Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as war or combat.
Known in the past as “shell shock” or “combat fatigue”, until recently there was very little really known about how to treat the disorder.
People with PTSD can have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that can last for years after the trigger event. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may isolate themselves. People with PTSD often avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event, and they may have strong reactions to something as ordinary as a loud noise that will trigger an involuntary reaction.
It is unsurprising that Verterrans have a higher rate of PTSD than the general population, and Veterans
Symptoms
Symptoms of PTSD fall into the following four categories. Specific symptoms can vary in severity.
- Intrusive thoughts such as flashbacks of the event or distressing dreams
- Avoiding situations, activities or people that are reminders of the traumatic event.
- Inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event, negative thoughts or distorted beliefs about oneself or others. (e.g., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted”); wrongly blaming self or other; experiencing ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame; feeling detached or estranged from others; or being unable to experience positive emotions.
- Being easily irritable and having angry outbursts; behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive way; being over cautious about surroundings; being easily startled; or having problems concentrating or sleeping.
It is common for people suffering from PTSD to also suffer from Anxiety or depression and some people may develop a habit of using drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Treatment
The treatment for PTSD is a combination of counseling and medication.
Positive results have been found through the use of trauma-focussed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
These therapy techniques help you to deal with traumatic events rather than pushing it to the back of your mind.
If you believe you have PTSD, you can talk to your doctor or a mental health professional to discuss the best treatment for you.
Veterans Alliance
If you are diagnosed with PTSD, Veterans Alliance may be able to assist you to get a higher
rating with Veteran Affairs.
Book a free consultation with us to discuss how we can help you!
