Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may appear after a traumatic or stressful event has occurred such as a natural disaster, assault, child abuse, war, imprisonment or combat.

There are three types of post traumatic stress disorder:

• Acute: symptoms last less than three months 
• Chronic: symptoms last longer than three months 
• Delayed: symptoms start at least six months after the actual trauma occurs

Signs of PTSD include:

• reliving the event
• feeling numb to one's surroundings
• startling easily 
• having feelings of guilt 
• developing loss of memory 
• experiencing a variety of nerve dysfunctions that control automatic body functions, called autonomic dysfunctions and disorders of thinking, memory, or concentration, called cognitive dysfunctions 
• experiencing feelings of dissatisfaction, depression and anxiety, called dysphoria 
• experiencing difficulties with concentration and sleep

The signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder fall into three categories:

1. Intrusive Symptoms

Intense memories and dreams of the event that are so vivid, it almost feels like the event is happening all over again.  These flashbacks can happen without obvious triggers and bring with them strong feelings. They may take the form of:  

• memories of the event 
• recurrent dreams of the event 
• sensations that the event is recurring, including illusions or misinterpreting things you see or hear as something else, hallucinations, or seeing or hearing things that are not there, and flashbacks, or reliving events as if they are occurring now 
• severe emotional upset at cues similar to experiences in the actual event 
• physical sensations that recall the event (occurring after exposure to outside cues or after internal memories)

2. Avoidance Symptoms

A person with post traumatic stress disorder might withdraw from people and situations in an attempt to stop the traumatic memories.  Some people with post traumatic stress disorder experience a deadening of their emotions;

• guilt at surviving when others did not, which is known as survivor guilt 
• trouble making and keeping healthy family, social or job relations   
• avoidance of activities, places or people that might bring the event to mind 
• trouble recalling key parts of the event 
• loss of interest in daily activities 
• feelings of detachment or emotional distance from others including trouble feeling love or affection 
• a sense of a shortened future, which might involve refusal to think or plan for the future

3. Arousal Symptoms

A person with post traumatic stress disorder is anxious and watchful. They might experience problems with sleeping and concentrating. Other symptoms include:

• problems sleeping, including trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or early morning waking   
• irritability and trouble managing anger   
• problems with memory and concentration   
• an exaggerated startle response, or being set off by surprising events 
• persistent anxiety   
• somatic body symptoms that may include headache, nausea, sweating, chest pain or dizziness 
• agitation, or feelings of restlessness 
• less ability to tolerate or control emotions 
• self-destructive behaviour, including alcohol and drug abuse, suicide attempts or acting out 
• feeling of being separate from self or from the world, called ‘dissociative’ symptoms

Treatment

Counselling after a traumatic experience can prevent post traumatic stress disorder from occurring. If untreated the long term effects of post traumatic stress disorder can mean relationship difficulties, job and legal problems and alcohol and drug abuse.

Medication is also an option for people with post traumatic stress disorder. Antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication may be prescribed to treat other disorders that result from the post traumatic stress disorder being present.

References:

Australian Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health.

Children, Youth, and Women Health Service.