What is PTSD?
PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is the name for responses to traumatic experiences. It represents the very human response to inhumane events. Understanding the history and treatment options for PTSD is helpful to understand how common but unique it is. Some people will have some symptoms but not PTSD. This is the third in a series of posts to help the many others like me and those who love us. The first post is Triggers Initiate Action.
The precursor to PTSD is Shell Shock, a term used to describe soldiers from WWI. They were called cowards and other derogatory terms. They reacted to trauma with physical symptoms including shaking, sleeplessness, amnesia, and balance issues. Judgement of a soldiers inability to return to the front did not provide prevention and led to treatment focused on confronting their fears – exposure to sights, sounds, and risk of war. Though helpful in some minor cases, exposure therapy was detrimental to others sometimes causing greater trauma.
Though thousands of WWII veterans suffered from Shell Shock understanding and explaining the phenomena while trying to develop treatment protocols was experimental. Vietnam Veterans advocated for help. Demanding assistance from the Veterans Administration enabled several successful options for treatment. The news of success for some was countered by failure for others. Treatment continues to be diverse and unique for individuals to experience relief.
History
Following Shell Shock the American Psychological Association coined Gross Stress Reaction (1952) then Adjustment Reaction to Adult Life (1968). Everyone processes significant traumatic events differently. Veteran’s complaints mirrored those from victims of natural disasters, crime, and even onlookers (citizens in war-torn countries). Researchers compiled and compared data from Vietnam veterans, Holocaust survivors, and rape victims to name the varied but similar reactions to traumatic events. In 1980, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder became the classification describing symptoms associated with trauma.
PTSD has undergone four revisions between 1985 and 2013 reflecting the continued research and understanding of an elusive phenomenon. According the United States Veteran Affairs “One important finding, which was not clear at first, is that PTSD is relatively common. Recent data shows about 4 of every 100 American men (or 4%) and 10 out every 100 American women (or 10%) will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime.” You may not know someone diagnosed with PTSD but you probably do know someone who experiences symptoms.
Symptoms
Every person handles trauma differently including those with PTSD or PTSD symptoms.
The continued research has exposed the initial verdict of cowardice as false. PTSD is not fear or anxiety based. It may result from emotional responses including fear but may be void of anxiety symptoms. Currently four symptom types describe PTSD.
- Reliving or re-experiencing the event through flashbacks or triggers.
- Avoiding situations that remind you of the event by avoiding crowded areas, the actual location, or triggering stimulations.
- Negative changes in beliefs or feeling, becoming distrustful, having memory gaps, and limited or lack of deep personal relationships.
- Hypervigilance, feeling hyped-up, difficulty sleeping or staying asleep, or startled by noises.
PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal event which presents differently for each person. Some experience symptoms immediately following the event, others take months to fully form. Someone with long term trauma, such as child abuse, develop coping skills to survive. “P” is the post in PTSD – meaning after. Post is following immediately or when completely removed from the traumatic environment. Symptoms may not surface until you return stateside, move away from the family home, or separate from an abusive partner; also known as symptom delay.
Talking and Sharing are Valuable.
One successful treatment tool is talking about what you are experiencing and what you remember. Your mind expresses your humanness as a remarkable computer. It knows when to protect and when it is safe to heal. Symptoms can come in what feels like large downloads and if they interrupt your work/home life, last longer than 3 months, and cause great distress seek help. Find support from your doctor, counselor, or a peer group focused on healing.
If you have symptoms, talking about your experiences and the related emotional or physical responses is vital to moving beyond them and into a happier healthier life. You must find a safe zone to start sharing because any negative ridicule, judgment, or disbelief may signal your brain to return to protect mode. You may go for a long time without symptoms then something can trigger them. Triggers and PTSD go together. Recognize this as the next step in your healing and work through it by talking, sharing, and being honest about how you process.
The fourth post of this series addresses listening, read it here.
©2018, 2021 ElayneCross
