PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is an anxiety disorder that can occur after a traumatic event. PTSD can affect you at any age and women are more likely than men to develop PTSD. However, much of the conversation around PTSD in recent years have involved men, especially after combat situations. These high-stress and dangerous situations put military men and women at a high risk of getting PTSD. It’s important to be able to accurately identify what you’re going through so that you can get the help you need, and in some cases keep the people around you safe.
PTSD is an Anxiety Disorder
PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that commonly follows a traumatic event. It can be caused by anything the mind perceives as stressful or scary. This includes a natural disaster, like a hurricane or earthquake, a physical or sexual assault, an accident, and even going to war. It’s important to note that getting PTSD doesn’t mean that you are mentally weak, in fact for many, it’s the way the brain tries to cope with the events that led to PTSD. It simply means that your brain is stuck on repeat, and cannot move on from the event without help.
It Can Happen at Any Age
The symptoms of PTSD are present in many people, but not everyone has the condition. People who have been exposed to trauma can develop the symptoms of PTSD, and it can happen at any age. It does not discriminate against race, gender or religion. Children can be affected by PTSD in the same ways that an 80-year-old gets affected by it. Age doesn’t matter
Women are More at Risk for PTSD Than Men
Women are more at risk for PTSD than men. This is in part because they are more likely to experience traumatic events and have higher rates of sexual assault and domestic violence than men. Women also tend to seek help for their trauma more often than men, so they’re more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD. So, the numbers may be skewed due to that fact as well. The good news is that finding treatment for your symptoms will make a huge difference in your ability to recover from PTSD.
There are Multiple Treatments Available for PTSD
Mental health professionals use different techniques to treat PTSD. Some of the options include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication. Psychotherapy is a general term for treating mental health problems with therapy. The goals of psychotherapy are to help people feel better, reduce symptoms, and learn ways to cope with stressors. CBT is a unique form of psychotherapy.
It helps people change patterns of thinking that may be contributing to the development or maintenance of PTSD. And in some cases, medication can be used along with other treatments for PTSD to manage symptoms. Medications may include antidepressants or antipsychotics, but these should not replace other treatment options. While you might think that these treatments are too costly, many insurance plans cover at least some of the cost. You can even seek out treatment options in remote destinations. For instance, in Costa Rica VA special programs might cover some of the cost of treatment for military veterans. It’s more cost-effective and has better results than many other PTSD treatments available.
Incorporate PTSD Self-Help Tools
While not a substitute for professional treatment, using things like Yoga, exercise, religion, journaling, meditation, or art can be extremely helpful for people with PTSD. These act as stress relievers and can be a vital part of the healing process.
Find Local Support Groups
Support groups where people who share similar experiences come together to provide support and encouragement to each other, such as a group for veterans with PTSD or people who have experienced sexual assault. Groups may be offered at hospitals, community centers, churches, universities or online through social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
Support groups offer you an opportunity to talk to others who have experienced trauma and are living with PTSD. These groups can help you feel less alone and give you people to turn to for advice along your journey. Participating in a support group can also give you hope by sharing stories of recovery from PTSD by people who were once in a worse place than you are now.