Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a collection of symptoms that develop in response to an extremely traumatic event. In particular, PTSD occurs following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as violent personal assaults such as rape, military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, fires, serious accidents, or sexual/physical abuse. A person’s initial responses during the traumatic event become chronic and maladaptive as time passes and the person is no longer in a life-threatening situation. These maladaptive responses or symptoms of PTSD in turn can negatively impact families, work, health, and social relationships.

Symptoms range from mild and manageable to extreme and debilitating. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experiences through nightmares and flashbacks, frequently have difficulty sleeping, and often feel detached or estranged from others. They feel extremely tense and anxious in many different situations and are often always expecting something bad to happen to them or those around them. Furthermore, individuals with PTSD are twice as likely to utilize health care services each year for the treatment of circulatory, digestive, muscular, skeletal, nervous, and respiratory problems. These symptoms of PTSD can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.       Many people with PTSD report feeling like they are “running from their past.” They also feel hopeless and unable to change their situation.

It is important for people with PTSD to realize that there is hope. PTSD can be successfully treated.  Treatment often involves learning ways to relax and decrease feelings of stress and anxiety, learning better sleeping habits, and when appropriate talking about the trauma in a way that decreases the negative feelings associated with it. Therapy can also be helpful for families or loved ones of an individual diagnosed with PTSD.

For more information about PTSD, please contact a therapist at Powers Ferry Psychology Associates.

Related links: www.ncptsd.org