Definition

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can occur in people who experience or witness traumatic events such as natural disasters, serious accidents, terrorism, war, rape, murder, or who are threatened with sexual violence, death, and other forms of violence. PTSD can occur in everyone, not limited to certain ethnic groups, nationalities, cultures or ages. Women are twice as likely as men to experience PTSD.

People with PTSD have intense and intrusive thoughts and feelings. These thoughts and feelings are related to the traumatic experience they experienced, and last long after the event has ended. These events can be recalled through flashbacks or nightmares. Eventually they will feel anxiety, sadness, fear, anger, and may feel alienated from other people or the outside world.

People with PTSD also often avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event, and may have fight or flight reactions and experience fear of ordinary things such as loud noises or accidental touches from other people.

Causes

PTSD can appear immediately after a traumatic event or appear weeks, months or years after the event. The exact cause of PTSD itself is not yet known, but it is thought to be caused by a combination of:

• There is intense and prolonged trauma
• Some experiences cause feelings of stress and shock, including how much and severe trauma they have experienced throughout their lives
• Imbalance of brain chemistry and body hormones released in response to stress
• There is a family history of anxiety or depression

Some traumatic events that often result in PTSD include:

• Experiences in a war or terrorist attack
• Physical abuse
• Sexual violence
• Experience of pregnancy or childbirth
• Involved in armed violence such as robbery, torture, kidnapping
• Disasters such as fires, natural disasters
• Vehicle accidents, airplanes
• Other events are extreme or life-threatening

Risk Factor

Some factors that make someone more likely to develop PTSD after a traumatic event are:

• Women are twice as likely to experience PTSD as men
• Family history of mental disorders, such as anxiety disorders and depression
• Have experienced other trauma when you were young, such as violence in childhood
• Having a risky job provides traumatic experiences such as members of the military and paramedics
• Have other mental disorders such as anxiety disorders and depression
• Have a drug or alcohol use problem

Symptoms

Generally, PTSD symptoms appear within three months after the trauma, but can also appear years later. Symptoms often persist for months or even years.

Broadly speaking, PTSD symptoms are divided into four categories, namely intrusive memories, avoidance behavior, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. These symptoms can vary in severity.

Intrusive memory

Intrusive or disturbing thoughts such as memories that recur involuntarily or unwillingly, nightmares, and flashbacks of traumatic events. These flashbacks can occur so vividly that the person feels they are experiencing or witnessing the traumatic event again.

Avoidance Behavior

Avoid things that can remind you of the traumatic event, such as avoiding people, places, activities, objects and situations that can trigger the return of bad memories. Apart from that, they also often try to forget the incident, such as choosing not to talk about it, or not talking about what they feel about the incident.

Changes in cognition and mood

The inability to remember important aspects of a traumatic event, as well as negative thoughts and feelings will result in false beliefs about oneself and others. For example, the thought that he is stupid or that no one else can be trusted. Wrong thoughts about the causes or consequences of the traumatic event will cause them to blame themselves or others, trapped in fear, horror, anger, guilt and shame. They also tend to feel no longer interested in activities they previously liked, feel they have no future, withdraw from family and friends, and cannot feel positive emotions or in other words have no feelings.

Changes in physical and emotional reactions, are characterized by:

• Irritability or outbursts of anger
• Aggressive behavior
• Easily startled or scared
• Self-harming behavior such as driving too fast or drinking too much alcohol
• Too careful of your surroundings or even too suspicious
• Difficulty concentrating
• Hard to sleep
• Overwhelming feelings of guilt or shame

In children under six years old, signs and symptoms can include:

• Replaying traumatic events or aspects through play
• Terrifying nightmares that may or may not contain traumatic aspects

Diagnosis

After experiencing a traumatic event, many people experience PTSD-related symptoms several days after the event occurs. This occurs due to difficulty adapting and coping, but with time and good self-care, it usually improves. A diagnosis of PTSD can only be made if the symptoms have lasted more than one month and cause significant problems or interference with daily activities.

Management

Getting the right therapy for PTSD is critical to reducing symptoms, preventing symptoms from becoming more severe, and improving quality of life. The main therapy for PTSD is psychotherapy, which can be supplemented with medication.

Apart from therapy from a doctor, things you can do yourself are:

• Follow the doctor's therapy well, even though it takes time for the effects of the therapy to work
• Learn about PTSD to understand what you're feeling and find strategies to deal with those feelings
• Take care of yourself by getting enough rest, eating healthy foods, exercising, and finding time to relax. Try to reduce coffee and cigarettes which can make anxiety worse. Avoid using alcohol to avoid negative feelings because it will only cause other problems in the future
• Don't self-medicate
• If you feel anxious, you can look for other activities to relieve anxiety, such as taking a leisurely walk or doing a hobby
• Keep in touch with those closest to you
• Join related communities

Complications

If left untreated, PTSD symptoms can cause significant problems in the social environment, work and relationships with other people. Apart from that, severe symptoms can also interfere with daily activities. Apart from that, PTSD can also increase the chance of developing other mental disorders such as:

• Depression and anxiety disorders
• Drug and alcohol use problems
• Eating disorders

Prevention

After experiencing a traumatic event, many people experience PTSD-like symptoms such as not being able to stop thinking about the event. Apart from that, other reactions such as fear, anxiety, anger, depression and guilt are also common. However, usually this does not last long and does not become PTSD.

Seeking help and support quickly after experiencing a traumatic event can help to prevent symptoms from becoming more severe or even developing into PTSD. This help can be obtained from family, friends, religious teachers, psychologists who can listen and calm you, as well as from doctors. This support is also important to prevent you from going through difficult times with negative things such as abusing drugs or alcohol.

When to See a Doctor?

If you have disturbing thoughts or feelings about a traumatic event that you experienced or witnessed that have lasted more than a month are very severe, or make it difficult for you to carry out daily activities, you are advised to consult a doctor.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts or has tried to end their life, immediately call the emergency number or go to the emergency room and make sure someone accompanies you while you wait for help to arrive.

Looking for more information about other diseases? Click here!