Recognizing and Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
There are many ways that stress can rear its head in our lives. Some of those ways can be easily treated through home remedies, and others require a professional hand to manage. One type of stress that usually needs professional treatment is post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition is a unique type of stress that can become quite severe and disabling when it is left unchecked. The good news is the post-traumatic stress disorder can be treated through a number of different methods and options. The key is in knowing how to recognize this specific kind of stress and understanding when professional help becomes necessary.
Causes and Symptoms
The first step in recognizing post-traumatic stress disorder is in understanding that this condition will always follow some sort of event where death or bodily harm occurred or was threatened in some way. It could be something that happened to you, or you might be a witness to an event that happened to another person. These occurrences generally revolve around events like combat, a physical or sexual attack, torture or a natural disaster. People have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the school shootings that have occurred around the country, from natural events like Hurricane Katrina or from 9-11.
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder usually occur within the first three months following and event, but occasionally it can take a year or more for the signs of this type of stress to show up. Symptoms can include flashbacks or distressing dreams about the event. The victim might feel emotionally numb, angry or hopeless. There might be fears that develop, difficulty sleeping and a tendency toward substance abuse. If you have experienced a traumatic event and are having difficulty with these types of symptoms for more than a month after the date, it may be time to seek the advice and care of a professional who is trained to help you work through those feelings and fears.
Treatment
Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder usually involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Within these two components, there are a number of options, however. The best person to determine which treatment will work the best for your individual situation will be your doctor. Make an appointment today if you think you need treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. There are also home treatments that can be helpful in dealing with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, like eating a healthy diet, making time for exercise, getting enough rest and talking to others. This type of stress can become quite serious if it is not addressed in a timely fashion, so do not wait to seek help and take care of yourself.
