Introduction
Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is among a few mental disorders that are triggered by a disturbing outside event. PTSD is a state in which you "can't stop remembering."
Many victims of such event s have trouble coping with the experience, where the adjustment period could last from months to years.
Overview and Facts
Being a victim of the PTSD may often leads to other disorders such as drug & alcohol abuse, anxiety, depression including suicidal thoughts and actions.
Moreover PTSD might increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and symptoms such as: cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease).
According to studies done by IDRAAC, PTSD affects 3.4% of the Lebanese population. Also, among the people who have been subject to sexual assault, 16.8% have PTSD and among the persons who were subjected to rape for example, 98% have PTSD.
Symptoms
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder includes 3 types of symptoms:
- Intrusive memories: mostly manifests as flashbacks (could last from days to months), and upsetting dreams.
- Avoidance: Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the event.
- Anxiety
Having a wide range of emotions is normal after a traumatic event, but in case the symptoms last more than a month, with consistent intensity, or having thoughts about harming yourself or others around you, you should seek professional care as soon as possible.
Causes and Risk Factors
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can be triggered as a mix of factors:
- Early childhood experience
- Severity of trauma
- Regulation of hormones and chemicals in the brain as stress is released.
Although anyone can be a victim of PTSD, the likeliness is slightly increased if:
- Being a woman
- If you have been abused as a child
- You experienced trauma earlier in life
- You don’t have a support system
- You have family history of depression
Tests and Diagnosis
To diagnose PTSD, a person should consult a mental health professional who will rely on scientific criteria to check whether he/she has that disorder. The doctor will perform a full examination including a mental health assessment. Also, lab tests can be ordered to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
Treatment
PTSD is treated by a combination of therapy and medications.
- Medications: Antidepressants, Anti-anxiety medications, Antipsychotics.
- Psychotherapy: Cognitive therapy, Exposure therapy and Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
Sources and Links