Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fifth edition (DSM-5) does not list PTSD as an anxiety disorder as did the previous editions. Instead, PTSD is now included within the coding for Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. This is important in the sense that traumatic experiences result in a person not only experiencing anxiety, but also cause feelings of despair, anger, helplessness, and withdrawal.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be defined as a mental disorder that can develop after a person has been exposed to a traumatic event, such as physical or sexual assault, combat/war trauma, motor vehicle accident, work-related accident, or other threats to the person's life. Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings or dreams related to the incident/event, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues and triggers, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues and triggers, alterations in how a the affected person thinks and feels, and in increase in the fight or flight response. Symptoms last for more than a month after the event.
The DSM-5 describing PTSD in terms of symptoms presented as a result of significant events of a catastrophic nature, leaving the victim with a feeling of no control and bringing with it, a pronounced sense of hopelessness, essentially means that these kinds of incidents are typically termed as "Large 'T'" traumas.
Note: for a description of Trauma and different traumas, click here
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be defined as a mental disorder that can develop after a person has been exposed to a traumatic event, such as physical or sexual assault, combat/war trauma, motor vehicle accident, work-related accident, or other threats to the person's life. Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings or dreams related to the incident/event, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues and triggers, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues and triggers, alterations in how a the affected person thinks and feels, and in increase in the fight or flight response. Symptoms last for more than a month after the event.
The DSM-5 describing PTSD in terms of symptoms presented as a result of significant events of a catastrophic nature, leaving the victim with a feeling of no control and bringing with it, a pronounced sense of hopelessness, essentially means that these kinds of incidents are typically termed as "Large 'T'" traumas.
Note: for a description of Trauma and different traumas, click here
Symptoms
PTSD symptoms can generally be categorised into four categories: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms can vary over time or vary from one person to the next.
Intrusive memories
These may include:
Avoidance behaviour
These may include:
Negative changes in thinking and mood
These may include:
Changes in physical and emotional reactions
Also referred to as arousal symptoms/triggers, these may include:
Intrusive memories
These may include:
- Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
- Dissociative experiences, such as the reliving of the event as if it's happening all over again, also referred to as flashbacks
- Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
- Severe emotional distress and/or physical reactions to reminders (triggers) of the traumatic event
Avoidance behaviour
These may include:
- Mental avoidance, i.e., trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event (mental avoidance may also include an increased narcotics/alcohol misuse)
- Physical avoidance, i.e., avoiding places, activities or people that serve as reminders of the traumatic event (physical avoidance may include an unwillingness to leave one's room/home)
Negative changes in thinking and mood
These may include:
- Self-deprecating thoughts; also of other people, life, or the world in general
- Hopelessness about the future
- Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event
- Difficulty maintaining close relationships
- Feeling detached from family and friends
- Lack of interest in activities one once enjoyed
- Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
- Feeling emotionally numb
Changes in physical and emotional reactions
Also referred to as arousal symptoms/triggers, these may include:
- Being easily startled or frightened
- Always being on guard for danger
- Self-destructive behaviour, e.g., drinking too much or driving to fast
- Trouble sleeping
- Marked decrease in concentration level
- Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behaviour
- Overwhelming feelings of guilt or shame