PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) is an incapacitating disorder that occurs when a person witnesses or experiences a traumatic event. This is an event that initiates overwhelming anxiety; it is outside the person’s frame of reference, and usually involves either a threat of personal injury or death. Such events often occur in combat.
The mind is sometimes severely impacted by traumatic experiences, and upon facing overwhelming trauma- an extraordinary event that can cause serious injury, harm or death; usually a terrifying event, such as intentional violence and/or witnessing violence. It is an overwhelming situation that leaves a person unable to cope. It threatens your safety and causes you to feel powerless. Unpleasant or dangerous events are most likely to cause PTSD when they involve an extreme threat to a person’s life.
The more serious the threat and the longer it endures, the higher the chance of developing PTSD. The extent to which the occurrence was sudden, uncontrollable, and inescapable is also a factor. In combat, the most likely scenarios are being under enemy fire for a prolonged time, being captured and/or tortured by an enemy, being shot or shot at, having to shoot or shoot at another person, or watching a friend die.
After a traumatic experience, the mind and the body sometimes retreat into shock. Under normal circumstances, the person is able to absorb the emotions and come out of it. However, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the individual stays in shock, and the person’s memory of the occurrence and feelings about it become disconnected. In order to come out of shock, the individual must confront the memories and re-connect them to his feelings about the event.
The symptoms of PTSD can show up immediately, emerge gradually over time, or come and go. Sometimes they are engendered by a noise, an image, or a smell that reminds the person of the original event.
Some of the symptoms of PTSD are:
• Re-living the event
• Escalating anxiety
• Disturbing memories of the trauma
• A heightened sense of danger
• Lack of specific memory of the event
• Feeling emotionally unconnected from others
• Irritability
• Lack of concentration
• Insomnia
• Being easily startled
• Flashbacks
• Nightmares
Sometimes these symptoms don’t emerge for a long time after the event occurs. They may also be intermittent. If the symptoms worsen and don’t go away, this often signifies PTSD.
Remember, some factors can increase the likelihood of a traumatic event leading to PTSD. The symptoms of PTSD can show up immediately, emerge gradually over time, or come and go. Sometimes they are engendered by a noise, an image, or a smell that reminds the person of the original event.
The symptoms of PTSD can show up immediately, emerge gradually over time, or come and go. Sometimes they are engendered by a noise, an image, or a smell that reminds the person of the original event.
Some of the symptoms of PTSD are:
• Disturbing memories of the trauma
• A heightened sense of danger
• Lack of specific memory of the event
• Feeling emotionally unconnected from others
• Lack of concentration
• Insomnia
• Nightmares
Sometimes these symptoms don’t emerge for a long time after the event occurs. They may also be intermittent.