Going through a life threatening event like illness and accidents can take a toll on anyone’s mental health. You might feel helpless, and unable to do the things you love after the event. Eventually, however, you’ll put the memory behind you. The same can’t be said of someone suffering from PTSD. The dread that they experienced from that traumatic event is nearly impossible for them to get rid of and it can last for months or even years.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD for short, is a mental disorder that can affect anyone at any time. All that has to happen is to experience or witness a terrifying or life changing event. Accidents and unpleasant experiences are the most common reasons for PTSD to manifest in a person. Fear is a normal response to danger and PTSD can be interpreted as an extreme version of fear.
Signs of PTSD
Someone with PTSD is not difficult to identify from another person’s point of view. You’ll see a drastic change in how they handle their day to day life and how they interact with others. They’ll be actively trying to avoid the topic of their trauma whether it be trying to talk it out with another or visiting the location of where the traumatic event happened. They are also harder to catch off guard or startle as they’ll be on edge almost all the time.
People suffering from PTSD also go through the extremes of emotions. One person suffering from PTSD might show signs of depression, another might have anger management issues, while another could show signs of both. Those suffering through PTSD are varied in how they handle this mental illness and it is important for loved ones to understand this.
Sleep is either a blessing or a curse for them as they either avoid it as much as possible or over indulge in it. Those who avoid it see sleep as an opportunity for the traumatic event to haunt them in their dreams. Those who spend too much sleeping on the other hand, use sleep as an escape to get away from the pain that they feel in day to day life remembering the traumatic event.
Seeking Professional Help
It’s rare for those with PTSD to ever seek help on their own and you might have to push them in the right direction to do so. It is best to seek professional help as soon as you notice a loved one suffering from the signs of PTSD as it can heavily affect a person’s personality and outlook on life. Younger victims of PTSD especially need professional help as it can affect them until their adult lives and it will be harder to cure by then.
It can be hard to support someone with PTSD but with the right help they can once again live fulfilling lives. All you need is to give them your support and be patient with how their perception of the event has affected them. Soon enough they’ll be back in control of their lives so long as they’re given professional help and the right treatment as soon as possible.
