June is post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) awareness month. In the UK, 1 in 10 people are expected to experience PTSD at some point in their lives.
Women aged 16-24 are the most likely to be diagnosed with PTSD (12.6% of the female population in this age range). And up to 70% of people with the disorder do not receive any professional support.
Whilst many people may recognise they’re struggling after a traumatic event, they may not be aware that they have PTSD. Dr Anup Mathew, Medical Director, Associate Professor and PTSD expert from Alternaleaf, added: “PTSD or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) can often be misdiagnosed as other mental health concerns.
"These could be anxiety and depression, as there are some shared symptoms. Whilst symptoms of PTSD often begin within three months of the traumatic event, they sometimes emerge later, leaving people confused by the route of their struggles."
A mental health condition can only be diagnosed by a clinician. However, these are seven signs of PTSD and how to find help.
1. Intrusive memories
Dr Anup Mathew said: "Recurrent, unwanted memories of a traumatic event, including flashbacks or nightmares, are a common symptom of PTSD. Vivid and often distressing memories of a trauma can make a person feel as though they’re reliving the event itself, which can lead to high levels of physical and emotional reactions."
2. Negative changes in your mood
The health expert added: "PTSD can often affect how a person feels overall and can also lead to significant shifts in mood, known as mood swings. These negative thoughts can be about oneself, other people, feelings about the future, work and can make it difficult to maintain close relationships.
"These mood changes can often leave people feeling quite isolated and misunderstood. For some, the overall change in moods can result in feeling numb to emotion."
3. Changes in physical and emotional reactions
"Being easily startled or frightened at sudden movements or loud noises can often be associated with PTSD. This symptom can lead to hypervigilance, where someone is so alert and constantly on guard that their anxiety is heightened to a huge extent," Dr Anup Mathew said.
"Irritability can also be a telling sign of PTSD and frequent or aggressive outbursts which are out of character could highlight that someone was struggling."
4. Severe emotional distress
“When exposed to conversations or memories of a traumatic event, someone who has PTSD will often experience extreme emotional distress. Physical signs of this, such as sweating, nausea and a rapid heartbeat, should be discussed with a medical professional in order to seek treatments.”
5. Sleep issues
According to Dr Anup Mathew, “there are many reasons why someone with PTSD may struggle with sleep. Getting to sleep can be made difficult due to hyperarousal and intrusive thoughts and, once asleep, can often be woken up by nightmares or anxiety.
“People with PTSD may feel the need to be on guard, to protect themselves from danger. It is difficult to have restful sleep when you feel the need to be always alert or are startled easily by noise.”
6. Detachment
"Feeling disconnected from others and surroundings can often be a symptom of PTSD and can stem from the feeling that nobody else understands or can relate to what you’re going through. This lack of connection can also prevent someone dealing with PTSD from feeling positive emotions or experiences and lead to numbness.
“Detachment can lead to people distancing themselves from friends, family and social situations and in some circ*mstances, work, general errands such as shopping and can lead to worry of leaving the home at all”.
7. Derealisation
"People experiencing PTSD can sometimes feel as though they’re in a dreamlike state where life can feel and look distorted or unreal. In some cases, when this symptom is particularly persistent, a subtype of PTSD called dissociative PTSD can be diagnosed," the doctor explains.
"Almost 15% of people with PTSD also experience depersonalisation and derealisation to some extent, but to meet the diagnostic criteria for ‘PTSD with dissociative symptoms’, a person with PTSD must also experience persistent or recurrent symptoms of either depersonalisation or derealisation in response to the stressor."
Speak to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
Treatments
Dealing with traumatic events can be challenging, but seeking support and professional assistance through therapy and medication are key components in effectively managing PTSD. Talking therapies and medication are the primary methods used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Seeking treatment for PTSD, even years after the traumatic event, can still lead to successful outcomes. It is never too late to seek assistance.
Talking therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) are all possible treatments. The two medicines usually recommended to treat PTSD in adults are paroxetine and sertraline.
Paroxetine and sertraline are both a type of antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Your doctor will know what is suitable for you.
Support and advice
There are a number of charities that provide peer support and advice for PTSD. For example:
- Combat Stress – a military charity specialising in helping ex-servicemen and women
- Rape Crisis – a UK charity providing a range of services for women and girls who have experienced abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault
- Victim Support – providing support and information to victims or witnesses of crime
- CRUSE – a UK charity providing support and information for people who have experienced bereavement
