Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is categorized as an anxiety disorder. Like other anxiety disorders, people with PTSD have an intense or overwhelming reaction to an event or situation that causes them extreme distress and can interfere with their ability to function.

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People who are experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can have a variety of symptoms. Mental health professionals categorize the symptoms of PTSD into four distinct types:

• Re-experiencing symptoms. This includes flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and other symptoms that bring the person back to the traumatic event they went through.
• Avoidance symptoms. This means actively trying to avoid places, things, and events associated with the trauma. People with PTSD might also try to avoid thinking about or feeling the emotions associated with their traumatic experience.
• Arousal and reactivity symptoms. This includes any symptom that indicates a person is experiencing ongoing fear, such as being easily startled, feeling on edge, dealing with sleep disturbances, and more.
• Cognition and mood symptoms. These are symptoms that indicate a strong emotional response to the trauma. Symptoms can include memory trouble, loss of interest or joy, feeling guilt or shame, and developing increasingly negative feelings about themselves or the world.
  

To be considered for a diagnosis of PTSD, a person must be experiencing 1-2 of each of these types of symptoms for 1 month or more.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is often associated with veterans who have seen combat, but PTSD can affect any man, woman, or child who experiences a traumatic event. Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD, but anyone who experiences trauma can develop PTSD.

There are several risk factors that contribute to the likelihood a person will develop PTSD after going through trauma:

• Experiencing trauma in childhood
• Feeling horror, helplessness, or intense fear during a traumatic event
• Experiencing a traumatic event that lasts a long time (such as combat, or an abusive relationship)
• Having a personal or family history of mental illness or substance abuse
• Lack of support after the traumatic event
• Additional stressors surrounding the traumatic event, such as losing a loved one or experiencing poverty or homelessness
  

Women are more likely to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder than men. Research suggests that 8% of women and 4% of men will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is unique from other anxiety disorders because it develops as a direct response to an initial traumatic event. Any experience that is traumatic to an individual can trigger PTSD.

Traumatic events that trigger Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can include:

• Combat violence
• Witnessing or experiencing a violent crime
• Witnessing or experiencing a terrorist attack
• Witnessing or experiencing a car accident, train derailment, or plane crash
• Witnessing or experiencing a natural disaster
• Sudden, traumatic death of a loved one
• Encountering any other kind of violence or gore
  

Women are more likely to suffer from PTSD as a result of sexual violence, such as sexual assault or child sexual violence.

Men are more likely to suffer from PTSD as a result of accidents, physical assault, combat, or witnessing violent death or injury.

Trauma is complex, and every person responds to it differently. Thankfully, there are a number of treatment options that can be helpful in alleviating the symptoms of PTSD.

Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder might include:

• Medication. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicine may be prescribed to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
• Therapy. Different types of therapy can be effective in relieving post-traumatic stress. These might include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Prolonged Exposure, Narrative Exposure, Group Therapy, and more.
• TMS. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy is an FDA-approved depression treatment that may help relieve depression and anxiety experienced by people with PTSD. TMS therapy is a non-invasive, non-drug treatment that involves placing a small magnetic coil against the head to stimulate certain areas of the brain, which promotes healing.

At Transformations Care Network, we are dedicated to helping people in our communities access life-changing mental health care. If you believe that you are experiencing an anxiety disorder like PTSD, contact us today to learn what our compassionate care providers can do for you.