Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD

This debilitating condition was first brought to public attention by war veterans. The essential feature of PTSD is the development of symptoms following an exposure to an extreme traumatic event. The exposure to the event can be either witnessed and/or directed at the person. Examples of traumatic events are car, jet, and train crashes, rape, incest, assault, torture, war crimes, kidnapping, learning about an unexpected or violent death, natural disasters, and terrorism. The list goes on and on.

Whatever the source of the problem, some people relive the trauma in the form of intrusive recollections, once, or several times a day. Ordinary events of the day can serve as reminders of the trauma and can trigger a flashback of the horrific event. The person can be reminded of the event in a variety of ways, such as: a smell, a taste, a sight, a sound, and by a sensation. A flashback can cause a significant amount of psychological and sometimes, physical pain and distress.

Many people affected with this disorder have trouble sleeping due to nightmares. The lack of sleep is accumulative. A person can become irritable, experience psychosis, and possibly participate in violence because of the loss of sleep, which only compounds the initial problem.

Stimulus that is associated with the traumatic event is persistently avoided by the affected individual. The person will make a conscience effort to avoid thoughts, feelings, and conversations about the event. The avoidant behavior can interfere with relationships. This may cause marital problems, divorce, and loss of a job.

The good news is, not everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops PTSD. The symptoms usually appear within 3 months after the traumatic event and lasting more than a month. Sometimes the symptoms will disappear within 6 months but, others may have the symptoms for the rest of their lives. In other cases, the symptoms will show up several years after the event.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders the associated features to this disorder are: self destructive and impulsive behavior, increased startle response, outbursts of anger, little future orientation, somatic complaints, feeling ineffective, shame, despair, hopelessness, the loss of previously sustained beliefs, hostility, and social withdraw, and feeling constantly threatened.

PTSD is associated with increased rates of depression, substance abuse, panic disorder, social phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, other anxiety disorders, and sometimes bipolar disorder.

The physical body is very commonly, in a constant state of high anxiety or arousal. An increased heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature are examples of this. The intrusive thoughts can come fast and furious. It then becomes very difficult to concentrate. The possibility for general medical conditions to present is not uncommon.

PTSD, is to say the very least, extremely uncomfortable and can take away your life as you remember it before the experienced trauma. Now, how do you triumph over PTSD? All people who endure PTSD have their own unique symptoms. No one can tell you how to get rid of the problem. No one can know the depths of your pain. If a doctor says, “just get over it” or “PTSD will go away in time.” GET A NEW DOCTOR! To me, these statements from a doctor are classic ‘blow off’ responses. Doctor’s are in business because of us, the patient. Do not be afraid to ask for what you need.

As a nurse, my recommendation is to concentrate on any suicidal or homicidal thoughts you may have, first. Get help immediately.

The next symptom to treat is insomnia and nightmares. You must sleep. Do not let days go by without addressing this issue. I can not emphasize the importance of sleep. As I stated before loss of sleep is accumulative. If you loose 5 hours one night, 6 hours the next night, and 5 hours the next night you have lost 16 hours of restorative sleep just in 3 days. Your mind will not function properly. You may begin to experience symptoms described above in this article.

After you have addressed your sleep issues the next concern to attend to is the food you put in your body. Try to eat 3 balanced meals or 6 small balanced meals throughout the day. Make sure you take in plenty of water and other nutritious fluids. This will ensure the medications you may be taking will be flushed from your body which will augment the health of you kidney’s, liver, and cardiovascular system. If you must drink caffeinated beverages, drink them in the morning so that the caffeine will not affect your restorative sleep.

Remember to stay active not only your physical body but your mind as well.

The next issue to address is your support system which includes you, your doctor, counselor, family, friends, pets, your spiritual advisor, the lady in the grocery line, the dude at the ball game, and whom- ever or what-ever helps you at any given moment.  Surround yourself with people who love you and understand PTSD. Avoid people who judge you. These people will be poison to you and will make your life even harder.

My best advice is to stay in the moment. Concentrate on what is happening right here and right now. Take one step at a time. Go slow. Be easy on yourself. You may find relief from your symptoms by smelling the proverbial roses along the way. Writing your progress in a journal or on the computer is always a good idea. You can look back on your pages and hopefully see your progress or behaviors you may want to change.

Learn everything there is to learn about PTSD. Knowledge is power. You will gain a sense of control if you know what to expect. You may live with your symptoms for a short time or for the rest of your life. Considering this fact, you can see how important it is to take good care of yourself.

Unfortunately, I have no easy answers. I have only suggestions which may or may not reduce your symptoms. You will have bad days and good days. Embrace the good days and be grateful for them.

If at any time you don’t think you can handle your symptoms on your own; get help from professionals. You do not need to suffer. You are worth the extra effort. The goal is for you to be healthy and for your life to run smoothly. Good luck with your endeavors.

Peace

 

Tags: help, knowledge is power, military wives, PTSD, sleep, veterans, war