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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex disorder that is often misunderstood. Anyone who has been victimized or has witnessed a violent act or who has been repeatedly exposed to a life-threatening situation is at risk of PTSD. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD, but many people do.
PTSD symptoms usually develop within the first three months after trauma but may not appear until months or years have passed. These symptoms may continue for years following the trauma or, in some cases, symptoms may subside and reoccur later in life, which often is the case with victims of childhood abuse. Some people don't recognise that they have PTSD because they may not associate their current symptoms with past trauma.
Symptoms of PTSD
The following three categories of symptoms are associated with PTSD:
Re-living the event through recurring nightmares or other intrusive images that occur at any time. People who suffer from PTSD also have extreme emotional or physical reactions such as chills, heart palpitations or panic when faced with reminders of the event.
Avoiding reminders of the event, including places, people, thoughts or other activities associated with the trauma. PTSD sufferers may feel emotionally detached, withdraw from friends and family, and lose interest in everyday activities.
Being on guard or being hyper-aroused at all times, including feeling irritability or sudden anger, having difficulty sleeping or concentrating, or being overly alert or easily startled.
If a number of symptoms from each category have lasted for one month or longer, and the symptoms cause severe problems or distress in personal life, at work or, in general, affect daily life - then PTSD is very likely.
One of the most effective ways of dealing with PTSD is via Hypnoanalysis. For a FREE Initial Consultation contact us soon.
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