What post-traumatic stress, PTS, and post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, as well as their causes are and what needs to be treated, you can read here:
1. Post-traumatic Stress and its Causes
Of the many causes of post-traumatic stress we want to pick two which we may encounter during complex and stressful jobs.
1.1. Incidents at High Risk Workplaces
Professionals at high risk workplaces face enormous responsibility as errors can have far-reaching consequences. In addition, these professionals have to act quickly and skilfully in the event of a threat in order to avoid damages of all kinds. Hence, we can easily imagine that post-traumatic stress may be a sequela of errors, or threats .
1.2. Post-traumatic Stress in the Emergency Services
Employess in the emergency services work in high risk environments, as well, because mistakes during their calls can have major consequences, for example, for their patients. Furthermore, they may experience particularly grave calls during which they witness considerable suffering. It is not always easy to distance oneself from that.
1.3. Post-traumatic Stress Is a Common and Normal Reaction
More common occurrences, such as car accidents, can lead to post-traumatic stress, as well. These are events that startle us initially, before we cope with them. Post-traumatic stress is normal and common, most human beings experience such an episode at some point in their lives without defining it as PTS. For this, one needs to recognise and classify the symptoms.
We will now turn our attention to why and how the symptoms occur, what they tell us and how PTS usually develops.
2. Symptoms and Course of PTS
2.1. What Post-traumatic Stress Feels Like
The Acute Reaction of Our Body
Most of us remember an unpleasant situation, which left us startled, with our heart beating fast, our hands wet from sweat and shaking, with our mouth dry and our brain seemingly empty. These are the symptoms of the evolutionary age-old freeze-flight-or-fight repsonse.
This reaction prepares us physically to act quickly when in danger to free ourselves. It is triggered by the release of hormones in the body, which activate the part of our nervous system that readies us to fight or flight. Therefore, our heart rate, and the frequency and depth of our breath, as well as our muscle tone increase, whereas, for instance, our digestion, which is of lesser importance at that moment, is interrupted.
The Next Days
It is normal that we experience the reaction of our body anew for a few days when we revisit the situation in our mind, or are reminded of it by external stimuli, such as smells, places, or certain messages.
Perhaps, the experienced situation appears in dreams. We may be afraid to repeat the action during which the incident had occurred. Such incidents range from accidents during spare time or professional sports, occupational accidents, witnessing sudden, or serious suffering to the involvement in an act of violence.
What We Learn from the Experience
A possible positive meaning of such an experience could be, from an evolutionary biological point of view, that we memorise the dangerous situation well. Equipped that way, we will most likely behave cautious and anticipatory in similar circumstances in order to master them without any damage or injury.
2.2. Uncomplicated Post-traumatic Stress Does Not Need Any Treatment
As we have seen above, post-traumatic stress is a normal reaction, which also helps us to cope with an event. It depends on many factors, how well we will manage that. Amongst them, how serious and long-lasting the traumatising incident has been for us. A stable initial situation, a primarily good state of health and a supporting environment are helpful, but also relaxing interests such as yoga, playing music, or outdoor sports.
Post-traumatic stress usually subsides after a few days all by itself and, therefore, requires no therapy. If PTS takes such an uncomplicated course, it is not a diagnosis and has no pathological relevance.
2.3. When to Seek Help
In some cases, the symptoms can influence everyday life considerably. For example, the persons concerned think about the incidence constantly, avoid certain people, or places. In addition, some consume more alcohol or take sedatives, as well as probably further substances in order to alleviate the symptoms.
With such types of behaviour, it is recommended not to hide behind it with the actual problem, but to seek psychological help in order to cope with the post-traumatic stress. This is especially important in order to prevent its progression into a post-traumatic stress disorder.
3. When Post-traumatic Stress Develops into PTSD
3.1. The Post-traumatic Stress Does Not Subside
If post-traumatic stress after a severe occurrence, such as experiencing the danger of death for oneself, or a loved one, does not cease, but impairs the life of the afflicted patient massively, it has progressed into a post-traumatic stress disorder.
Why some people develop a post-traumatic stress disorder while others are spared, is not conclusively clarified. Generally speaking, PTSD is rare with respect to the entire population. It can develop without preceding post-traumatic stress.
3.2. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
In contrast to post-traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder is an illness which is clinically diagnosed, and the afflicted patients need treatment.
Many symptoms resemble those of PTS, but they are different with regard to intensity and duration. So, the symptoms last longer than one month and hamper everyday life tremendously.
The persons concerned relive the initial traumatising situation time and again in nightmares and flashbacks. They avoid people, or places, which remind them of the trauma. Their mood is depressed, they experience negative feelings in the first place, such as anxiety, nervousness, and permanent tension. In addition, they may burst into tears as soon as they are reminded of the incident.
Behaviour which points towards PTSD includes the consumption of alcohol and substances to render the symptoms endurable, as well as reckless behaviour, for instance, aggressive driving. Furthermore, the avoidance of large crowds, especially in confined rooms and withdrawal from family, and friends need to be mentioned.
4. Therapy and Prognosis of PTSD
4.1. Who Will Help?
As PTSD is a mental illness, psychotherapists with expertise in trauma therapy are the right contact persons. First, the trauma is explored during a carefully conducted conversation. For this, an international standardised questionnaire, such as the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, PDS, can be employed.
4.2. Trauma Therapy and Medication as Needed
Trauma therapy is the most important part when treating post-traumatic stress disorder, during which the patients deal with their trauma with the help of the therapist. The use of cognitive processing therapy is common in order to modify thoughts and feelings, which the patients connect to the traumatising event.
Medication is used as a support, especially modern antidepressants.
4.3. Many People Recover from Their PTSD
According to the trigger, the duration and the severity of the trauma, the prognosis varies. Many people recover after a minimum of 12-15 weeks of treatment. Some need help over several years to cope with their everyday life. Many factors, such as one´s own resources, the personal history, but also the necessity of prolonged court cases after an act of violence, or an accident, play a role.
5. Post-traumatic Stress, PTSD and Openness
5.1. Already Post-traumatic Stress May be Mentioned
Everyone reacts differently to a startling event. Therefore, the need to talk about it varies from person to person, as well. It is important that we realise that post-traumatic stress is not shameful. Rather, we should talk about it with confidants if we feel like it.
5.2. Dealing with PTSD Openly
Dealing with a post-traumatic stress disorder openly costs more of an effort, as this is a diagnose which needs treatment. The persons concerned, but also their environment, might consider it a weakness. In addition, admitting it openly may be even harder for achievers in a performance-driven society.
5.3. Factual Openness is Courageous and an Opportunity
Reporting an issue openly and matter-of-factly with the aim of helping others to learn about it, is by no means a form of weakness. Rather, it requires great courage.
Only if the afflicted persons share with us what they have experienced, or are still experiencing, but also, how they dealt with their PTSD successfully and took their lives back into their own hands, we can learn about this illness and understand it. Their courage and engery are of great importance to us.
6. In My Next Blog Article You Can Read About:
A well-known figure, who has accomplished great achievements, has not only successfully overcome a post-traumatic stress disorder, but also does remarkable work to educate others about post-traumatic stress and PTSD. In August, we will elucidate this story and learn, how we ourselves can bring about change concerning these topics in our everyday lives if we observe, recognise and act with respect to ourselves and others.
Author: Eva-Maria Schottdorf
Date: July 31st 2022
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