What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Does a certain sound, smell, or place instantly transport you back to a terrifying moment in your past? You might feel your heart pound and your palms sweat as if the event is happening all over again. You may try to push the memory away, avoiding anything that reminds you of it, but it keeps finding its way back in, disrupting your sleep with nightmares and your days with fear. This experience of being haunted by the past may be a sign of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

At Televero Health, we want you to know that these reactions are not a sign of weakness. PTSD is a normal response to an abnormal event. It is a psychiatric condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Understanding PTSD is the first step toward processing the trauma and reducing its power over your daily life.

More Than Just Bad Memories

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. This can include combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, physical or sexual assault, or any other event that threatened your life or safety. While most people will experience some symptoms of stress after a trauma, they usually get better with time. For someone with PTSD, the symptoms persist and can even get worse.

A diagnosis of PTSD is based on having symptoms from four specific clusters for at least one month:

1. Intrusion Symptoms

The traumatic event keeps re-entering your thoughts and memories when you don’t want it to. This can take the form of:

  • Unwanted, upsetting memories.
  • Nightmares about the event.
  • Flashbacks, where you feel like you are reliving the trauma.
  • Intense emotional or physical reactions to reminders of the event (triggers).

2. Avoidance Symptoms

You go out of your way to avoid anything that reminds you of the trauma. This can mean:

  • Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or conversations related to the event.
  • Avoiding people, places, or activities that are reminders of the event. This can cause people to significantly limit their lives.

3. Negative Alterations in Cognition and Mood

The trauma changes the way you think about yourself and the world. This can include:

  • An inability to remember important parts of the event.
  • Overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world (e.g., “I am bad,” or “The world is completely dangerous”).
  • Exaggerated blame of self or others for causing the trauma.
  • Feeling detached, isolated, or estranged from others.
  • A loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy.
  • An inability to experience positive emotions.

4. Alterations in Arousal and Reactivity

Your body remains in a state of high alert, as if you are constantly in danger. This can lead to:

  • Irritability or aggression.
  • Risky or destructive behavior.
  • Hypervigilance (being overly aware of your surroundings).
  • A heightened startle response.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Problems with sleep.

Healing Is Possible

Living with PTSD can feel incredibly isolating, but you are not alone. It is a recognized medical condition with effective, evidence-based treatments. The goal of treatment is not to erase the memory of the trauma, but to help your brain process it in a way that allows the memory to become just that—a memory, rather than something that feels like a current threat.

Treatment often involves specific types of therapy designed to help you safely confront and process the traumatic memories. Medication can also be helpful for managing the intense anxiety, depression, and sleep problems that often accompany PTSD. With the right support, you can learn to manage your symptoms, reduce avoidance, and re-engage with the parts of your life that the trauma has taken from you.

Key Takeaways

  • PTSD is a psychiatric condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
  • It is characterized by four symptom clusters: intrusion, avoidance, negative changes in mood/thinking, and hyperarousal.
  • The symptoms must last for more than a month and cause significant distress or problems in daily functioning.
  • PTSD is a treatable condition; therapy and medication can help you process the trauma and regain control of your life.

Ready to take the first step? We can help. Get started with Televero Health today.

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