2. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms
Symptoms of PTSD
According to clinical definitions, PTSD symptoms are characterised by intense fear, a sense of helplessness and horror. They invariably include the feeling that one's life has been threatened, which can lead to a desire to blame others or feel shame and guilt that one could not do more to master the situation.
Crucially, full-blown PTSD significantly impairs one's ability to function on normal social and professional levels. Again, it cannot be stressed enough that a selection of symptoms may come and go after a traumatic event which do not in themselves indicate PTSD. But if you find that you can no longer perform the simple tasks that used to comprise your daily life, you may very well need to seek help.
PTSD can include every one of the symptoms of cumulative stress and burnout mentioned above. But a clinical diagnosis of PTSD can only be made if symptoms are clearly present across three major categories.
Symptoms of PTSD
The unwanted reliving or re-experiencing of the traumatic event. This can involve vivid flashbacks, nagging memories, or intrusive thoughts and images over which one seemingly has no control. Nightmares and anxiety dreams are another common form of intrusion, along with intense distress at real or symbolic reminders of the original trauma. These can all be so realistic that it feels as if one is actually living through the experience again.
PTSD fully triggers the Fight or Flight mechanism in the human body (Link above). This begins with a state of extreme alertness known as hypervigilance and soon leads to intense nervousness and jumpiness. Sufferers are easily startled by unexpected noises and are quick to respond with either irritability or aggressive behaviour. Sleep is often disturbed and it becomes difficult to concentrate.
When a human being experiences a trauma that is simply too much to comprehend fully, the individual will unconsciously seek to distance themselves from the event in an attempt to avoid the unbearable feelings associated with it. This can take many forms. At its most basic level, this can mean hyperactivity and overwork as a way of keeping the mind occupied, or the physical avoidance of people or places linked to the event. At subtler levels, an individual may become emotionally numb and detached from others, lose the ability to experience pleasure and express affection, or start believing that there is no point in planning for the future. (Severe cases may move in to what is known as "dissociation", in which a person's memory is effectively switched off.)
Trauma Tip - Conditions Associated with PTSD
It is now widely recognised that PTSD can lead directly to a range of separate disorders, including depression, alcohol and drug abuse and other anxiety disorders. Recent research, however, has revealed that people with severe depression can test positive for PTSD, even if they have never experienced a direct trauma. The same may apply to those with addiction problems. So before rushing to the assumption that you are suffering from PTSD, it is vital that you consult a doctor or a mental health professional for an accurate diagnosis of the problem. It is no use getting treated for PTSD, if you actually require treatment for depression or alcoholism. New Scientist article on PTSD.
Trauma tip - PTSD and Relationships
PTSD can have a devastating effect on relationships. Warning signs include a wall of silence from the partner suffering from PTSD. Conversely, he or she may not be able to stop talking about the event. Other symptoms include a loss of interest in sex, feelings of failure, disinterest in family life and a lack of understanding about the impact that that is having. All of this can be a real strain on partners and other family members. By far and away the best way to help is to listen without judgement and try to provide a stable and consistent environment for the person who is struggling to recover. See below for other forms of help and treatment.
Which of the following is not a category of PTSD symptoms?
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Right answer! Aggression may be at times be a symptom of PTSD, but a clinical diagnosis can only be made in relation to the three categories of Intrusion, Avoidance and Arousal.
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