June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, so it seems about right to get to know what it is and how to manage it. 

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that people develop after witnessing a deeply catastrophic event in their life that evoked extreme fear or helplessness at that time. 

People usually associate it with large-scale calamities like natural disasters, military combat, and sexual assault. But it can happen due to any prolonged psychological stress involving extreme abuse or neglect. Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder involves addressing the cause and ways to deal with it. 

Understanding Trauma

To understand PTSD, it is important to know how trauma alters the function of the body and mind. Trauma is the response to a scary or dangerous event in a person s life. In the words of Dr. Gabor Mate: Trauma is not something that happened to you, it is something that happened inside of you. 

In the state of fear, the body produces stress hormones-adrenaline and cortisol, that prepare the body to deal with the threat. This response is called fight/flight/freeze, which triggers physical and psychological responses like palpitations, extreme alertness, and symptoms of anxiety.

Most people recover from it after a while. However, many of the victims donnt recover naturally and the body stays in that alarmed state, presenting a variety of symptoms leading to the disorder called PTSD. 

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is diagnosed by psychologists and related healthcare professionals. The symptoms can be severe and long-lasting enough to interfere with a person s lifestyle, work, and relationships. Symptoms vary with individuals and the severity of the condition, however, some common symptoms may include:

• Disturbing memories and thoughts

• Irritability and anger

• Restlessness

• Insomnia

• Intense ongoing sadness

• Exaggerated negative beliefs

• Pain and aches

• Hypervigilance

• Finding it hard to concentrate

Treatment of PTSD

There are a few research-proven treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder including therapy and medications. Most widely used treatments include:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is most commonly used for PTSD patients. It helps pinpoint the event or childhood trauma that led to the misinterpretation of the ongoing situation.

2. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

It is a relatively new procedure and should be carried out by a trained professional. In it, a person is made to encounter a particular distressing memory that is stuck in their mind. EMDR aims to unstick that memory and reprocess its intensity. It also helps to desensitize a person regarding the emotional impact of that event. 

3. Exposure Therapy

It helps patients gain control over fears by finding triggers through the detailed recounting of disturbing memories. By facing what has been avoided, a person learns to accept that cues are not dangerous and there is no need to avoid them. 

Some psychiatric medications and alternative therapies are used additionally to manage the symptoms. Moreover, diet and lifestyle modifications also prove helpful in the overall treatment of PTSD.

Conclusion

PTSD is a well-known mental health problem to the public. Increased violence and emotional instability have made people more vulnerable to this disorder. Awareness regarding it is important to identify the symptoms and seek the appropriate treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Even though a definitive cure is still not found, proper management and treatment have helped many patients overcome their troubles and live a better life.