PTSD

 Authored by betssy thomson

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop after being exposed to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault or child abuse. It is a psychiatric disorder. PTSD is also known as "shell shock" or "battle fatigue" due to its cause, which was historically war

What symptoms can be seen?

Dr. Howard E. Lewine defines post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as flashbacks (re-experiencing trauma), avoidance (avoiding triggers and staying away from them), and depression (being constantly in a negative mood). According to AI, the symptoms include flashbacks, hypervigilance, exaggerated responses, depression, chronic pain (physical uneasiness), panic, feeling unreal, nightmares, avoidance, reckless/self-destructive behavior, memory loss, and suicidal ideation

Are there many types of this disorder?

Yes, there are various types of PTSD. One example is co-morbid post-traumatic stress disorder, which is a common type of PTSD. A person with co-morbid PTSD has multiple mental health issues, such as anxiety disorder, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, or substance use disorder.

Another type of PTSD is complex PTSD, which occurs when a person is exposed to trauma multiple times over the course of months or years. Complex PTSD occurs during childhood or adulthood, and its symptoms include chronic pain and fatigue.

Another type is acute stress disorder, which is similar to PTSD but develops symptoms more quickly (3 days or one month after a traumatic event). Each traumatic event has a different chance of causing an acute stress disorder. According to psychcentral.com, symptoms of acute stress disorder are the same as those of PTSD and can occur after “directly experiencing a trauma, witnessing an event as it occurred to someone close to you, learning that an event happened to someone close to you, and having repeated exposure to extreme or repeated details of a traumatic event.

 Uncomplicated PTSD is similar to other types of PTSD and shares symptoms such as avoidance and flashbacks; however, the main difference is that uncomplicated PTSD is not associated with any mental health issues, such as depression.

Normal stress response can cause PTSD, but not all normal stress responses progress to PTSD. Triggers include being extremely stressed or under constant tension, as well as accidents. The stress response triggers the body's fight-or-freeze response and activates adrenaline.

Dissociative PTSD causes a person to detach from their sense of self (depersonalization) or the environment they are in. Dissociative PTSD can develop in the early stages of life, and patients may believe they are reliving the traumatic event

 Works Cited

1. ByLauren Krouse PTSD: What It Is and How to Cope (verywellhealth.com), Updated on November 14, 2023.

2. Dr. Howard E. Lewine. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Ask Health Professionals (msn.com). 3. Types of PTSD I Psych Central, Last medically reviewed on May 24, 2021