Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is the failure to recover after having a first-hand experience or just witnessing a Life-threatening or terrifying event.

Although the feelings of fear are natural after a Traumatic event and everyone has a range of experiences after the trauma, People generally recover from these immediate symptoms naturally without any help. Some continue to experience these initial symptoms for a prolonged period of time and develop PTSD.  Fear triggers split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it completely. Hence, When you are faced with a fearful situation, your brain goes into the “flight or fight” mode which is to typically protect a person from harm; However, When your body is in this alarm mode, you are under extreme stress. Likewise In PTSD, the person’s brain has these experiences even in a safe environment where they are not exposed to any danger.

 PTSD Symptoms Include 

Intrusive memories

• Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
• Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
• Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
• Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event

Negative changes in thinking and mood

• Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world
• Hopelessness about the future
• Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
• Difficulty maintaining close relationships
• Feeling detached from family and friends
• Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed

Avoidance

• Try to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
• Avoid places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event

Physical and emotional reaction Change 

• You get easily startled or frightened, hence a change in arousal
• You are on guard for danger
• Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
• Trouble sleeping and consequently poor quality of sleep

Get Help:

After surviving a traumatic event, you might have PTSD-like symptoms at first, like the inability to pause your thoughts about what happened and experience the fear, anxiety, anger, depression or guilt associated with that. Hence, Support from a mental health professional may help to prevent your loved one or you to avoid any unhealthy coping mechanism which often includes Drug Abuse.

Also, read about Substance Abuse

Know Dr Prerna Kohli