Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

"PTSD is the fear controlling you. Exposing your fear is controlling your PTSD!" - Anthony Parsons.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, otherwise known as PTSD, is defined as a condition in which a person experiences enduring physical or psychological symptoms after an extremely stressful event or series of events.

In World War I, this problem was known as Shell Shock. During World War II, this was called Combat Fatigue. Now, it is known as PTSD.

Soldiers are trained to believe they must kill or be killed during combat in war. War may leave deep, psychological scars.Understanding PTSD and the symptoms will help those who welcome home the soldier receive the treatment he or she needs so the soldier may work on regaining their psychological health and freedom.

The following are seven indicators of PTSD:

(1). Flashbacks are the hallmark of PTSD. A flashback includes vivid memories, feelings, and images of traumatic experiences. When I say "hallmark" I mean this is the most common symptom for those plagued with PTSD.

(2). Nightmares are the second highest indicator of PTSD. Many times, soldiers will sleep with the lights on (if lighting is available) or avoid sleep as long as possible so the frequent nightmares will not reappear.

(3). Sleeplessness. This goes along with nightmares, mentioned above. The soldiers know if they fall asleep, they may have nightmares; therefore, a vicious cycle ensues to try to stay awake for extended periods of time. Soldiers in the war zone have gone for 28 hours regularly with no sleep. Studies have proven that after 28 hours with no sleep, the possibility of making grave errors rises to an all-time high. This places the soldiers at elevated risks and can get them killed.

(4). Recurring anxiety is a common denominator for those affected by PTSD, especially soldiers returning from war. They are anxious about many different things. Think about it this way. You, as a civilian, are at home, getting dressed for work and must decide what to wear that day. As a soldier, the warrior is constantly apprehensive of where his boots, gear, bitch (M-16), and extra ammo are when he is at war. It takes a while to get past this.

(5). Intrusive thoughts haunt the soldier, as do certain sounds. When the soldier is in the war zone, he or she is on high alert at all times. They see and hear things that we have not seen or heard, such as unpleasant thoughts of shootings the day before, losing their buddies, horrific things we, as civilians, have not had to deal with. These intrusive thoughts can enter the mind at any time, until they are controlled. There are instances when they cannot be controlled 100% of the time.

(6). A soldier has problems with attention when he or she has PTSD. They are conditioned to never be relaxed, so when they do have that opportunity of being outside the war zone, there is difficulty in paying attention. The soldier is thinking about war again and that is where his or her attention is focused. The mind wanders if PTSD is not treated.

(7). Social withdrawal is the final sign of PTSD. Soldiers have a difficult time readjusting to civilian life after coming back from war. They do not feel they can talk about what they have seen or done because nobody will understand them. As a result of this, they turn their thoughts inward, this becomes shame, which turns into blame, and one big circle of negative forces drive them deeper into PTSD.

The good news is that there is hope for those who suffer from PTSD. The first step for soldiers returning from war or any Veteran suffering from PTSD is to go their local Veterans Hospital (VA) and get the diagnosis. File papers for disability. Seek out treatment from the VA in support groups, find a good Life Coach who fully understands PTSD, or search for a mental health professional who can treat PTSD. Many cannot do so. What is important is that you find a therapist or professional person you can relate to, someone you can work with and feel comfortable with, and develop a relationship with. Please understand that this is not a quick fix. There is more than one method of approach for PTSD and it is a partnership to find what works best for you.

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Definition

Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, occurs after some sort of life-threatening situation such as a personal assault, military combat or terrorist attacks. People can sometimes even experience PTSD without having been involved in the actual event themselves if they witness it happen to someone else.

Most people who experience a stressful event of some type will return to normal shortly afterwards. Some people's reaction does not go away, and will get progressively worse if left untreated. If their reaction to the event is not dealt with, it can sometimes develop into post traumatic stress disorder.

Those who suffer from PTSD often experience the event over and over, through flashbacks or nightmares, and they may develop a detached feeling from their surrounding or have difficult sleeping. These symptoms can sometimes be severe enough to hinder a person's day-to-day life.

PTSD is not entirely a psychological problem. There are also biological changes in a person's body that have been identified as part of the disorder. Because it often occurs alongside other issues, such as alcoholism, memory problems and substance abuse, it can be even worse.

Those who suffer from PTSD often have difficult functioning in their social or family life. This can lead to problems in their school, work or personal relationships.

How To Treat PTSD

There are a number of different treatments for dealing with post traumatic stress disorder, including several forms of psychotherapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy and exposure therapy.

Exposure therapy required the person suffering from PTSD to relive the experience under controlled conditions. With proper guidance, this can help them to work through the trauma that is the root cause of PTSD.

There are also a number of drugs or medications that are used to treat stress disorders. The most common of these are Prozac and Zoloft. These medications help to ease the depression and anxiety associated with PTSD and help the person sleep better.

The treatment that appears to have had the best results is cognitive-behavioral therapy. While medications and drugs often work, they are really just masking the underlying causes of the condition. Many drug trials are still in the early stages, however, so it really still too early for definitive results of the best treatment.

