Hello there!
This thread is all about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and provides information on what it is, signs and symptoms, treatment and provides a list of links and resources that you may find useful. We also welcome you to discuss your experiences with PTSD in this thread with other members.
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that can develop if a person has been exposed to a traumatic experience, or multiple traumatic experiences. Experiencing these events can be upsetting and distressing but does not always affect a person straight away, it can often take months, or even years before PTSD develops. Some examples of traumatic events that can cause PTSD are:
-Sexual abuse
-Growing up in a violent environment
-Domestic abuse
-Rape
-Bullying
-Being a victim of an assault, mugging or robbery
-Witnessing a violent attack or murder
-Being involved in or witnessing a fatal road traffic collision
-Natural disasters
-Military combat
-Terrorist attacks
Signs and Symptoms
PTSD affects everybody differently and there are many different signs and symptoms. The most common ones include:
-Vivid flashbacks of the trauma
-Intense distress at any reminders of triggers of the trauma
-Nightmares
-Intrusive thoughts and images
-Being unable to concentrate
-Lack of or disturbed sleep
-Feeling irritable
-Aggressive behaviour
-Being easily startled
-Self destructive and reckless behaviour
-Substance abuse
-Feeling detached from the world
-Feeling emotionally numb
-Avoid situations
-Repressing memories
-Suicidal thoughts and feelings
Treatment
If you think that you might have PTSD, it is important that you seek medical attention urgently. PTSD can develop into other mental health disorders if left untreated such as depression, personality disorders, dissociative disorders, anxiety disorders and psychotic disorders. To seek treatment for PTSD and get a diagnosis you will first need to see your GP or family doctor. They will most likely refer you to a psychiatrist for a diagnosis and for the correct treatment plan. They will most likely suggest that you will need therapy or counselling that deals specifically with trauma. You may also require medication for symptoms for your PTSD, such as anti-depressants if you also have depression, anti-psychotic medication if you are suffering with psychosis and you may need a short course of medication to help you sleep.
It can be really hard to first speak to your doctor about your traumas as you may feel embarrassed and ashamed and it can also be very triggering and upsetting. They will be non-judgemental and let you take the time to explain what you need to explain. You may find it difficult to talk to your doctor, so you may want to take someone you know really well and trust with you for support, or you may wish to write down what you want to say to the doctor before you go to the appointment, so if you feel you can’t talk about it, the doctor can still read your list and get an idea of what’s happened and how it will be best to help you.
Links and Resources
Here a few links and resources that you may find useful when dealing with PTSD:
http://www.mind.org.uk/information-...-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/#.VVjFIelFBMs
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/problemsdisorders/posttraumaticstressdisorder.aspx
https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/get-help/posttraumatic-stress/?gclid=CMPn__WsycUCFQrJtAodsB0AJA
https://bbrfoundation.org/ptsd?gclid=CPGd_ZWtycUCFYXItAod7AYAMw
http://www.brainline.org/landing_pages/categories/ptsd.html?gclid=CLvZ5q2tycUCFQXkwgod3JcAVg
http://maketheconnection.net/conditions/ptsd?gclid=CJXP8MmtycUCFQLnwgodek8AIA
http://www.ptsdresolution.org/
Self Help
http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/posttrauma.asp
http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/ptsd.htm
http://bemindful.co.uk/
Share Your Experiences!
Please feel free to share and discuss your experiences with PTSD. You may find it beneficial to talk about how you are feeling with other people who will understand, and you may be helping others who have similar experiences to you. Please also feel free to post any helpful links and resources not already listed in this thread, and we will add them to this post!
This thread is all about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and provides information on what it is, signs and symptoms, treatment and provides a list of links and resources that you may find useful. We also welcome you to discuss your experiences with PTSD in this thread with other members.
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that can develop if a person has been exposed to a traumatic experience, or multiple traumatic experiences. Experiencing these events can be upsetting and distressing but does not always affect a person straight away, it can often take months, or even years before PTSD develops. Some examples of traumatic events that can cause PTSD are:
-Sexual abuse
-Growing up in a violent environment
-Domestic abuse
-Rape
-Bullying
-Being a victim of an assault, mugging or robbery
-Witnessing a violent attack or murder
-Being involved in or witnessing a fatal road traffic collision
-Natural disasters
-Military combat
-Terrorist attacks
Signs and Symptoms
PTSD affects everybody differently and there are many different signs and symptoms. The most common ones include:
-Vivid flashbacks of the trauma
-Intense distress at any reminders of triggers of the trauma
-Nightmares
-Intrusive thoughts and images
-Being unable to concentrate
-Lack of or disturbed sleep
-Feeling irritable
-Aggressive behaviour
-Being easily startled
-Self destructive and reckless behaviour
-Substance abuse
-Feeling detached from the world
-Feeling emotionally numb
-Avoid situations
-Repressing memories
-Suicidal thoughts and feelings
Treatment
If you think that you might have PTSD, it is important that you seek medical attention urgently. PTSD can develop into other mental health disorders if left untreated such as depression, personality disorders, dissociative disorders, anxiety disorders and psychotic disorders. To seek treatment for PTSD and get a diagnosis you will first need to see your GP or family doctor. They will most likely refer you to a psychiatrist for a diagnosis and for the correct treatment plan. They will most likely suggest that you will need therapy or counselling that deals specifically with trauma. You may also require medication for symptoms for your PTSD, such as anti-depressants if you also have depression, anti-psychotic medication if you are suffering with psychosis and you may need a short course of medication to help you sleep.
It can be really hard to first speak to your doctor about your traumas as you may feel embarrassed and ashamed and it can also be very triggering and upsetting. They will be non-judgemental and let you take the time to explain what you need to explain. You may find it difficult to talk to your doctor, so you may want to take someone you know really well and trust with you for support, or you may wish to write down what you want to say to the doctor before you go to the appointment, so if you feel you can’t talk about it, the doctor can still read your list and get an idea of what’s happened and how it will be best to help you.
Links and Resources
Here a few links and resources that you may find useful when dealing with PTSD:
http://www.mind.org.uk/information-...-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/#.VVjFIelFBMs
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/problemsdisorders/posttraumaticstressdisorder.aspx
https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/get-help/posttraumatic-stress/?gclid=CMPn__WsycUCFQrJtAodsB0AJA
https://bbrfoundation.org/ptsd?gclid=CPGd_ZWtycUCFYXItAod7AYAMw
http://www.brainline.org/landing_pages/categories/ptsd.html?gclid=CLvZ5q2tycUCFQXkwgod3JcAVg
http://maketheconnection.net/conditions/ptsd?gclid=CJXP8MmtycUCFQLnwgodek8AIA
http://www.ptsdresolution.org/
Self Help
http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/posttrauma.asp
http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/ptsd.htm
http://bemindful.co.uk/
Share Your Experiences!
Please feel free to share and discuss your experiences with PTSD. You may find it beneficial to talk about how you are feeling with other people who will understand, and you may be helping others who have similar experiences to you. Please also feel free to post any helpful links and resources not already listed in this thread, and we will add them to this post!