Experiencing an extremely stressful or disturbing event can leave you feeling traumatized, vulnerable and emotionally out of sorts. It can be natural to feel intense emotions, such as helplessness, fear, guilt, shame or anger when an extraordinary stressful event rocks your sense of security. Memories of your experience can leave you feeling numb, withdrawn, and unable to trust other people. The more frightened and helpless you feel during or after your experience, the more likely you are to experience symptoms afterward. It can take time for the pain to decrease as you process your traumatic experience, to begin to feel safe again and start moving forward. There is no set timetable for this process, however, if you experience intrusive symptoms that impact your functioning for more than a month, you may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

Living with PTSD

In the past, post-traumatic stress disorder was understood as the aftereffects of war on some military veterans. Today, PTSD is known as an emotional health condition that can affect anyone, at any age. Besides military combat, traumatic events or frightening experiences, such as physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, diagnosis of an illness, or other events that pose as a threat to life or security to oneself or a loved one can lead to the development of symptoms of PTSD. These symptoms can be chronic and progressive, impacting your ability to live your life as you’d like to.

PTSD statistics reveal that out of the 70 percent of American adults who have experienced at least one traumatic event, up to 20 percent develop PTSD. The lifetime risk for developing PTSD in American adults is 3.5 percent. Increased rates are most notable in people with higher risk of exposure to traumatic events or situations, such as police officers, firefighters and nurses.

With PTSD, you can be left feeling like your trauma is occurring over and over again. A major symptom of PTSD is re-experiencing through intrusive memories, flashbacks and/or nightmares. This can lead to intense fear that can stop you from living your life. It can be difficult to focus on anything besides trying to stay safe.

Other symptoms of PTSD can lead to angry outbursts or isolating. This can impact relationships with those closest to you when you may feel that you need them the most. It is not uncommon for some individuals to turn to drugs or alcohol to numb their pain. PTSD can be painful, therapy can help.

Risk Factors to the Development of PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder is believed to be exacerbated by a variety of risk factors that can make one more likely to develop symptoms of PTSD after experiencing a traumatic event. The most common factors include:

• Genetics: People with first-degree relatives who have an anxiety disorder are at higher risk for developing PTSD themselves.
• Environmental: Individuals who live in a more chaotic environment may be more likely to develop PTSD. For example, those that have unstable relationships or lack of stability in their homelife.
• Emotional: People with co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorders, and/or substance use, are at a higher risk for developing PTSD.

Diagnosing PTSD

Symptoms of PTSD can develop at any age. A diagnosis of PTSD requires the presence of specific sets of symptoms that usually start to appear within three months of a traumatic experience. In some cases, the symptoms may not present until months or years later.

The three general categories are as follows:

• Persistent, Invasive or Intrusive Re-experiencing – You may repeatedly think about the trauma, which may take the form of flashbacks when awake, nightmares when sleeping, prolonged emotional distress as a reaction to triggers, and distressing memories of the traumatic event.
• Avoidance Symptoms – You may exhibit avoidance behaviors, which may include avoiding discussing the event or avoiding people, places, things that serve as a reminder of the event. Emotional numbness, detachment from others, and loss of interest in related activities may be experienced. It is common to use distractions, such as being overly focused on work or hobbies, as a way to escape the emotions or memories of what happened.
• Hypervigilance – The increased level of awareness may keep you constantly alert or on guard as an effort to stay safe or on the lookout for a perceived threat. An exaggerated startle response can result in you feeling easily angered, irritated or anxious. As a result, you may experience difficulty sleeping and concentrating, rapid breathing, muscle tension, and other physical problems, such as headaches and digestive disorders.

PTSD can be complex. Symptoms vary from person to person, depending upon an individual’s makeup, co-occurring conditions, and whether a support system is present. Symptoms rarely improve on their own without intervention. PTSD is powerful, but you are not powerless.

How Can You Move Forward After a Traumatic Experience?

Post-traumatic stress disorder can be overwhelming, its intense symptoms can leave you feeling like you have nowhere to turn. Though you may feel alone, know that you are not. By seeking help to identify and resolve PTSD symptoms with therapy, it is possible to grow and move forward with strength.

Carolina Counseling Services – Cameron, NC contracts with caring, knowledgeable therapists who can help you find relief from your symptoms of PTSD. Call today to schedule your first appointment.

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• PTSD: How Can Therapy Help?
• Identify and Resolve PTSD Symptoms with Therapy
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