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.