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Understanding Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
There’s a lot of confusion surrounding many mental health conditions, especially post-traumatic stress disorder. That’s because this psychiatric disorder, also known as PTSD, gained widespread attention because of military combat.
However, PTSD isn’t a condition exclusive to soldiers. Instead, it impacts people of all ages and walks of life.
In the United States alone, approximately 3.1% of adults experience this disorder each year. Estimates also show that 1 in 11 will receive a diagnosis during their lifetime.
Unfortunately, PTSD can make it difficult for people to cope and function in everyday life. However, effective treatment can reduce the symptoms of this condition and restore function.
Caroline Bjorkman, DO, specializes in treating mental health disorders like PTSD at Mind Space Wellness, LLC. She also understands the confusion many people have about their symptoms and conditions.
In this blog, Dr. Bjorkman offers insight into PTSD and how she can help.
PTSD basics
Perhaps the most obvious and confusing aspect of post-traumatic stress disorder involves the word “traumatic.”
Why? Because it causes people to make assumptions about what a traumatic event is — for instance, military combat or war.
Instead, a traumatic event can be any stressful event that upsets you. That includes something you witnessed, experienced directly, or learned that happened to someone you know.
These events can also happen in an instant or last a long time.
Examples of traumatic events associated with PTSD include:
- Sudden illness or severe injury
- Serious accidents
- Physical, verbal, or sexual abuse
- Physical or sexual assault
- Bullying
- The sudden death of a loved one
- Natural disasters
While these events can be upsetting for anyone, PTSD can trigger an intense and intrusive lasting response that can impact a person’s emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
Signs of PTSD
Exposure to traumatic events can trigger PTSD in up to 10% of individuals. However, it can take time for the symptoms to arise, and they typically fall into four different categories.
1. Intrusive memories
First, it’s common for someone to experience unwanted dreams and memories of the traumatic event. Some can even relive the experience in lifelike detail — a moment referred to as a flashback.
2. Avoidance
When living with PTSD, a person may take steps to avoid anything associated with the traumatic event. This can range from not talking or thinking about the experience to avoiding people, places, or things that remind them of it.
3. Negative thinking and mood
This category of symptoms occurs when negative changes develop about the self, others, or even the world.
Additional signs of negative thinking and mood include:
- Problems experiencing positive feelings
- Challenges in maintaining close relationships
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Lack of interest in things once enjoyed
- Detachment from friends and family
- Feeling emotionally numb
It’s also common to develop memory problems, including not remembering critical details from the traumatic event.
4. Changes in physical and emotional responses
Finally, people with PTSD can also experience arousal symptoms. These behaviors can range from constantly being on guard, anxious, and startled easily to problems sleeping and concentrating.
For some people with PTSD, they can also seem irritable or aggressive, self-destructive, or overwhelmed with shame or guilt.
Finding help for PTSD
The most important thing to know about PTSD is that there’s help available.
Dr. Bjorkman also reminds people that you don’t have to diagnose yourself. If you find yourself struggling with your mental or emotional health, schedule an appointment at Mind Space Wellness, LLC, for a psychiatric assessment and personalized treatment plan.
When treating PTSD symptoms, Dr. Bjorkman often uses a combination of approaches, including medications, talk therapy, and support groups. She also encourages her patients to establish healthy lifestyle habits, especially regarding diet and sleeping, that support optimal wellness.
Conditions like PTSD can derail your entire life, but they don’t have to. Dr. Bjorkman has the tools you need to regain a sense of control again.
Could you have PTSD? Contact Mind Space Wellness, LLC, to schedule a consultation in Fort Lee, New Jersey, or the Upper West Side in New York City today.