If a person is showing any signs of post traumatic stress, they should consult with their doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to help diagnose the problem and determine the best course of action for treating it.

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

The PTSD or the post-traumatic stress disorder is easy to explain - this is a disorder that follows a traumatic incident. Your mind, filled with the horror and terror of the helplessness you felt during that particular incident, would overreact whenever anything triggers (or reminds you) about the scene. For example, a child is sexually abused by someone close in her or his family, but is unable to stop it or tell it to anyone. When this person grows up into an adult, he or she would have panic attacks every time he or she would be reminded of that incident. This could be a smell, a person who looks like the abuser, a particular word, a sound, a certain type of weather, a song and the like.

Some of the symptoms that should tell you are suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder are:

1. Haunting thoughts - whatever you do, you are haunted by thoughts from the incident and these make you cringe from inside. These thoughts interfere with you ability to behave normally, to be happy. You would find that every time you relax a feeling of acute vulnerability engulfs you forcing you into a state of constant panic

2. Nightmares - since the incident has left deep emotional scars, which are unresolved until date you would be harassed by nightmares that might seem inconsequential, but which re-recreate the intense discomfort, pain and fear you felt during the incident

3. Inability to talk about it - you would find it impossible to discuss what you felt or feel with anyone. The mere thought of exposing your feelings would send you into a panic. Whenever attempts are made to have you open up on the subject, you would feel like hiding or running away than relieving the same situation over discussions

4. Negative empathy - you would also find it impossible to connect to anyone who has shared your type of trauma because you would see yourself in those other victims and the vision would be unbearable.

5. Depression - most people who suffer from PTSD would be victims of depression as well. You would loose interest in living, socializing, taking care of yourself and would rather commit suicide just to shut the pain off that is following you and refuses to go away. You feel trapped and victimized; you feel hopeless and worthless and often would be surprised that others even notice you, leave alone take into consideration your feelings or wishes. You would experience acute anxiety symptoms, which would heavily interfere with your performance and health.

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What Is The Difference Between Mild Depression, Severe Depression and Being Bipolar?

There is a world of difference among mild depression, severe depression, and being bipolar. There are, apparently, different types of depression, and each one requires different types of treatment. Knowing how to differentiate one from the other, therefore, is important in coping with the condition.

Mild Depression

Mild depression is depression of the chronic type of depression. What this means to say is that the feelings of sadness are going on almost every day for no less than two years. The symptoms are mild but should not be taken for granted, nonetheless, as they can, affect many aspects of your life, including your health, and sooner or later, these signs and symptoms can progress to something more severe.

Individuals diagnosed with mild depression are generally described to have:

• Low energy levels.
• Reduced appetite.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Low self-esteem.

These manifestations can result in:

• Over-fatigue.
• Impaired work performance that can cost you your job.
• Impaired social relationships.
• Nutritional deficiencies.
• Weight loss.
• Anemia.
• Impaired immune system.

Treatment of Choice for Mild Depression

The treatment of choice for mild depression is cognitive therapy or behavioral therapy which has the following features or goals:

• Recognition of negative thoughts and feelings and learning to convert them to positive ones.
• Gaining control of the situation, rather than the situation controlling you.
• Encouraging motivation.

In some cases, this form of therapy is coupled with anti-depressants.

Severe Depression:

Severe depression is exactly what it is - depression of the severe kind. Clients diagnosed with severe depression are often called a psychotic case. Why, because the signs and symptoms associated with mild depression occur in greater intensity, and in many cases include hallucinations and delusions.

With severe depression, the client:

• Is distressed or agitated.
• Has very low self-esteem.
• Is socially withdrawn.
• Fails to take care of him/herself.
• Hallucinates.
• May have suicidal thoughts or tendencies.

Treatment of Choice for Severe Depression

Severe depression requires professional treatment. Make sure you engage the services of someone with extensive experience and one you will be comfortable working with. Just to give you an idea, depression of this kind is managed with anti-depressants, psychotherapy, and self-help strategies that include educating yourself, employing anti-stress techniques, deep-breathing, and making lifestyle changes.

Bipolar

Bipolar is depression of a different level, characterized by shifts in mood. You are manic at one point and depressed at another. Individuals with bipolar:

• Are impulsive. They can go on a spending spree, make unwise investments, engage in gambling and other illicit activities including sex.
• Are euphoric and restless, and highly irritable during the manic phase. There is an increase in energy levels as well.
• Have difficulty getting out of bed, during the depressive phase. Feelings of hopelessness and self-pity are intense.
• May have extreme feelings of guilt, hallucinations, delusions, suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

Treatment of Choice for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is very serious and must be approached with extreme caution. Medications for bipolar cannot be bought over-the-counter and must be used only upon doctor's advice. A combination of anti-depressants and psychotherapy is usually recommended, along with a strong support system and some self-help measures. In worse-case scenarios, electro-convulsive therapy may be recommended.

