PTSD stands for Post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a mental health condition that’s prompted by a horrible event. The person might have experienced the tragedy or could have witnessed it.
Most of us go through tragic events that may have a temporary effect on us. It takes days, weeks, or even months to get out of it. However, when taken proper care, with time it gets easier to adjust and adapt.
Many times such traumas do not leave us for months or even years. The symptoms get worse and start intruding on our daily activities. In such cases, it becomes very important to get proper treatment.
“Spend time in nature. Involve yourself in nature and plants”
The trauma can be the death of someone close, an accident, or an incident that left an impact on your brain. An impact so strong that you are unable to get out of the incident, as it comes back again and again in front of your eyes.
Symptoms of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can start any time after a trauma. Sometimes, the symptoms begin after a month and sometimes after a year or more. The symptoms of PTSD are divided into four types:
- Intrusive memories:
- Recurring memories of the tragic event.
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares about the event.
- Reliving the event in the head.
- Avoidance:
- Trying to avoid thinking about the event.
- Avoiding anything that reminds you of the event (people, places, activities, etc.)
- Negative thinking:
- Hopelessness
- Depression
- Guilt
- Memory and relationship problems
- Feeling of numbness
- Physical and emotional changes:
- Rage (uncontrollable anger)
- Emotionally detached
- Insomnia
- Self-destructive
PTSD symptoms may start normally but intensify with time. The person may even start hallucinating. Soon these symptoms start interrupting with day to day life.
PTSD Treatment
PTSD professional treatment by doctors helps people deal with symptoms. A doctor can prescribe you medications, therapy, or a combination of both to deal with your symptoms. Types of treatments available for PTSD are:
- Trauma-focused CBT: This therapy involves exposing a person to feelings and situations that remind them of the trauma. People are asked to relive the incident, express their emotions, fears, and thoughts openly. Your therapist will then replace these thoughts with positive thoughts to help you get them out of your head.
- Other treatments include medications and family therapy. The medications will be prescribed by your doctor to ease out the symptoms.
- Family therapy is an effective way to help a person with PTSD manage and live a better life with family members.
How to Control PTSD Triggers?
One cannot or could not have avoided the tragedy that occurred. However, you can help yourself by managing your symptoms. One such way of managing PTSD symptoms is to control the PTSD triggers.
The things that remind you or make you relive the trauma can be managed by self-help in the following way:
- Remind yourself of your strengths. PTSD makes a person feel helpless and scared always. It becomes crucial for a person to overcome such fears with strength and courage. Start with a sport, hobby, or participating in a support group.
- Spend time in nature. Go for walks, enjoy sunrise and sunset views. Try spending time away from the life that triggers your trauma. Involve yourself in nature and plants. You can even start planting at your place. It will fill you with positivity.
- Ask for help. The best you can do for yourself is reach out for support. A lot of support groups are easily accessible. Get yourself enrolled in one of them, and you’ll soon see your triggers and signs reducing.
“Pets have shown a positive impact on PTSD patients”
How to Overcome PTSD Anxiety?
PTSD episodes bring anxiety and depression with them. It becomes very crucial to deal with these issues before they start interfering in our life.
Here are some methods that can help you deal with PTSD anxiety:
- Mindfulness Practices: Meditation and mindfulness activities that help you relax your mind are known to manage triggers. The meditation can either be exposure-based or relaxation-based depending on the person.
- Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is a proven way to reduce symptoms of chronic stress and anxiety. It is a simple and effective relaxation strategy for PTSD patients.
- Play Sport: It has been seen that people with PTSD enjoy physical activities as it reduces their stress levels. The person gets so lost in the game that no other thoughts run through their minds.
- Take up a Hobby: Many people take up a hobby they might have lost while growing old. Hobbies like dancing, art, and crafts, or writing have helped people cope with PTSD anxiety.
- Adopting a Pet: Pets have shown a positive impact on PTSD patients. They help people manage depression and loneliness. Petting a dog or cat relieves anxiety and stress.
