Suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be highly distressing and unpleasant, both for the individual experiencing it and those around them watching them go through the challenges it forces onto their day-to-day functions.

 

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health condition which can arise after being exposed to a traumatic situation, with this trauma being something very specific such as a life-threatening event which has either happened directly to an individual, witnessing an incident happening to somebody else or something that has happened to a close friend or family member.

It is actually a condition which was first recognised in war veterans. And whilst it has had different names in the past such as 'shell shock' or battle fatigue syndrome, a common misconception is that PTSD only affects soldiers.

In truth, there are a wide range of traumatic experiences which can cause PTSD, and it is described by MIND as when something traumatic happens in your life that rocks you to the core, making the world no longer feel like a safe place and instead, somewhere that bad things can and do happen.

 

What causes PTSD?

According to WebMD, PTSD can occur after an individual experiences events such as sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, an accident, war, or natural disaster. Though families of sufferers can also develop PTSD as well, as can emergency personnel and rescue workers who live through other peoples’ trauma on a daily basis.

There are also different diagnosis types including mild, moderate, or severe PTSD, and may be described as the following:

• Delayed onset/Delayed PTSD: where symptoms occur more than six months after experiencing trauma.
• Complex PTSD: where symptoms occur after a person experiences trauma either at an early age or a trauma which has lasted for an extensive period.
• Birth trauma/Postnatal PTSD: where symptoms occur after a traumatic experience of during labour or childbirth.

 

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD can affect each individual differently, for example some people may experience symptoms within the first 1-3 months following trauma, whereas others may not develop symptoms until years later. Likewise, some people may recover within 6 months, whereas others may suffer for a much longer period.

The symptoms, however, are often categorised into the following:

• Reliving: this involves repeatedly reliving the ordeal through thoughts and memories of the trauma, including through flashbacks, hallucinations, and nightmares. Sufferers may also feel distressed when certain things remind them of the trauma, such as the anniversary date of the event, hear music that was playing at the time or even memorable smells.
• Avoiding: this is when a person actively avoids people, places, thoughts, or situations that may remind them of the trauma. It can lead to feelings of detachment and isolation from family and friends, as well as a loss of interest in activities that the person once enjoyed, often commented as the feeling of “being a shadow of the person” they were before.
• Increased arousal: this includes feeling excessive emotions such as having problems relating to others, showing affection, having difficulty falling or staying asleep and being irritable. The person may also suffer physical symptoms, such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle tension, nausea, and diarrhoea.
• Negative cognitions and mood: this is when a person has constant thoughts and feelings related to blame, estrangement, and memories of the traumatic event, all affecting their ability to focus on the here and now.
• For younger children however, symptoms of PTSD may be delayed development in areas such as toilet training, motor skills, and learning to speak, read or write.

 

What does PTSD feel like?

Most people who have experienced a traumatic event will experience typical reactions such as shock, anger, nervousness, fear, or guilt. These reactions are common, and for most people, they go away over time. However, for someone diagnosed with PTSD, these feelings continue and even have the potential to worsen over time, sometimes becoming so strong that they keep the person from going about their life as expected and cannot perform their typical daily functions.

People with PTSD typically have symptoms which last longer than a month and cannot function as well as before the event that triggered it happened. For example, if a person experienced PTSD following an assault with the intention of robbery, then leaving their house could feel almost impossible due to fear of the event happening again, running into the perpetrator again or fear that strangers in general can never be trusted.

 

How can PTSD be managed?

Living with PTSD can feel overwhelming, and there is not always 1 thing that feels the toughest to overcome. From speaking about a trauma aloud or going about an otherwise easy task, to accepting that a trauma has happened in the first place, can take a long time to build up to. Though there are some ways a sufferer can help to manage their own PTSD symptoms.

These can include getting to know personal triggers, confiding in someone trustworthy (either a close friend, family member, medical professional such as a psychiatrist or support groups) and maintaining a healthy food, sleep and exercise routine.

There are also ways friends and family can support here too, including active listening by allowing a person to speak at their own pace and letting out emotions, planning for times which could cause further distress such as parties or family gatherings, and most important; by not judging them for how they feel.

 

How can PTSD be treated?

Treatments for PTSD include psychotherapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR) and medications. Breaking these down, they mean the following:

• Psychotherapy: focussing on the traumatic experience, rather than the persons’ past life. This will help with learning to accept that the trauma cannot be changed, remembering what happened without being overwhelmed by fear and distress, talking about what happened and help someone to feel more in control of their feelings.
• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT): a talking therapy that can help to change the ways of thinking. For PTSD, this therapy can help someone feel better and to behave differently.
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing): a technique that uses eye movements to help the brain to process traumatic memories. This has been shown to lower the intensity of the emotions you experience around a traumatic memory, helping to resolve the trauma.
• Medication: if other therapies to treat PTSD are not working, a doctor may prescribe antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants that can help to reduce PTSD symptoms, and if a person is also experiencing depression, antidepressants can help with this.

 

We understand, and we are here to help

Living with PTSD can feel overwhelming, and it can be difficult to understand exactly what a sufferer is going through. That’s why here at Harrison Associates, our goal is to lead the way for Case Management by offering an empathetic, outcome-focused approach which supports claimants every step of the way.

For over 30 years, we have developed, delivered and monitored tailor-made rehabilitation plans for those with catastrophic trauma or multiple injuries in order to facilitate the achievement of their goals.

Our team are trusted by over 500 legal firms, trusted by the solicitors and insurers dealing with complex cases, and most importantly of all, we are trusted by the people whose rehabilitation we manage.

 

To find out more about our services, contact our team today.