Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the symptoms and treatment of this silent mental pain. This is a mental disorder condition which develops in a person after passing through a traumatic event in life. The event can be: sexual assault, warfare, accident, and ethnic clashes among other events. PTSD causes a wide range of reaction among different individuals as they recover or deal with stress in their respective ways. Different problems are associated with this condition and some may alter an individual’s entire life. Many people who have gone through traumatic events in life usually go through a series of stress, strange thoughts, disturbing feelings, flashback, and nightmare. Eventually, after a period of these mind distractors, one is diagnosed with PTSD.
PTSD may threaten an individual’s life especially because it takes a considerable period of time to recover from. As an individual tries to forget thoughts about the past, his/her body as well as the mental condition may be affected and paralyzed. As a result, one may end up crippled or insane. Nonetheless, PTSD can be controlled if detected in early stages during the initial symptoms stage. An individual can seek counseling and guidance as well as medical treatment to help him/her deal with the condition.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder In The Military
There are several cases in which individuals in the military are exposed to traumatic events. After experiences in the battle field such as witnessing death of innocent people, heartbreaking experiences such as death of close colleagues, shocking injuries, experiences as a prisoner of war, and life in brutal places, military men are associated with moments of flashbacks and nightmares. The US military has been reported to have the highest P.S.T.D.
cases in history. Many individuals in the military are going through hardships in life as a result of experiences in the battlefield. Failure to seek help and medication is resulting to many individuals being associated with conditions such as: unsound mind, stroke, paralysis, and even hypertension.
PTSD is also associated cases of suicide. Consistent nightmares, moments of flashbacks, bad dreams, and strange thoughts can make an individual to lose the worth of his/her life. An individual may be unable to lead their life.
For instance, causing unnecessary deaths, loss of close colleagues, serious and shocking injuries, loss in battle as a captain or a commander, and battle stress. These reasons instill extreme thoughts and flashbacks leading to PTSD and later suicide in case of lack of support in for of counseling or medication.
Symptoms
Post trauma stress in the military can be detected through portrayal of several symptoms. These symptoms may occur immediately after involvement in the battle. They continue to advance with time if an individual does not seek any help. The following are some of the symptoms associated with PTSD:
Consistent Reminders of what has Passed
Nightmares, thoughts, dreams, and flashbacks occur currently in the mind of a person who has gone through a traumatic event in the battlefield or in a foreign land. These reminders occur frequently. This shocks an individual and hinders him from conducting their activities easily.
Avoidance of Things that Remind about Traumatic Events
Individuals avoid places, people, thoughts, events, objects, and even situations that can bring the thoughts about traumatic events back.
Negative Moods and Thoughts Changes
One suffers from consistent feelings of fear, shame, guilt, and even unconsciousness. Their judgment and beliefs becomes exaggerated. Relationships with others become difficult and relatively tough.
- Feeling tensed.
- Experiencing difficulties while sleeping.
- Regular narration and explanation of the traumatic event’s occurrence and other key features.
- Decreased interest in normal enjoyable activities.
- One contracts negative thoughts about him/herself and also about the world.
- Getting easily startled.
Treatment For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD treatment includes psychotherapy and medication. Usually, psychotherapy is associated with initial and young stages of PTSD. On the other hand, medication is associated with late stages of PTSD. However, individuals who have chronic PTSD also require series of psychotherapy in order to help them reintegrate with the society.
Psychotherapy/Talk Therapy
It involves having a mental health professional to treat or correct a mental illness. It can last for a period of 6-12 weeks. Families and friends are an important part of this recovery process. Psychotherapy targets symptoms of PTSD in order to correct it. However, there are key components that must be observed and adhered to during real therapy sessions. These help in the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which includes parts such as: exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring. Psychotherapy addresses trauma and its effects in individuals. It also teaches skills in anger control and relaxation, sleeping tips, and reestablishment of personal identity. Wear medals and jewelry like military rings that will remind you of colleagues and good times.
Medication For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
In PTSD medication, antidepressants are used to help control sadness, anger, worry, and numb feeling. Other medications such as Prazosin are essential in controlling the condition as traced via symptoms. However, when it comes to medication in PTSD, individuals should seek doctor’s guidance and adhere strictly to prescriptions.
