1. Learn the Causes of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder develops in individuals who have been exposed to a severe or mortal threat to their safety, whether real or imagined. Commonly seen in war veterans who return from combat, PTSD occurs in all age ranges, genders and social classes. The traumatic event that triggers the condition, called a stressor, may be a one-time event or it may occur repeatedly. Single stressors are seen in traffic-accident and natural-disaster survivors, murder witnesses and rape victims. People who develop PTSD as the result of ongoing sexual abuse usually have multiple stressors.
Any situation in which you fear for the life or safety of yourself or another, puts you at risk for developing PTSD. There are five major subclassifications of the disorder: acute, normal, uncomplicated, comorbid and complex. The severity of the symptoms and the length of time that has passed since you first experienced the stressor determine the subclassification of your condition.
2. Spotting the Symptoms in Children and Adults
If you're an adult with PTSD, your symptoms may include social detachment, feelings of numbness or isolation, a loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities and feelings of guilt or shame. You may also develop psychological symptoms, which can include depression, anxiety, panic complexes or suicidal or homicidal urges. You'll likely have nightmares, vivid reliving experiences and flashbacks of the event. These symptoms will be triggered when you encounter a sight, sound or smell that reminds you of the stressor.
If you have a child with PTSD, it is important to understand that symptoms differ in younger people. Though many of the same symptoms seen in adults eventually develop, child-specific symptoms include regressive behavior, excessive worry about a parent's safety and repetitious play that dramatizes the stressor.
3. Approaches to Treatment
The primary goal of treatment is a long-term reduction in symptom frequency and severity. To achieve this, it is vital for you to face, understand and assimilate the traumatic event in a psychologically healthy way. Try group and individual therapy, psychotherapy, medications and relaxation techniques to manage your condition.
4. Looking Ahead to Long-Term Recovery
Inpatient programs vary in length, from 3 to 6 months at the short end to as much as 2 years or longer. You'll find that individual response rates to treatment vary considerably from case to case, but your therapist will probably prepare you for a long-term battle. Recovery from complex PTSD can take as long as 8 to 10 years.
