly linked with veterans, it is for people who have experienced a traumatic event in their lives. This is the people who have been involved in accidents, natural disasters, or crimes such as sexual or physical assault and even those who were proximal witnesses to the violence or death of a dear one.
Symptoms of PTSD
The symptoms of PTSD can vary from person to person but generally fall into four main categories: The symptoms of PTSD can vary from person to person but generally fall into four main categories:
- Intrusive Memories: This includes points such as flashbacks, nightmares and, reexperience of the traumatic event, distressing thoughts. These abnormal thoughts could be stressful and hamper the effective functioning of an individual in his or her daily life.
- Avoidance: PTSD patients may actively avoid stimuli that may be associated with traumatic events, such as persons, places or objects. They could also avoid discussing the event with friends or other members of their families to prevent other feelings related to the event.
- Negative Changes in Mood and Thought Patterns: This can: result in hopelessness, withdrawal from social interaction, and anhedonia, or the lack of interest in previously pleasurable activities. People might also experience problems with memory, including the one related to the traumatic event.
- Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions: Some of these are called hyperarousal symptoms such as; having increased startle responses or being prone to sudden outbursts, increased watchfulness, insomnia, and increased temper or tendencies towards anger .
Awareness ERA of the Importance An Analysis of Raising
PTSD should be publicised for the following reasons. Firstly, it assists in demystifying mental health problems as they are clothed with a positive image. This is because most of the individuals suffering from PTSD may not seek any assistance from other people or get treated because they have the feeling that people will judge or misunderstand them. This way, raising awareness will be beneficial in the sense that people will not feel ashamed to seek help and share the stories that happened to them.
Secondly, awareness makes sure that an issue is handled when it is still minor and thus does not become serious. It is also important to point out that earlier diagnosis and therapy of PTSD are more effective. The prognosis of the disorder depends on such factors as signs and symptoms and early intervention from mental health workers.
In the last place, awareness fosters support within affected populations because when interested parties are aware of a disease, they will support programs aimed at combating that disease. As more people gain awareness about PTSD and how it impacts people’s lives, then they are going to extend their support and care for such persons. This can mean a lot in the aspect of healing since more research has shown that social support is an essential aspect in the healing process.
Healing from Within
PTSD is a process of recovery that may call for pharmacological as well as psychological treatments and a focus on the patient’s well-being and social networks. PTSD can be treated by medicines as well as therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which tries to reform the way a person perceives a particular event and helps her or him develop healthy ways of handling certain situations. A common intervention sometimes is the use of drugs to control symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
But there is also healing from WITHIN, which is very important in the process of healing. This includes being consciously aware of the thoughts and feelings as well as the use of techniques such as meditation to relax the mind and body and the use of the mind and body to engage in constructive activities that would make one feel good. Other areas that may help in the healing process include the ability to be resilient, develop healthy relationships with other people, and find meaning or purpose in life. The message to remember always is that healing from trauma is possible, and people living with PTSD can rebuild and get their lives back and get relief from it.
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