Publisher's Synopsis
Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder a person may experience following a traumatic event involving the threat of death or personal injury, causing extreme fear, terror, or hopelessness. Symptoms of PTSD may present as early as within the first month following the traumatic event or as long as several months or years later. It is important for a person with PTSD to be treated by a mental health professional experienced in working with PTSD.
Most people who experience PTSD continue to re-experience the traumatic event that caused their PTSD. The event may be experienced through flashbacks. Flashbacks can be fleeting glimpses of memory or be as vivid as if watching a movie of the event. Intrusive memories or thoughts are another way the traumatic event is experienced. A person may be unable to control these thoughts. They may surface at any time regardless of the individual's situation or current emotional state. Nightmares of the traumatic event are common and upon waking, the person may experience physical sensations triggered by and associated with the event. They may also awaken experiencing extreme fear and anxiety. Symptoms of increased arousal are emotional responses that occur following a traumatic event. Feeling on edge and being easily startled, or frightened can lead to prolonged anxiety, causing sleep difficulties. Some people experience difficulty concentrating on tasks or projects in a variety of settings. Increased anger and irritability are emotions that commonly surface and aid in avoiding emotions related to the traumatic event. There are a variety of good treatments available for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dealing with past traumatic events can be difficult and you may tend to keep your feelings to yourself instead of expressing them to others. Talking with a counselor can be helpful. Treatment for PTSD usually involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. With this combination of treatments your symptoms may improve while you are learning to utilize various coping skills to deal with the traumatic event and its effects on your life. There are five basic psychotherapy approaches used in treating PTSD. PTSD sufferers may try to avoid thinking or talking about the event. Avoidance of people, places, and activities that are reminders of the trauma is also common. Numbness may be experienced in different ways. A person may feel emotionally numb, experience feelings of hopelessness about the future, and have difficulty with memory and concentration. At times this numbing can lead to social and emotional detachment from friends and family members. In some extreme cases, the person will suppress all memories of the traumatic event After a traumatic event you may tend to blame yourself, feeling guilt for what occurred or for decisions made. Cognitive therapy helps you understand your thoughts and perspective of the event, reducing unnecessary feelings of guilt. Common antidepressants like Zoloft and Prozac are typically prescribed for PTSD symptoms. It is important to combine both diets, medication as well as therapy to target the root cause of the illness. It is important to seek the right therapist to treat PTSD successfully. Ask your trauma for diets and a psychiatrists who can handle even very sensitive cases successfully. Click the button below to place an ORDER.
