No one would want someone close to them to face a traumatic event that is so serious until it becomes a wound in their heart severely enough to bring on PTSD that lingers on long after the actual traumatic event. PTSD usually appears in the early months after a traumatic experience and the symptoms can persist for months and even years. Understanding this disorder and knowing how to properly care for sufferers is important for those close to the patient. So let’s find out more about PTSD.

What is PTSD?

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) can be caused by having a direct traumatic experience or being involved in such an incident. The list of potential PTSD-causing incidents includes serious accidents, near-death experiences, terrifying events, loss of a loved one, being abused, and others.

PTSD symptoms

PTSD symptoms can occur at any age and can be divided into physical and mental symptoms.

·       Physical symptoms

o   Headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, dizziness

o   Nausea, diarrhea

o   High blood pressure, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath

o   Trembling, tense muscles

o   Children may experience bedwetting and have developmental problems

·       Mental symptoms

o   Recurring hallucinations or nightmares replaying the incident

o   Feeling very sad when there is a stimulus to recall the trauma such as an anniversary or passing through the place the trauma arose

o   Frequent negative emotions such as guilt, anxiety, self-blame, embarrassment, hopelessness

o   Isolating oneself from other people and activities they used to do to avoid having to think about what happened

o   Sensitivity to stimuli, difficulty sleeping, restlessness, irritability, getting angry easily, violent temper

PTSD symptoms in children and adults are similar. However, children express PTSD differently as they still can't explain their feelings and don’t understand what is happening to them. Parents should closely observe their children's behavior. If a PTSD sufferer, whether adult or child, has symptoms for more than a month, or if the symptoms get more severe and affect how they live, they should see a doctor to prevent condition getting worse and avoid complications.

Causes of PTSD

There is no clear evidence as to what PTSD is caused by. However, we do know that contributing factors include extraordinary events that can happen in everyday life, from failing an exam to missing a match, as well as such severely traumatic events as:

·       Serious accidents such as a car or plane crash

·       Severe physical abuse

·       Sexual harassment or attempted sexual harassment

·       Being kidnapped, taken hostage or robbed

·       Seeing a close person or any person seriously injured and/or die

·       Experiencing a natural disaster such as flood, tsunami, storm or earthquake

Other factors that may be involved include:

·       Hereditary health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders

·       Brain malfunction of stress response-related chemical and hormone controls

Diagnosing PTSD symptoms

A psychiatrist assesses physical and psychological symptoms using criteria documented in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Patients must have experienced a serious incident and have had symptoms for at least one month or more, with the symptoms so severe that they affect their life and relationships.

Treatment

·       Mental therapy

o   Help the patient learn about mechanisms of natural feelings and understand that fear and anxiety are common to everyone that one can live with.

o   Help patients cope with the symptoms by relaxing.

o   Progressively let the patient practice facing their fears while the caregiver walks through the process step by step with understanding.

o   Taking up artistic activities such as music and art so the sufferer can express their feelings. The caregiver should not encourage sufferers to relive their trauma story at least until they feel safe and are willing to tell the story.

·       Drug treatments

Psychiatrists may also prescribe antidepressants to be taken along with the psychotherapy.

Although you can't go back in time to fix a catastrophic event that has already happened, love and understanding can create a safe space for patients and provide effective remedy. As long as we join hands in difficult times, “this too shall pass”.

Krungthai-AXA life insurance customers can get a free mental health checkup. For more information, please visit: https://www.krungthai-axa.co.th/th/health-services/mind-health.

References

·       Mayo Clinic
https://mayocl.in/3cItyRR

·       Corporate Communication, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital
https://bit.ly/3z57w3f
https://bit.ly/3zzIgnk

·       Pobpad website
https://bit.ly/3vglVs5

·       Phyathai Hospital
https://bit.ly/3vinZ34