Have you heard of post-traumatic stress disorder but dont know what it does mean? If so, then you have reached the right place. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a severe disease caused by some upsetting experiences. The disorder can be of various kinds, including complex, birth, delayed PTSD, and secondary trauma.

Insomnia, aggressiveness, self-destructive behavior, and staying away from people associated with bad experiences are some common signs of PTSD. If you are curious to learn more about this disorder, lets dig into the details!

What is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental disease that is developed in people after experiencing a traumatic event. This traumatic event disturbs their physical and emotional health. Now, if you wonder what kind of traumatic event leads to PTSD, let us tell you.

Most of us recover from a painful experience in a short time. But it is not the same for everyone. People who fail to recover even after a long time can have mental disorders, and PTSD is one of those. Unexpected death of a loved one, wartime, a natural disaster, an accident, and many other similar events can develop PTSD in a person.

Types of PTSD

There are different types of PTSD based on the causes and symptoms. These include complex PTSD, delayed-onset PTSD, secondary PTSD, and birth trauma. Let us learn about these here:

Complex PTSD: Complex PTSD is caused when a person experiences long-term trauma. This trauma might induce a personality change in the patient and show additional symptoms. The patients find it difficult to process their emotions.

Delayed Onset PTSD: It is also called PTSD, with delayed expression. It is so called because the symptoms appear six months or even later after the traumatic event.

Birth Trauma: If someone had a difficult childbirth, a harrowing delivery, or a C-section, it can also be a source of trauma. And this can then lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Secondary Trauma: If someone goes through trauma but develops PTSD, it is called secondary trauma. You might find it surprising, but yes, this happens. It is observed in people like journalists, caregivers of PTSD patients, or someone who witnessed an accident.

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD

You must know the signs and symptoms of a disease so you can consult a doctor immediately if you are facing some. They usually appear within the first three months but can be late until years after the event. The symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are categorized into four groups which are as follows:

Intrusion:

Intrusive memories are the first category of PTSD symptoms. The intrusive symptoms may include unwanted memories of a traumatic event. It can also be due to the upsetting dreams of a past event or severe distress.

Avoidance:

The avoidance symptoms include the following:

1. When the affected person tries not to talk or think about the traumatic event
2. You might notice that the victim avoids certain activities, places, or people associated with a past trauma.

Negative Changes In Thinking And Mood:

Negative changes are observed in people who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. These negative thoughts can be about the person himself or the other people. The sufferer also feels fear, guilt, and anger. The PTSD also induces memory problems in the patient.

Changes In Emotional And Physical Responses:

Changes in emotional and physical responses are also called arousal symptoms. These are commonly seen in PTSD patients. These changes include:

1. Troubled sleeping.
2. Aggressive behavior.
3. Excessive sweating.
4. Self-destructive activities.
5. Easily frightened.

Cognition and Mood Symptoms:

Some PTSD patients might have cognition and mood symptoms. These symptoms can be any of the following:

1. Losing interest in fun activities
2. Social isolation
3. Difficulty in feeling positive emotions
4. Feeling detached even from friends and family.

PTSD Symptoms in Children

Young patients with PTSD face difficulty in expressing their feelings and emotions. They are restless and can't pay attention. The symptoms in children are sometimes confused with those of ADHD. Thats why taking your child to a specialist is essential to diagnose the disease better and start the treatment promptly.

Children under six can experience the following symptoms:

1. Wetting the bed.
2. Feeling scared while playing
3. Being clingy
4. Facing difficulty in talking

On the other hand, older children and adults have symptoms similar to those of adults. They might develop disruptive behaviors.

What Are The Causes Of PTSD?

We all go through some traumatic event at some point in our lives, right? But only 5% of us develop PTSD. It is because we all respond to trauma differently. Some people have abnormal levels of hormones and neurotransmitters. And these are the people who are likely to get PTSD.

These people have high levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and lower cortisol levels. CRF stimulates the norepinephrine, causing an increase in sympathetic response. It may lead to an increase in:

1. Blood pressure.
2. Heart rate.
3. Startled response.

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases the chances of developing a disease. So, lets know about the risk factors of PTSD so you can try to save yourself from this disease. The risk factors for PTSD are divided into three categories: pre-trauma, peri-trauma, and post-trauma.

• Pre-Traumatic Factors: Age, gender, education, and personality type are some pre-traumatic factors that increase your likelihood of getting the disease.
• Peri-Traumatic Factors: Peri-traumatic factors include the severity of the traumatic events, physical injury, and fear of death.
• Post-Traumatic Factors: These are high rate, severe pain, financial stress, disability, etc.

Conclusion

People having abnormal levels of certain hormones if they go through trauma are likely to develop PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). It can be in the form of secondary trauma, birth trauma, or complex or delayed PTSD. Fear, anger, and trouble sleeping are common symptoms. Different types of therapies are available to treat this disorder. If you witness any of the symptoms, go for therapy. You can get recovered from this disorder within six months to a year.