Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or in short, PTSD, is a term that many are familiar with. Most people’s first thought of people with PTSD is probably war veterans. However, PSTD can affect anyone who has been exposed to a traumatic event.
In Singapore, PTSD is not frequently brought up, however, this does not mean that PTSD does not exist here. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA, n.d.), about 1 in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their life, with women being twice as likely to have PSTD than men.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of American (ADAA, n.d.), PTSD 'is a serious potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a natural disaster, serious accident, terrorist incident, sudden death of a loved one, war, violent personal assault such as rape, or other life-threatening events’.
Here is a video of a war veteran’s story and his experience with PSTD.
To be officially diagnosed with PTSD, individuals need to experience all of the following symptoms for at least 1 month (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], n.d.):
1) At least 1 of the following re-experiencing symptom (NIMH, n.d.):
Having flashbacks (recalling the traumatic experience repeatedly; may have physical symptoms such as sweating or heat racing)
Having nightmares
Having thoughts that are frightening
2) At least 1 of the following avoidance symptom (NIMH, n.d.):
Avoiding places, events, or things that reminds them of the traumatic event
Avoiding emotions or thoughts that are associated with the traumatic experience
3) At least 2 of the following arousal and reactivity symptoms (NIMH, n.d.):
Being startled easily
Being tense or ‘on-edge’
Having problems sleeping
Having outbursts of rage
4) At least 2 of the following mood and cognition symptoms (NIHM, n.d.):
Having difficulties recalling key aspects of the traumatic experience
Having negative thoughts about the world or themselves
Having distorted emotions such as blame or guilt
Losing interests in activities they used to enjoy
Some people with PTSD do not exhibit any symptoms until weeks or months after the event (NIHM, n.d.). Other anxiety disorders, depression or substance abuse usually coexists with PTSD (NIHM, n.d.).
Cognitive-behavioural therapies such as cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy and stress inoculation therapy have been proven to be effective in treating PSTD (APA, n.d.). Medication and group therapy are also useful for helping people to cope with PTSD (APA, n.d.).
It is important for you to find a doctor and get help if you think you have PTSD. Here are some self-care strategies that can help one better deal with PTSD (De Lorenzo, 2018):
Try meditation
Try trauma-sensitive yoga
Get sufficient sleep
Start exercising
Find safe social and community supports
Try journaling
Now that you have learnt more about PTSD, I hope that you realise PTSD goes beyond being scared and having nightmares of scary events. Do you know of anyone who might have PTSD?
This Saturday, we will be moving on from Anxiety Disorders to another well-known disorder, Eating Disorders. Stay tuned to learn more!
For a list of helplines, click here.
References
De Lorenzo, C. (2018, August 21). 7 self-care strategies you can use to manage trauma triggers, according to experts. Retrieved from https://www.bustle.com/p/7-self-care-strategies-to-help-manage-trauma-according-to-experts-10087377.
American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder? Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (n.d.). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Retrieved from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd.
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml#part_145371.
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