Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder

After experiencing a traumatic event it is normal to experience shock and anxiety. In this article, we are going to discuss post-traumatic stress disorder, the reactions to traumatic attacks and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

What is post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD is your body’s reaction to traumatic shocking events that leaves you feeling unsafe and helpless, potentially putting your life at risk. Although PTSD varies from person to person, it is congenial to say that PTSD is mostly caused by traumatic incidents such as war, assault, rape, car crash, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, catastrophes and kidnapping to name a few. The effects of post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD  can be complex and may last longer than expected.

The symptoms of PTSD may only start showing hours or days after the traumatic even occurred. Symptoms of PTSD can be broken down in three categories:

Re-experiencing symptoms – these symptoms include reliving the trauma over again through flashbacks, bad dreams and frightening thoughts.
Avoidance – these symptoms include staying away from events or environments that may trigger the memory of the traumatic event. They also include feeling emotionally numb, strong guilt, depression and worry, and finally, losing interest in activities you once found enjoyable and having trouble remembering dangerous events.
Hyper-arousal – these symptoms include being easily startled, feeling tense or edgy, having difficulty sleeping and having angry outbursts.

Risk factors of PTSD may include (but are not limited to):
• Having a history of mental illness
• Living through dangerous and traumatic events
• Having no social support after the occurrence of the event
• Feeling extreme fear

Resilience factors that may help reduce the risk of PTSD include:
• Seeking support from close friends and family or otherwise professional help
• Different coping strategies such as getting through the event and learning from it
• Finding support groups that can assist you with your ordeal
• Being able to cope and react without fear

In our H.E.A.T course we cover a module on Post-traumatic stress disorder as part of our 2 Day Kidnap Mitigation course.

BOOK YOUR COURSE TODAY and learn how to deal with traumatic stress disorder in hostile environments.

 

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