What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an illness that can occur as a result of a traumatic experience. Traumatic experiences are extremely threatening or horrible situations that threaten the life or safety of yourself or others. Examples of such situations include natural disasters, severe accidents, wars, life-threatening illnesses and physical or sexual violence. 

PTSD may occur as a result of one or more traumatic situations when either a person is affected. Or when a person, for example, witnesses a terrible event in other people (eg witness a serious traffic accident).

What are the signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

If a person experiences symptoms over several weeks as a result of a traumatic experience, this may indicate post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Reliving, avoiding, and feeling constant threat are typical hallmarks of the disorder:

• Intrusive or painful memories

People can experience traumatic situations differently. Some people experience intrusive memories of the traumatic situation (so-called flashbacks) or nightmares, which can cause strong feelings (eg anxiety) and physical reactions (eg tension, pain). Situations or stimuli that are reminiscent of the traumatic experience can be perceived as threatening. And lead to intensive stress and physical reactions in those affected. PTSD Symptoms of reliving are also characterized by the fact that they occur when people in question are no longer in the traumatic situation.

• Avoidance

Sufferers avoid thoughts and memories as well as activities, situations or persons connected with the traumatic event. To protect themselves from intrusive or painful memories. For example, people who have had a traumatic experience in the context of a traffic accident may tend to avoid situations in traffic that are particularly closely linked to the traumatic experience. Thus, sufferers may stop driving themselves or use public transport (eg bus, subway), because they may be afraid that they will cause an accident. Or something else bad. Also, thoughts and feelings that are reminiscent of the traumatic experience are avoided.

• The feeling of the constant threat

Even long after the traumatic situation, sufferers may still feel threatened by the potential return of new traumatic experiences. Even though they are no longer in their original traumatic situation. This is reflected, for example, in the increased alertness of those affected by constantly searching their environment for signs of danger (hypervigilance). Also, the persistent sense of threat can cause those affected to be more frightened. Such as when loud noises in the environment suddenly occur.

Are there different forms of post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder can occur at any age after experiencing a traumatic situation and usually occurs over several months, sometimes years. The typical features of post-traumatic stress disorder usually occur during the first months after the trauma. Immediately after the trauma (hours and days afterwards), psychological injury or shock reactions and acute stress reactions are most prevalent.

If, after the onset of reactions (eg shock), the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder appear. They may subside over the next few days, weeks and months. About 30 out of 100 affected people do not show any complaints in one year after the traumatic situation.

Many people with post-traumatic stress disorder suffer from at least one (or more) other mental illness such as anxiety disorders, depression, addictions (eg, medication, drugs), suicidal ideation, or a personality disorder. Physical disorders such as cardiovascular diseases often occur in the long-term course together with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Important to know about what is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Most people will experience signs of post-traumatic stress disorder in the days and weeks right after a traumatic event. However, if you experience a traumatic event and have difficulty coping with it, especially if the symptoms do not get better over time, then it is important to seek help. 

As a first step, you can, for example, talk to your family doctor about your symptoms or seek psychotherapeutic advice.

Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder develops with people who experience one or more traumatic events with a post-traumatic stress disorder. Traumatic events in the context of complex post-traumatic stress disorder have often occurred over a longer period or repeatedly.

Moreover, avoiding the situation may have been difficult or impossible. Examples of such events include persistent domestic violence, repeated sexual or physical abuse in childhood, as well as torture, slavery or genocide. For the occurrence of complex post-traumatic stress disorder, all typical characteristics (reliving, avoidance, feeling of constant threat) of a post-traumatic stress disorder must first be experienced.

Read about CPTSD Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Besides, complex post-traumatic stress disorder is characterized by problems in the following three areas. Which often persist over a longer time: dealing with emotions, self-awareness and social relationships:

• Those affected show serious and long-lasting problems in dealing with feelings (eg in the form of long-lasting depressive moods).
• Those affected have beliefs about themselves in which they feel inferior or worthless. Also, feelings of shame, guilt or failure associated with the traumatic situation.
• Affected individuals find it difficult to maintain the most important personal relationships and to feel connected to other people.

How does post-traumatic stress disorder develop

The cause of post-traumatic stress disorder is experiencing one or more traumatic event (eg accident, violence, natural disaster). In addition to the presence of at least one traumatic event are both physiological changes (eg in the brain), as well as psycho-social factors (eg lack of social support by the related environment) involved in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder. However, it is difficult to accurately predict who will develop post-traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic event and who will not. The mere experience of a traumatic event does not necessarily lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, as people can respond to traumatic situations in very different ways.

It’s important to know that no one is “to blame” for their post-traumatic stress disorder, which can affect anyone and is a “normal reaction to an abnormal event”.

How to find out if you have post-traumatic stress disorder

First of all, it is important to take post-traumatic complaints seriously. If they persist for an extended period, psychotherapeutic help should be sought. There are considerations about the individual complaints, the life situation with strengthening and stressful conditions, the family history and physical and mental illnesses. Also, the traumatic situation that has caused the complaints, is taken seriously. The affected person may also be asked to complete a questionnaire.

This is important to find out if someone has post-traumatic stress disorder and how severe it is. 

How is a post-traumatic stress disorder treated

It is important to know that post-traumatic stress disorder can be treated well. Many people who have been affected by a post-traumatic stress disorder have already managed to seek professional help, resume their jobs, and live an active, fulfilling life.

Read about success healing from PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder can be successfully treated with psychotherapy. Psychotherapeutic treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder aims to enable those affected to cope with their everyday lives. And to recognize the traumatic experience as part of their past life story without being overwhelmed by overwhelming feelings or thoughts about the traumatic event in their current life situation.

Our specialist PTSD program facilitates approaches that are tailored to the specific needs of people with post-traumatic stress disorder. They can be used for people with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder or for people who show significant features of post-traumatic stress disorder (eg avoidance behaviour).

Find out about Post Combat Psychological Injury

Also, the guided combat psychological injury program for military veterans has proven to be effective. Here, the content of the treatment through bespoke and tailored treatment program is specific to military veterans. Also, those affected receive support from practitioners during the program implementation to be motivated. For example, to continue their work in the intervention and/or to receive feedback on completed tasks. 

Find out about the Veterans and families transition project

What can close people do

Post-traumatic stress disorder will usually have an impact on the social environment of those affected. So close family, friends and colleagues can be burdened by residual after-effects such as sleep disorders or are even affected by the traumatic event.

When dealing with those affected, close people often feel insecure. Related persons should, therefore, be well informed about the characteristics of post-traumatic stress disorder. To better understand those affected and their disorder. This allows them to better understand changes in the behaviour of those affected (eg increased irritability).

It is important for the person concerned to recognize and respond to their reaction as a normal reaction to an abnormal event (traumatic situation). If the person in question wants to talk about what they have experienced with their loved ones. It can also be very helpful, but it should be realised that talking about the actual traumatic event or experience may cause re-traumatisation or flashbacks. Here it is especially recommended for those affected to be there, to listen, not to judge the narration. And to give any unwelcome advice, as those suffering PTSD sometimes become already violent reproaches and have strong feelings of guilt.

In addition to caring for others, it is very important that close people perceive their limits and not exceed these limits. In particular, if close people have experienced the traumatic situation themselves. It is advisable to turn to outside help, so mutual stress support in the surrounding environment is counteracted. If the stress caused by the post-traumatic stress disorder of the person concerned becomes too great. Even close people can get help from groups, counselling centres and medical and psychotherapeutic specialists.

If you or someone you know is struggling with symptoms of traumatic stressors or psychological injury you are not alone. Please communicate with us.