What you need to know about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Being involved in a tragic event, memories from the event can last for a long time in your mind. You may suffer from flashbacks and nightmares of whatever happened, thus developing a mental condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder.  However, you may suffer this mental condition if you witnessed a terrifying event. Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect men, women, and children. Many people suffering from a traumatic event such as war, holocaust, sex abuse, domestic abuse, and natural disasters may not cope with them, but when taken care of, they recover. Dr. Alejandra Suzuki is a specialist you can consider to help you cope with traumatic events. Below are examples of signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Signs and symptoms of traumatic event disorder

According to research, symptoms may show up one month after the tragic event. However, other people may suffer a nightmare and flashbacks two days after the tragic event.  These symptoms affect your social work, concentration, relationship, and sleep. Symptoms include:

•   Thinking negatively. Having negative thoughts is observed in many people with post-traumatic stress disorder. This occurs mostly when you lose your family, close friends, and property. You may feel hopeless since you are alone, difficulties having a close relationship, having negative thinking about yourself which can lead to suicide, and change in moods and feeling emotional.
•   Memory issues. Having an intense memory is another severe issue that is brought by post-traumatic stress disorder. Intensive memories are seen when you have flashbacks and nightmares which can make you scream, suddenly waking up from sleep, talking to yourself, and taking longer to load things. If this issue is not treated, you may develop a concussion.
•   Change of body appearance. A person who has post-traumatic stress disorder may have body changes that come hand in hand due to stress and depression. Loss of weight is what most people suffer from. The habit of consuming food may change, thus having difficulties in eating. Stress can also make you consume alcohol excessively, which can lead to addiction. Excess alcohol can limit you from eating, thus having weight loss.

However, since the signs and symptoms of traumatic events are noticeable, it is essential to seek treatment. Below is a  paragraph explaining different ways of treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

Primary treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

There are several ways your traumatic event disorder can be treated. They include:

•       Medication. Antidepressants are prescribed to control your thinking. These drugs are of different categories, thus they are prescribed according to the severity of your traumatic event disease. Medicines that enhance sleep are also prescribed if you have difficulties in getting sleep.
•       Therapy. A therapist also helps you to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder. A bunch of questions will be asked by your therapist, trying to get the cause of your disease. However, your therapist may recommend some medication to facilitate quick recovery.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is common to people who have ever been involved in a traumatic event. This disorder is experienced when the patient has flashbacks and nightmares, which make the patient act crazy. It is vital to seek medical attention from a therapist for management.

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