How to Overcome Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop following a traumatic event that some people saw or lived through it.

Traumatic events that can lead to PTSD include:
• War
• Natural disasters
• Car crashes
• Unexpected death of a loved one
• Rape
• Assault
• Sexual or physical abuse
Symptoms

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms are three main types of symptoms:
1. Intrusive memories
2. Avoidance and numbing
3. Increased anxiety and emotional arousal

Symptoms of intrusive memories

• Flashbacks
• Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
• Frightening thoughts

Symptoms of avoidance and numbing

• To avoid thinking, feeling, and talking about the traumatic event
• Losing interest in activities that were enjoyable in the past
• Feeling emotionally numb
• Hopelessness about the future
• Having trouble remembering the dangerous event.
• Trouble concentrating
• Feeling guilt and depressio

Symptoms of increased anxiety and emotional arousal

• Being easily startled or frightened
• Irritability or anger
• Being easily startled
• Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much
• Having difficulty sleeping

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may don’t display for weeks.

Treatment

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavior therapyr
In cognitive behavior therapy, your therapist helps you identify your irrational thoughts about yourself, the world, the traumatic event, others, and your future. Then, you learn to challenge your irrational thoughts and replace them with rational thoughts.

Exposure therapyr
In exposure therapy, therapist gradually exposes you to thoughts, feelings, and situations that remind you of the trauma. Repeated exposure to these thoughts, feelings, and situations helps you can react to stressful event easily.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is another type of therapy combines exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy for PTSD. EMDR changes characteristics of your memories of traumatic events.

Mindfulness is a kind of meditation that could be used by itself or together with cognitive behavior therapy for PTSD.

Meditation

Medications can help symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include:
• Antipsychotics
• Antidepressants
• Anti-anxiety medications
• Prazosin

Self-Help and Coping

Take care of yourself. Eat healthy foods, get enough rest, and get regular exercise. Avoid caffeine and sugar, when you have stress. Make time for activities you enjoy. Get enough rest.

Don’t use alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and drug may give you a better feel in the short term but, addiction makes your problems worse in the long term.

Talk to others for support. Communicate with people and get help them, because their support is essential for recovery from this disease. Talk with your close friends, family, and positive people. Join a PTSD support group.

Learn about trauma and PTSD. To learn about PTSD and how to react to trauma help you for better coping with symptoms of PTSD. Talk to your doctor about your trauma and your PTSD symptoms.

Practice relaxation techniques. Relaxation not only helps you have peace of mind, but it is a process that decreases the effects of stress and symptoms of PTSD on your mind and body. Relaxation techniques also can help you handle negative reactions.