PTSD and its symptoms:
The symptoms of PTSD start appearing from the month after the traumatizing event. The symptoms are mainly divided into four categories for a better understanding, as follows: reliving, avoiding, increased arousal and, negative cognitions and mood.- Reliving: Individuals constantly get flashbacks or nightmares about that incident multiple times, which feels like they are reliving the event or situation again.
- Avoiding: Individuals tend to avoid places or people who remind them of the event or are similar to that trauma, leading to a gap with family or friends.
- Increased arousal: Being overly emotional; easily irritated or getting easily angry. Having trouble in concentration. Feeling of shame or guilt.
- Negative cognitions and mood: Negative thoughts about yourself, feeling of hopelessness, difficulty in staying and feeling positive, poor social life, disrupted lifestyle, losing interest in activities, difficulty sleeping etc.
PTSD and its causes:
The major cause of PTSD is experiencing or witnessing any traumatic event or situation by an individual. Everyone has a different way to react to circumstances or conditions, which means that not everyone living through a trauma may have PTSD. The symptoms and their intensity also differ from person to person. Individuals who receive enough care and support may not develop PTSD and forget the event over time. However, some losses or incidents in life may be traumatic and unacceptable by an individual, and they end up having PTSD. Some examples of incidents that can cause PTSD are:- Rape or any other type of assault
- Serious accidents
- Death of a loved one
- Victim of a crime
- Any life-threatening incident
