Experiencing a traumatic event can put anyone at risk for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When something traumatic happens, we experience shock while our brain processes it. This is usually short-lived (several days or weeks). But with PTSD, an individual becomes stuck and is unable to move past this physical and psychological state of stress and fear. Instead of gradually feeling better over time, they may continue to feel bad or feel worse.
The National Institute of Mental Health defines PTSD as an anxiety disorder in which the brain’s fight-or-flight response is changed or damaged due to experiencing a dangerous event. The brain becomes unable to decipher between perceived and actual stressful events and activates the fight-or-flight response regardless of the situation. This further disrupts the biochemistry of the brain and compounds the problem. We wrote more about how PTSD affects the reward system of the brain in June here.
Some of the main symptoms of PTSD are:
- You may be unable to relax or feel like you are in a heightened state you can’t come down from. This is also called hyperarousal. You may feel that you are jittery, alert or on the constant lookout for danger. It can also lead to being irritable, easily angered, startled by loud noise or sudden movement, sleeping problems, panic attacks, difficulty concentrating, heart racing or sweating. The more the brain’s biochemistry is disrupted the more you may experience depression, anxiety and the inability to handle stress. Many PTSD sufferers also turn to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate or cope.
- You may find yourself reliving or re-experiencing the event. You may be haunted by the memories of the traumatic event. When the memories come back to you, the fear, horror, stress and panic may feel as real to you as it did during the event. You may have nightmares while you sleep or flashbacks while you are awake. Memories of the traumatic event can also be triggered by things you see, hear or smell, such as a news report.
- You may find yourself avoiding situations that remind you of the event or trigger memories of the event. This also includes avoiding talking or thinking about the event. An example would be: you avoid driving if you were in an accident. Or you avoid watching a movie about a tornado if you experienced a tornado. If you find yourself keeping busy just to avoid talking or thinking about the event, or if this is your main reason for avoiding help, this could be a serious warning sign.
- You may find yourself emotionally changing and becoming more negative. You may not enjoy the people or things you once did. You may feel emotionally numb or have overwhelming feelings of guilt, depression or anxiety in regards to the traumatic event.
You should seek help if your symptoms have lasted for longer than three months, if they are causing you a great deal of discomfort, or if they are interfering with your daily activities at work, school, or home. Fortunately, advances in technology with NTR Brain Restoration enable the brain to restore its natural brain chemistry and return to healthy functioning. This will address the physical component of PTSD. Coaching and therapy can then help with the psychological aspects of the trauma endured. If you think you or a loved might be suffering from PTSD, call to speak with one of our specialists.
