Most of us know that PTSD is a psychiatric condition that develops after a person is exposed to some extremely stressful or traumatizing situation where he feels very fearful and horror of something which is not in his control. These situations or events could be death of a close friend or relative, sexual assault or some serious accident. 

Not everyone who is exposed to these events develops PTSD. There are some factors which increase the risk of developing PTSD like mental health of the individual, severity and duration of the stressful event, whether the person has physical and mental support from friends and family and some genetic factors. 

People who have been through wars, military soldiers, firefighters, paramedics, those who have been through some sort of assault or accident and children who were exposed to trauma are at a greater risk to develop PTSD. 

Symptoms of PTSD:

Usually the symptoms start a few weeks or months after going through the traumatic event but in some cases they may develop much later also. For the PTSD diagnosis, the person should have had the symptoms for more than a month which get worse with time and they should be affecting his day to day life. Most of us cope up with such situations but in PTSD it's not so. PTSD symptoms could be grouped in 4 categories:

  • Intrusive Memories: The person may experience distressing memories, flashbacks of the incident and nightmares over and over again. 
  • Avoidance: People having PTSD may suppress thoughts and may avoid discussion and people related to that incident. 
  • Negative Change in Thinking and Mood: The person may feel anger, shame and guilt about themselves. May lose interest in activities he once used to enjoy and may detach himself from family and friends. 
  • Physical and Emotional Reactions: This includes emotional outbursts like sudden anger or cry. The person may become very sensitive and small things may distress him. Many experience disturbed sleep, irritability and difficulty in concentrating.

Treatment Options:

PTSD is treatable with professional help and support from loved ones. Early intervention can significantly improve the outcomes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Medications and Group sessions are some of the treatment options available.

When to Seek a Professional Help:

If you have been through a traumatic event and the flashbacks have been affecting your day to day life for more than a month, getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.Reach out to your family,friend, spiritual leader or someone from your community if your symptoms are getting worse or if you have suicidal thoughts. 

Early intervention can significantly improve recovery.Contact Mental Health Helplines (iCall – Tata Institute of Social Sciences - 9152987821, Vandrevala Foundation Helpline - 1860 266 2345 or 9999 666 555) or visit Counselling/Therapy Centres (NIMHANS, Bangalore, YourDOST - online counseling, MindPeers, Manastha, BetterLYF). 

Disclaimer: This article is written by Practo for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.