Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: It’s Not Just a War-Related Phenomenon

When you hear the term “post-traumatic stress disorder” (PTSD), you may think of military veterans who have had front-line combat experience. But the majority of PTSD patients have never been in the military, and they aren’t male: Research suggests that about twice as many women as men experience PTSD at some point in their lives.

PTSD can result from physical abuse, sexual assault, and trauma related to pregnancy and childbirth. “Both neurobiological factors and the higher likelihood of certain traumatic events in women’s lives are responsible for the higher prevalence of PTSD in women,” explains Anna Miari, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College.

PTSD Triggers

Other events that may trigger PTSD include serious illness or injury as a child, being the victim of a natural or man-made disaster, a severe car accident or other catastrophic event, or learning about unexpected violence experienced by a loved one. 

“Triggers of PTSD are events outside the range of normal human experience, although there is a gradation in the level of severity. However, it is important to not underestimate what can be traumatic,” says Dr. Miari. Not everyone will have the same reactions to the same event. For example, among survivors of a tornado or other natural disaster, some may develop PTSD, but others will not. 

Symptoms and Risks

PTSD is a mental health condition that may manifest as a variety of symptoms, including nightmares, severe anxiety, and flashbacks and/or uncontrollable thoughts about the event or situation that triggered the PTSD. Other PTSD symptoms are similar to those associated with depression: feeling hopeless or helpless, withdrawing from others, trouble concentrating, and self-destructive behaviors.

Characteristics that increase the risk of PTSD include being female, having a history of childhood abuse or adversity or a history of mental illness, and lacking a strong social support system prior to the triggering event. 

“Risk factors related to the traumatic event and the post-traumatic period include severity of the trauma, repeated exposure to traumatic events, and reminders of the trauma,” says Dr. Miari. Dissociation refers to the detachment of the mind from a person’s emotional state. For example, a person with PTSD may be able to think about a traumatic event but have no feelings about it. 

PTSD symptoms can surface within a few months or up to several years after the traumatic event. Distressing, intrusive memories and nightmares related to the event may occur. A person who has PTSD may avoid places or people associated with the event or experience panic attacks when faced with similar situations.

Other Effects of PTSD

Along with flashbacks or nightmares, PTSD can produce “hyperarousal” symptoms, such as feeling tense or “on edge,” being easily startled, and having trouble sleeping or eating. Angry outbursts also are common among those with PTSD.

People with PTSD also are more likely to abuse alcohol, have a poor diet, and be sedentary, behaviors that are associated with higher risks of heart disease and other chronic health problems. 

Ease Symptoms with Treatment

Although PTSD is serious, treatment usually can help reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms or eliminate them altogether.

“Treating PTSD usually includes psychotherapy,” says Dr. Miari. Some examples of psychotherapy include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people recognize and change unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors, and exposure therapy, which helps PTSD sufferers safely confront the events or conditions that triggered the disorder.

Medications to treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and nightmares also may be part of an overall PTSD treatment plan.

Unfortunately, only a third of the people who have PTSD get treatment. “The stigma associated with being diagnosed with a mental disorder and the process of disclosing details about a history of trauma can be very intimidating, which is why most patients suffering from PTSD never seek treatment,” Dr. Miari says.

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