Life After PTSD: How to Get There
After experiencing a frightening, shocking, or dangerous event it can be only natural to experience symptoms and reactions afterward. While not every person who experiences traumatic events will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it is a real possibility. In fact, according to a Mental Health America post, PTSD “affects over 12 million American adults (3.7% of the adult population) in any given year.” You are not alone.
PTSD symptoms can undermine your sense of security, amplifying fear and anxiety associated with your trauma. As PTSD progresses you can experience many other symptoms including but not limited to; numbness, panic, difficulty feeling close to others, avoidance, angry outbursts and decreased interest in things you once enjoyed. While these symptoms can feel powerful and overwhelming, recovery is possible, therapy can help.
PTSD: What Is It?
PTSD can develop as a result of traumatic events or experiences, such as abuse, serious accident, a life-threatening experience, natural catastrophe, traumatic loss, the list goes on.
PTSD is often experienced with a great deal of anxiety symptoms. Individuals with PTSD will often report chronic re-experiencing of the traumatic event through flashbacks, intrusive memories and/or nightmares. Due to the intrusive nature of these symptoms one can naturally move toward avoiding anything that reminds them of what happened, including people, places and even discussing what happened. Due to increased anxiety, one may also feel on edge or hypervigilant in all surroundings. Sleep can be affected as well as concentration, mood and motivation.
While some PTSD responses are useful in emergency situations, an individual with PTSD can experience the fight-or-flight response even when there is no real danger or emergency. This can cause additional symptoms such as headaches, diarrhea, muscle aches and pains, or irregular heartbeat. PTSD can also feel a lot like depression and/or general anxiety.
Understanding PTSD: Why Me?
If you are experiencing PTSD symptoms, you may be asking why this is happening to you. There is no clear-cut answer as to why some people develop PTSD in response to trauma where others do not. Regardless, you are not alone.
While many PTSD symptoms/responses can be adaptive in nature, it is apparent that the response can make you irritable, edgy, and unable to sleep well or relax. The high level of adrenaline can stop the brain, specifically the hippocampus (where memories are processed), from working properly. This means that it can block the proper or complete processing of memories. This is another reason why they can keep coming back in the forms of flashbacks and nightmares. It is important for the body to relax so that adrenaline levels can go back to normal. Therapy can help you learn effective tools to make this happen.
Are You Experiencing PTSD Symptoms?
If you have experienced a traumatic event within the past six months and are experienced some of the symptoms mentioned above, you may have PTSD. You may find yourself experiencing flashbacks and nightmares, impacting your sleep and daily functioning. These experiences can be so realistic that you feel as if it is happening all over again.
When you have distressing memories that you would rather forget, you will likely do your best to keep your thoughts busy with something else. This can lead to avoidance and numbing in an unconscious effort to shut off the memory of the painful experience. You may also find yourself using alcohol or drugs to numb your feelings and thoughts.
With a heightened fight-or-flight response, you may be alert or on guard most of the time, making you tired, sleepless, irritable, and jittery day in and day out.
Get the Help You Deserve
PTSD is treatable, recovery is possible. With the help of a therapist contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Pittsboro, NC, your symptoms can be assessed and treated, you can return to normal everyday functioning. There are a number of treatment options available to help you find relief and enjoy your life. PTSD is challenging, but there is hope. Take control of your life and thoughts. Call us at Carolina Counseling Services – Pittsboro, NC.