post traumatic stress disorder

what can trigger symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder

the experience of a traumatic event or chronic exposure to trauma

what is post traumatic stress disorder

refers to a set of symptoms that can emerge following the experience of a traumatic event that involves exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or violence

what can PTSD result from

-directly experiencing a traumatic event

-witnessing, in person, a traumatic event happening to someone else

-learning that a traumatic event has happened to a close family member or friend

without treatment, what could happen to people who expereince PTSD

PTSD can become a chronic problem and place the individual at higher risks of developing other mental health problems

symptoms of PTSD

-a sense of reliving the traumatic event (experiencing unwanted and distressing thoughts or images, flashbacks and nightmares

-avoidance and numbing (avoidance of people, places thoughts and activities associated with the traumatic event + feeling emotionally flat and disconnected from family

-negative thoughts + mood (persistent negative thoughts and moods about self, the world and others, and distorted views about the causes and consequences of the event)

-feeling wound up (irritable, angry, over-alert and experiencing difficulties concentrating, and staying asleep or falling asleep)

when do symptoms appear and when is diagnostic made

3 months after the traumatic event

diagnostic is made when the symptoms persist for more than one month and interfere in an individuals life and important areas of functioning

what factors make it more likely that a person will experience PTSD

differences in the sympathetic nervous system, which controls hormone levels involved with stress such as adrenalin, as well as brain circuitry related to anxiety repsonses may differe between individuals who expereince and dont expereince PTSD

how is PTSD treated

clinical psychologists treat people with PTSD, one type of treatment is cognitive behaviour therapy