How to Spot the Signs of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD, or posttraumatic stress disorder, is a serious condition. It can be life-altering. Unfortunately, it’s not always recognizable.
Many people suffer from PTSD without realizing it. There can be many causes for PTSD. Witnessing an accident or suffering trauma are common causes.
It’s important to recognize the signs of PTSD. Here is how you can spot the signs. Treat them before they become uncontrollable.
- Increased Sensitivity
Those suffering from PTSD will be sensitive to triggers.
Triggers are things that remind the person of the original trauma.
Loud noises from fireworks are a common trigger for veterans. However, not all PTSD is the result of conflict. A car crash can be a cause of PTSD.
Even people can be triggers.
Triggers will be different for each person.
It’s important to recognize triggers. That way they can be avoided.
It’s impossible to completely avoid triggers. That’s why it’s important to have a coping mechanism. Come up with a routine.
That way you have something to fall back on when you encounter a trigger.
These routines don’t need to be complicated.
It can be something as simple as breathing deeply.
- High Stress
Living with PTSD is stressful.
The disease puts an enormous strain on the body.
It can be hard to relax while living with PTSD. Seek treatment if you can’t relax.
There are many forms of treatment. Therapy and medication are quite common.
Marijuana has been proven to help treat PTSD. Here is more information on the efficacy of cannabis for PTSD treatment.
Everyone has a different way of relaxing.
It’s important to find something that works for you. Therapy and medication aren’t for everyone. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you.
The important thing is to seek help.
Everyone needs help.
- Flashbacks
Flashbacks take you back to the moment of trauma.
Normally these will be brought on by triggers. However, that’s not always the case. They can come at any time.
It’s hard to escape flashbacks.
Your body won’t always recognize the difference between a flashback and reality. You might even experience physical pain.
Flashbacks are hard to get rid of. Try to remember that it isn’t really happening. Of course, this is easier said than done.
It’s not always easy to tell when someone is experiencing a flashback.
They might not even realize they’re experiencing one.
If you think someone is having a flashback, ask them. Try and make them comfortable. Remind them where they are.
Focus on your breath to bring you back to the present moment.
Certain types of therapies focus on rewiring trauma in the brain. EMDR therapy is one of these. EMDR therapy was designed to help soldiers suffering from PTSD.
It is effective in treating other forms of PTSD.
- Nightmares
Everyone has a nightmare now and then.
Those suffering from PTSD have them more frequently.
Often they will dream about the incident that caused the PTSD. Or they will have dreams about similar circumstances.
Frequent nightmares can be considered a disease. There are different forms of nightmare disease. Not all are related to PTSD.
Talking about your nightmares can help. It might seem silly, but it helps.
Dreams should be taken seriously. Psychologists will often ask about your dreams. Dreams reveal the subconscious.
It could be that you’re suffering from trauma without realizing it.
Writing or drawing your dreams could reveal what the problem is.
If a loved one suffers from PTSD, talk about their dreams with them. Share your own dreams. It will make them feel less alone.
Maybe you’ll discover something about yourself, too.
- Altered Personality
Trauma changes you.
There’s no way of avoiding that fact.
Once you suffer from trauma, you might never be the same. But you don’t have to constantly suffer from PTSD. PTSD is something you can work through.
Sometimes PTSD manifests itself in strange ways.
Pay attention to details. You might be suffering more than you realize. Or your loved one might be in more pain than you think.
Ask someone if you notice a behavior change.
Conclusion
PTSD is a very serious condition. But it isn’t one you have to go through on your own. There are treatment options.
I am the content writer for Allblogsidea, where I love what I do. Writing is my passion; it’s what drives me in life. It makes me happy when people share their stories with the world so they can be heard.
