5 Things Everyone Should Know About PTSD

Trauma is something we are all bound to experience at some point in time. Whether it’s due to losing a loved one or going through a horrific accident, trauma exists in all shapes and sizes and can evoke a range of reactions within us. While some of those reactions are subtle, others can be much more serious. It’s possible to experience stress, difficulty paying attention, sleep problems, and a number of other problems as a result. However, if certain symptoms persist for a long period of time, they could lead to a diagnosis of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Most people associate PTSD with military combats and shootings. While it is likely for survivors of these events to go through it, the disorder has the ability to affect anyone who has ever been exposed to a traumatic event (s).

When it comes to PTSD treatment, South Florida has a number of facilities to cater to your needs. However, before we get there, here are five things everyone should know about the disorder.

The Duration and Onset Tends to Vary

Most PTSD symptoms are expected if someone has been exposed to a traumatic event, but the onset and duration can differ in every case. For example, some people may experience chronic PTSD (with symptoms for six months or more), while others may have symptoms for a much smaller duration (less than six months).

It’s also possible that people have PTSD, but their symptoms reduce in intensity over time or even go away for a while but come back after watching a triggering movie, for instance. There is no particular way to determine 

how or at what time someone may experience the onset of symptoms.

Risk Factors Play a Strong Role

The biggest risk factor for developing PTSD is nonetheless witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. However, the likelihood of developing it also has to do with certain risk factors. For example, people who have been through the following have a higher risk of developing PTSD.

• Warlike events or combats
• Natural disasters
• Brutal violence
• Child abuse
• Sexual assault
• Medical incidents 
• Vehicle accidents

However, the list isn’t limited to the stated events only. As per the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health), there are also some additional risk factors that include:

• Physical stress after a traumatic event such as an injury or pain
• Not getting enough social support after a trauma

Exposure Therapy is Effective In Some Cases

While reliving the experience can seem counterintuitive, the same can also help people with the disorder learn how to react to triggers and manage their symptoms effectively. However, exposure therapy should only be tried with a qualified and trusted therapist in a safe environment. 

The procedure consists of the therapist subtly guiding you to go back to the traumatic incident in your mind. Using their assistance further, you can reduce your fear by changing the way you think about that experience.

Flashbacks Aren’t Experienced the Same Way.

Flashbacks are commonly associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but it is possible for some people to not experience them at all. Some flashbacks tend to be very vivid, taking you back to the event just the way it happened, and there could be triggers involved such as visions, smell, and sound. However, other times, people may only have the memory of a traumatic incident without any extreme flashbacks. 

Children Can Also Develop PTSD

There’s no age limit when it comes to experiencing the effects of trauma at some point in time. It’s often assumed that only adults develop the disorder due to something that may have happened to them during childhood, but that’s not the case. Unfortunately, children can also suffer from PTSD as a result of several events such as abuse or neglect. The higher the severity of the trauma, the greater the chances of developing PTSD. 

The Final Call

In the end, it’s important to understand that you don’t necessarily have to be a first-hand victim of trauma to develop PTSD. You can also have it if someone close to you had suffered an extreme event or had died as a result. However, the earlier you intervene and get treated, the better it is. 

The hardest part about dealing with PTSD is feeling that you’re alone in it with very limited options. However, that’s not the case. The highly knowledgeable and professional staff at the Sands Treatment Center, South Florida, knows what it takes to help you lead a healthier life. Call them today at (844)200-2509 for a consultation.