Understanding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Post traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that has gained a lot of press since the Vietnam War. Despite the press, however, many people do not realize what this condition is and how many lives it can and does impact.

Post traumatic stress disorder is one of several anxiety disorders. This particular condition is widely associated with military personnel who have seen live-action combat. It is, however, an equal opportunity offender and can sideline the lives of anyone who has undergone extreme trauma.

Who Gets Posttraumatic Stress?

This particular condition can strike men, women and children equally. It is characteristically found in people who have experienced and lived through a very serious event, such as combat, sexual abuse, serious accidents, natural disasters and even terrorist attacks.

What Are The Symptoms?

During an extreme event, such as a tornado or hot-fire battle, it is normal for people to feel very frightened, stressed, angry and even confused. This is very normal and quite expected. If the feelings persist beyond the traumatic event, posttraumatic stress disorder might have developed. Generally, if the feelings last for more than four weeks or cause extreme interference with life, this condition could be present. Other symptoms that characterize this condition include:

• Reliving the trauma. Many sufferers of posttraumatic stress disorder relive the events that caused them the trauma over and over again. Called a flashback, this can be a very real reliving to the person who has this condition. A soldier, for example, might think he is back in combat. A rape victim might feel as if the attack is happening again, in real time.
• Avoidance of triggers. People with this condition try to avoid all potential triggers at any cost. This can include watching movies related to the subject, going to places that remind them of the location of the trauma and so on.
• Numbness. It is not at all uncommon for people with posttraumatic stress disorder to have a difficult time feeling normal, healthy emotions.
• High tension. Sometimes sufferers live in a state of high arousal, always waiting for the next incident.
• Refusal to be away from loved ones. Children, in particular, express this symptom. After a severe event, they might cling to parents and refuse to be out of their sight. This can persist for a long time after the actual incident.

Post traumatic stress disorder is a very serious condition that can sidetrack a life indefinitely. Fortunately, many people who develop the condition can and do overcome it over time. Typically, some form of therapy is needed to help a person work through the trauma and pick up the pieces of life.

The Causes Of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

Post traumatic stress syndrome is a mental illness that can plague almost anyone if the right circumstances take place. This condition results as an extreme reaction to a very extreme situation. Whereas some people might endure trauma with only a few long-term problems, others find themselves facing post traumatic stress syndrome.

What Is Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?

Post traumatic stress syndrome develops in people who have endured what others pray they will never have to face. If the conditions are right, a person who endures trauma or tragedy might find themselves vividly reliving the incident in their minds over and over again. The replay can be triggered by a number of different things. In many cases, a person suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome might have difficulty distinguishing the replay from the actual event.

The triggers for post traumatic stress syndrome flashbacks depend a lot on the incident that caused the problem in the first place. Some people find that certain smells, images and even people or places can cause a flashback to go into full run.

What Causes Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome?

The causes of post traumatic stress syndrome are many. While most people associate this condition with combat veterans, anyone can suffer from it. Some of the most common causes beyond battlefield trauma include:

• Natural disasters. People who have survived extreme natural disasters such as tornadoes, direct-hit hurricanes, floods or fires sometimes develop this condition. This can particularly be the case if the person witnessed human tragedy in the face of the natural disaster.
• Severe accidents. Plane crashes, fatal car accidents and other similar incidents can score themselves on the minds of survivors.
• Violent crime. Rape victims, child abuse victims, murder witnesses and other survivors of violent crime quite frequently contract post traumatic stress syndrome.

While these are the most common causes of post traumatic stress syndrome, any incident that causes a person extreme trauma can technically trigger this condition.

Is It Treatable?

Post traumatic stress syndrome is considered quite treatable in most instances. More than 50 percent of the people who suffer from this condition are able to work through it and move past the flashbacks. While the memories of the trauma might never go away, the nightmare of reliving the pain second-by-second can often be dealt with in therapy.

Post traumatic stress syndrome can take a tragic victim and make that person even more tragic. By dooming a person to relive a horrific event over and over again, this condition sidelines lives in a very big way. Quite often the only way to get over the condition is by acquiescing to therapy and working through the fears, insecurities and pain associated with the memories.

Post Traumatic Stress In Children

Most people have heard of shell shock, combat stress and battlefield flashbacks. These synonyms for post traumatic stress do not, however, tell the full story. This serious mental condition is not reserved for adults and it does not solely impact veterans. Children, too, are subject to the repetitive terrors post traumatic stress can ditch out.

As it is with adults, so is it for children as far as the causes of post traumatic stress. A combination of factors comes together and flips the switch for the onset of this condition. The physical, psychological causes can include genetics and brain chemistry. The triggers, however, are almost always violent and are very traumatic. Children with post traumatic stress are likely to contract the condition following:

• Sexual abuse. Children who endure sexual abuse are sometimes subject to the onset of post traumatic stress.
• Violence. Children who witness serious violent acts, especially if they involve the death of loved ones, are more likely to develop most traumatic stress.
• Serious accident, natural trauma. Children who witness or are involved in serious crashes, especially involving death, can contract this condition. It is also possible for young survivors of natural disasters to face some of the problems associated with post traumatic stress.

Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms

Youngsters are subject to all of the same symptoms that adults face with post traumatic stress. They, however, may also display a few others that their caregivers are likely to notice. The common symptoms of this condition in children include:

• Flashbacks. This is the prime trait of this condition no matter the sufferer’s age. During flashbacks, victims of this condition vividly relive the experience that caused them trauma.
• Fear of flashback triggers. Children and adults are both likely to avoid anything they believe will trigger a flashback. This can include anything from particular images on television to sounds, smells and locations.
• Clinging behavior. While adults sometimes withdraw to avoid triggers, children are very likely to cling to a parent or other loved one. They might find it very difficult to be separated from the person they find safety and comfort in.

Treating Post Traumatic Stress

Both children and adults can benefit greatly from therapy. The Mayo Clinic points to a very good track record of recovery for patients who undergo a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

Post traumatic stress is a serious condition that can greatly impact the life of an adult and even a child. Treating this condition if it is present can help give a child the footing he or she needs to overcome flashbacks and move on with life following a traumatic event.