Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental health condition that develops after a terrifying or shocking experience. It is normal to be afraid during and after a traumatic event because fear is the body’s natural flight or fight response, which alerts a person of danger. When people go through these experiences, they are expected to get better and move on with time and self-care, so if you are unable to adjust, move on or cope with a scary experience, then you may have PTSD. 

Post-traumatic stress disorder can go on for a long time and can disrupt a person’s life for years after the occurrence of a traumatic event. It is characterised by nightmares, difficulty sleeping, flashbacks, and anxiety. In this case, treatment is needed to reduce symptoms and restore function. 

Causes

A traumatic event usually triggers post-traumatic stress disorder.

Examples include:

• Terrorists attack.
• Personal assault.
• Rape or other types of abuse.
• Military service.
• Serious accidents.
• Being a victim of crime.
• Natural disasters.
• Loss of a loved one.
• Receiving a life-threatening diagnosis.

Any event or situation that causes shock, fear, horror, or helplessness can lead to PTSD. However, it seems to be unclear why people can go through the same experiences, and some will develop PTSD while others will not. So, the following risk factors are known to increase a person’s chances of developing the condition.

• Lacking social support after the event.
• Having additional problems after the event, such as getting raped and contracting a disease, or losing a loved one and losing your job.
• Getting a physical injury or becoming disabled as a result of the event.
• Experiencing abuse for a long time, especially during childhood. 
• Having a history of other medical conditions such as acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, disinhibited social engagement disorder, etc.

Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

The symptoms of this condition include:

• Unwanted, recurrent, distressing memories of the traumatic event.
• Upsetting dreams about the event.
• Flashbacks.
• Emotional distress or physical reaction to things that remind you of the event.
• Trying to avoid talking or thinking about the event.
• Avoiding people, places and activities that remind you of your traumatic experience.
• Being easily startled.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Overwhelming guilt or shame.
• Always being on guard for danger.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Self-destructive behaviour.
• Aggressive behaviour or anger outbursts.
• Hopelessness about the future.
• Feeling emotionally numb.
• Difficulty remembering what happened.
• Feeling detached from friends and family.
• Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
• Difficulty maintaining close relationships. 

Treatment

Post-traumatic stress disorder can be completely treated even if the symptoms develop years after the event, but treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms. The following treatment options may be recommended.

• Talking therapies such as eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) or trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
• Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications such as sertraline or paroxetine.
• Watchful waiting to see if symptoms will improve without treatment.