Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

For someone with PTSD, mentally reliving an event can be as traumatic as the actual event.
The physical and psychological symptoms associated with such an experience are worsened by feelings of embarrassment, confusion and frustration and can drastically affect a person’s ability to function at work, at school, and in the home.
Living with PTSD can place significant strain on relationships as people with PTSD tend to withdraw from everyday social and interpersonal activities. Often co-occurring with depression, substance abuse or other anxiety disorders, in extreme cases, if untreated, PTSD can become so distressing that the person attempts suicide.

1. Reliving or re-experiencing the traumatic event through intrusive memories, flashbacks or recurrent dreams and nightmares, and experiencing feelings and behaviours as intensely as if they were actually happening.
2. Avoidance of anything associated with the traumatic event, experiencing a feeling of emotional numbness towards others, losing interest in activities, and steering away from people and places that could remind them of it.
3. Hyperarousal symptoms include difficulty falling or staying asleep, irritability or outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, hyper-vigilance, and an exaggerated startle response.

Not everyone exposed to trauma will develop PTSD

PTSD is a disorder characterised by very specific symptoms but it can be misdiagnosed. It is critical therefore that you consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist for a month a more.
Someone suffering from PTSD is likely to experience various symptoms that ultimately lead to a formal diagnosis. Chronic PTSD applies to cases where symptoms persist for 3 months or more.
In other cases, symptoms do not present until several months or years after the trauma. This is known as delayed onset PTSD.

As no one can predict when or if a traumatic event will occur, health practitioners focus on early intervention rather than prevention. There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that starting treatment (medications and/or psychotherapy) within a short time after a traumatic event may prevent the onset of PTSD, but further studies are required. If you or someone you know has experienced a traumatic event, educate yourself on common reactions to trauma and on PTSD.

Try not isolate yourself – rather take the time to talk to people who are likely to offer help and support
Do things you enjoy particularly activities that help you to relax for example, listening to music or going for walks
Find a clinician experienced in treating PTSD and be honest and open with them remembering that you are entitled to get a second opinion
Find and join a support group for people with PTSD
Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle with balanced nutrition and regular exercise