It doesn't matter what type of depression you have. Mild or severe, depression can affect your health and the quality of your life. Don't let depression get the better of you. Don't let it control your life. Talk to a specialist at the first sign or symptom of depression or know how to prevent it with good food, exercise, and the right vitamins (such as the family of B-vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin D) and Omega-3 fatty acids.

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Severe Depression Symptoms - Why Antidepressants Can Be Responsible For Sudden Suicide

Severe depression is the worst form of depression. Your body, mind, and spirit is made hostage of a silent predator, and this can go on for a very long time. Did you know that 20 million Americans have got depression and the numbers keep going up. However, only a small percentage of these people develop severe depression symptoms. Determining these signs can save your life.

You already know that depression has drastically changed your life? You've already lost precious time because depression is controlling your life. How can I recover from this hell, you'll ask? Just go back in time, and allow yourself to remember how it felt to be your old self among people that you love - how wonderful is this!

If I were to tell you that there is a fast and permanent method that can help you to break the cycle of depression and lead a normal life again, would you be interested? Read word for word, and you'll find out soon enough about a method that tackles the root cause of depression. This method has helped over 30,000 people with mild to severe depression to break the cycle of depression, and lead a normal life.

One of the most persistent signs of severe depression is feeling 'miserable' all the time. You aren't able to shrug it off, or put it on the weather. If you're like this for more then 2 weeks you need to seek help.

Severe depression symptoms are those that come on top of the signs and symptoms for mild to moderate depression. Everything is felt more intensely. Severely depressed people have a very low drive, especially the motivation to get out of bed in the morning is lost. Do you belong to these people that have a bleak outlook on the present and the future? Worthlessness and hopelessness have enrobed you, and not much room is left to escape them.

Most of the time people with severe depression take antidepressants (AD). They have a 10 % risk of killing themselves. Often people act out what they have been thinking about for a very long time, namely end their lives, when starting with antidepressants.

This is very important! Before they didn't have the drive to do it, but under medication their drive is restored before their mood is lifted. They then go ahead with their plan to commit suicide. AD's have to be taken for a period of 3 to 4 weeks before they become effective, so it is advisable to take another medication at the same time that curbs the drive until the AD's work.

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Signs of Teenage Depression

Teenagers are known for their moodiness. It is a time in one's life when chores are more than just a burden, schoolwork is drudgery and the wrong word from a friend can seem like the end of the world. It's no wonder then that for parents, teachers and friends, signs of depression in teenagers can often be difficult to see. In fact, it is estimated that only 20 percent of teenagers suffering from depression ever get the help they need. However, clinical depression should never be confused with moodiness. Depression is a debilitating condition that can lead towards alcohol and drug abuse, violence and suicide.

These are the warning signs of clinical depression. The more of these signs that describe someone you know, (teenager or adult), the more important it is that they talk to their doctor about depression.

• sadness or hopelessness
• irritability, or outbursts of anger
• frequent crying
• lack of motivation
• withdrawal from friends or family
• change in eating habits, loss of appetite
• change in sleeping habits, sleeplessness or oversleeping
• loss of interest in once-favorite activities
• feelings of guilt
• feelings of worthlessness
• fatigue, or lack of energy
• difficulties in concentration
• preoccupied with thoughts of death
• suicidal thoughts

Above all, please understand that talk of suicide, or suicidal thoughts should never be dismissed without talking to your doctor.
If you suspect a teen you know is suffering from depression, talk to them about it, or have them talk to an adult they can trust, preferably their family doctor. There are a wide variety of treatment options available for depression today, and there is no reason for anyone to suffer with depression alone.

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How to Spot the Signs of Severe Depression

When a person has depression they may feel sad, tired, or alone. However, severe depression is more amplified. Severe depression may cause an overwhelming sense of hopelessness that can cause a person to ponder suicide.

Further symptoms of depression can include feeling sad, having crying spells for no apparent reason, or a loss of please in activities the person once found enjoyable. The severely depressed person may lose their appetite or may develop an increase in their appetite which can lead to an increase or decrease in weight. Insomnia may develop and they may become irritated and lash out at friends and family. An overwhelming feeling of tiredness may set in as well. All of these symptoms may lead to a low feeling of self-worth that can cause thoughts of suicide.

If you have a friend or loved one that has reached the point of suicidal thoughts or attempts, it is vital to seek help immediately. Call 911 if you need immediate help and schedule an appointment with a qualified mental health care provider. Furthermore, most major cities have suicide prevention centers in place with 24-hour hotlines.

Many times, friends or family members will want to talk their loved one out of their depression. While it is important to be supportive, bear in mind that a person with severe depression may lose the ability to weigh their thoughts in a rational manner. The important thing is to stay positive, supportive, and patient. Depression can be a severe mental illness and at times life threatening. However, there are a number of treatments available. Talking with a qualified doctor that specializes in depression is the first step. They may recommend a variety of medications, therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In more severe cases they may recommend a brief hospital stay for observation. Thankfully, most people respond well to treatment and will be able to enjoy life once again.

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