Erase from memory: What is post-traumatic disorder that affects almost all of us?

According to the World Health Organization, the number of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has increased severalfold in the last three years, reaching 60% of the world’s population. The coronavirus epidemic, self-isolation, and global conflicts have affected almost every person, whether they are immersed in the information agenda or not.

A person is chronically stressed after an injury. And although it may seem like it should stay in the past, one still lives in tension, as if one were going to experience the same situation again. And as a result, his life is based on this fear readiness.

In PTSD, the person is tense, obsessed, and powerless to stop anything.

Sophia Shapotailo, a cognitive-behavioral psychologist at Zigmund.Online online psychotherapy service, talked about the dangers of post-traumatic stress disorder and how you can recognize it in yourself.

What is PTSD and why does it occur?

PTSD isn’t just about breaking up with a boyfriend. Rather, it is a response to severe stress whose symptoms do not disappear or subside after a month or even six months, although the danger has passed. The causes of PTSD are a whole chain of facts that begin with a major traumatic social event that the human psyche is unable to process to the end.

And although sometimes there is no acute reaction to events, symptoms can increase even after six months. The sooner psychologists and psychiatrists start working with a person, the faster and safer the way out of stress disorder will be. Well, if you wait for everything to pass by itself, then there is a high probability of stable personality changes in perception, thinking, behavior. As well as a violation of close emotional ties and even social isolation.

PTSD symptoms

Major symptoms include repetitive experiences of the traumatic event. They can be in the form of persistent intrusive memories, regular nightmares, or flashbacks. When the person seems disconnected from current events for seconds or even minutes and finds himself back in the past.

Also, a person with PTSD has some form of avoidance. It can partially or completely block a memory difficult event (when physical sensations, psychosomatic and anxiety are present). Or, such a person may have a diminished emotional response, as if they have little to please or upset.

Those who suffer from PTSD notice an emotional emptiness inside: they lack sympathy for themselves, their loved ones, and other people. And there is no complicity – as if they were not deeply experiencing the ongoing events of their lives.

What types of people are prone to developing PTSD?

Previously, the disorder was diagnosed in those who participated in various military conflicts. Then they began to identify witnesses of such events. Then in people whose occupation is associated with regular interaction with the consequences of various extraordinary human conditions. Not only the military, firefighters, rescuers, but also doctors, journalists, undertakers, psychologists and others can not cope with the processing of the massive volume of information.

Of course, we are not always talking about military incidents: accidents, natural disasters, acts of violence against people – robberies, fights, rapes, suicides, murders, unexpected death of a loved one can cause acute stress, followed by post-traumatic disorder.

Everyone is at risk of getting PTSD, but not everyone will suffer from it in the future. People who have tended to get stuck in the victim’s position in the past are at risk.

What should I do if I notice symptoms of PTSD?

Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder will consist of medication and psychotherapy. In this case, you should seek cognitive behavioral therapy. Sometimes specialists work well with hypnotechnics, body therapy.

Art techniques are also good when a person gradually talks about their shock through art techniques. The goal of therapy is to help restore the whole picture of the traumatic event and live it gradually, but completely and to the end.

How to help a person with post-traumatic symptoms?

The main thing – do not forget that he is exactly the same person, but still treat him with humanity and sympathy. His behavior is a trauma, not a personality. The best you can do is to gently and persistently suggest that he seek professional help. However! If he refuses to change anything, suffers from aggression for no reason and can be dangerous for you, first of all take care of yourself. You cannot be in constant danger and dependence on the behavior of a loved one, otherwise you can fall into interdependence.