Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Relevance of PTSD
I believe that everyone has experienced some kind of trauma at one stage in their lives. In fact, being born is the first universal trauma there is. We are all conceived in a wonderful, nutritiously-prepared, safe cocoon, and then one day we are forcefully propelled and ejected.
The first baby’s cry serves two purposes: the ‘Noooo’, to what and where am I going, and the cry that is necessary to open up our lungs to breathe and begin our lives outside the womb.
Bermix Studio / Unsplash
Trauma of any kind is stressful whether mildly or in a major way. The way we all react to trauma is different too, even if we were all subjected to the same one. Everyone’s thresholds and ability to tolerate or react to a traumatic event is different, and is a result of both nature and nurture.
Definition and Symptoms
A simple definition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is any collection of adverse symptoms that people experience after a traumatic situation. These traumatic experiences could be the death of a loved one, a car accident, the break-up of a relationship, being involved in a war whether as soldiers or victims, and countless more.
Symptoms of PTSD include:
“…it is very possible that many of us will or are suffering from the condition in some form or another.”
Flashbacks
Hyper vigilance
Avoidance
Paranoia
Nightmares
Anxiety, palpitations and panic attacks
Depression
Self harm
Substance misuse, including of alcohol and prescribed drugs
Aggression, irritability and/or irrational anger
Stress induced psychosis.
Any and all of these symptoms can occur in any of the situations that cause traumatic stress to people, though not necessarily everyone will have every symptom. PTSD can even occur in animals. If we observe animals that have been abused or maltreated in the past, we can see many of the above represented in their behaviors too.
PTSD is much more common than we realise, and it is very possible that many of us will or are suffering from the condition in some form or another.
Eric Froehling / Unsplash
When we’ve been through any traumatic stressful experience, we need to acknowledge it as such and seek help so it doesn’t become entrenched and cause us to behave in ways that become harmful to ourselves and our relationships.
Here at Freo, we recognise that PTSD plays a major role in destroying the relationships we have spent time trying to build, whether that is one with ourselves ot the people around us. We are here to help you identify and deal with any Trauma that may have manifested early in the process, so it doesn’t become a disorder, but we are also able to help with treatment of PTSD whenever this is required.
Seek the help you deserve: Go Freo. :)
Written by Dr. Isioma Nwokolo