If you hear Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and think it is just so much psycho-babble - read on.
PTSD is a very real disease and effects many more people than previously thought. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that in any given year 5.2 million Americans are suffering from PTSD. Thankfully, it can be treated with medicine and therapy.
The first step is for the affected person to recognize there is a problem. It's not "all in their head" - it's REAL.
You are prone to get PTSD as a result of some of these situations:
- You have been raped or sexually abused
- You have been hit or harmed by a family member
- You have been a victim of a violent crime
- You have been in a car or airplane crash
- You have been in a fire, hurricane, or tornado
- You have been in a war
- You have been in any life threatening situation, real or imagined
- You have seen any of these things.
Nightmares or scary thoughts about the experience make you relive the events and therefore you try to stay away from anything that reminds you of it.
Often, a person suffering from PTSD will feel angry most of the time and find it hard to trust other people. They will be expecting danger at every corner and do not like surprises - even so-called pleasant ones.
For most people PTSD starts within 3-4 months of the event, but in many cases the symptoms do not show up for many years. People of all ages, including children, can suffer from PTSD.
It is important for the person suffering from PTSD to speak to their Doctor openly and freely. There is no shame in suffering from PTSD and the only way to control it is to accept it and deal with it as the real problem it is.
Most medications will take a few weeks to work, but there are behavioral things a doctor can recommend in the meantime. There are physicians who specialize in PTSD and you would be well advised to consult one.
A good source of additional information on PTSD and other mental health issues is the National Institute of Mental Health. They can be reached at 1-88-88-ANXIETY (1-888-826-9438) or at their website www.nimh.nih.gov.
There is help available for you. Don't suffer a day more than you already have. Take the first step and you'll be glad you did.
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