Updated on June 21, 2024.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition. It can affect a person following traumatic events, such as:
- War
- A natural disaster
- An accident
- An assault
- Childhood abuse
- The death of a loved one
But not everyone with PTSD has experienced a dangerous event. Sometimes, just learning that a friend or loved one experienced trauma can cause the condition. Watching news of traumatic events, such as terrorist attacks, is also linked to anxiety and stress symptoms. Many people have trouble setting boundaries or looking away from graphic or disturbing images they see in the media.
Who PTSD affects
Most people who experience trauma won’t develop PTSD and the long-lasting depression and anxiety that come with it. However, about 6 percent of people in the United States will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
Anyone has the potential to get PTSD. These include combat veterans, police officers, victims of crime, witnesses to accidents, and more. However, you are more likely to develop PTSD if you:
- Were directly exposed to the trauma as a victim or witness
- Were seriously injured during the event
- Experienced long-lasting or severe trauma
- Believed you or a family member were in danger and felt helpless to do anything about it
- Had a severe reaction during the trauma such as crying, shaking, or vomiting
You are also more likely to develop PTSD if you experienced a previous trauma, have a mental illness, or lack a good support system.
PTSD symptoms
Symptoms of PTSD typically occur within three months of the distressing event. In some cases, they appear many months or years down the line. Common symptoms of PTSD include:
- Re-experiencing the trauma through flashbacks, bad dreams, or frightening thoughts
- Having repeated, realistic, and threatening nightmares
- Avoiding situations that bring back memories of the event
- Feeling emotionally numb, guilty, or worried
- Being unable to remember what happened during the event
- Having symptoms of depression, such as sadness, sleeping problems, and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
- Being anxious, tense, easily startled, and angered
It’s normal to have some of these symptoms after a scary event. But make an appointment with a healthcare provider as soon as possible to be evaluated if they:
- Last for more than a month
- Become severe
- Interfere with work or life
There are treatments that can help.
PTSD treatment
Treatment for PTSD usually involves a combination of psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” and medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is particularly helpful in treating PTSD. It may include:
- Exposure therapy, which can help address and manage fear. During treatment, people with PTSD are exposed to the trauma safely using mental imagery, writing, or visiting the place where the trauma occurred.
- Cognitive restructuring, which can help a person with PTSD get a more realistic sense of the trauma. This helps them view the event in a constructive way.
- Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), which can help reduce realistic nightmares and improve sleep. It involves reimagining a nightmare and practicing the new version during the daytime.
CBT can also be used to teach coping skills. This is so a person with PTSD can learn how to better deal with stress, anxiety, and anger linked to the traumatic experience.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is another kind of PTSD treatment. It’s different from CBT but effective for working through trauma. During EMDR, an HCP redirects a person’s eye movements or hearing as they describe the events tied to their PTSD. Over time, this shifts how the person thinks about the event.
On the medication front, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications for PTSD: sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil). Both are a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). These medicines can help relieve feelings of sadness, worry, and numbness. Other medications may be prescribed to treat certain PTSD symptoms, as well. But there are no over-the-counter medications approved to treat the disorder.
Some healthcare providers may prescribe benzodiazepines, an anxiety medication, for PTSD. But they’re not an effective treatment for PTSD and can be addictive. If you take benzodiazepines, talk to your HCP about them.
If you or a loved one has PTSD symptoms, seek help as soon as possible. If left untreated, PTSD can cause severe suffering and have dangerous long-term effects.
