PTSD: 6 HELPFUL TIPS FOR YOUR RECOVERY JOURNEY

What is PTSD?

According to the American Psychiatric Association, PTSD, short for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious injury.

Symptoms of PTSD

Symptoms of PTSD differ largely from person to person. This is because we all have different nervous systems, and our emotional capacity to handle or withstand stress is not the same.

Sometimes, one can develop symptoms suddenly, “out of the blue.” Other times, there are specific things that remind you of the original scary occurrence, like a noise, a smell, or a picture. Everyone experiences PTSD differently.

However, there are some common symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some of them are:

• Flashbacks: reliving the experience all over
• Nightmares about the traumatic event
• Intrusive memories that disrupt one’s daily activities
• Avoidance: People dealing with PTSD tend to steer clear of everything that might remind them of their trauma.
• “Selective amnesia”: They may also be unable to remember some parts of the ordeal.
• Detachment: They also feel alone and detached from themselves and everyone else.
• Loss of interest in everything.
• Depression: Recurring feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
• Incessant mood swings.
• They also have trouble falling asleep.
• Hypervigilance: always having their guard on.
• Angry outbursts.
• Self-harm.
• Reckless behavior.
• Trouble focusing on anything.
• Negative thought patterns.
• An immense feeling of mistrust for other people.
• Constant bouts of despair.
• Self-blame & self-loathing.

Facts About PTSD

Here are a few facts about PTSD you might not know.

• PTSD can affect anyone, regardless of race, age, gender, ethnicity, or culture.
• In the United States, approximately 3.5% of adults are diagnosed with PTSD every year.
• Women have twice the tendency as men to be affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• PTSD can affect daily activities and even one’s entire life. It can hinder productivity at work, school, home, or social settings.
• People can recover from PTSD in 3 months without treatment. However, symptoms might last longer than that and not easily go away.

Dealing With PTSD

If you experience some of the symptoms highlighted above, you should visit a mental wellness center in your neighborhood and get a proper diagnosis.

If you’ve been diagnosed with PTSD, regardless of the degree of the trauma or the gravity of the effect it might have had in your life, it’s not impossible to heal from it.

First and foremost, you should understand that healing is a slow and thorough process, and it doesn’t happen overnight.

In fact, the memories of the traumatic event you experienced might never completely fade away, but be patient with yourself. Time is a key factor of change.

PTSD is not a death sentence. You can take effective steps towards coping with the symptoms, dealing with anxiety, ridding yourself of guilt, and rising above your past.

Here are 6 helpful tips to aid you on your path to recovery.

 1. Learn about what you’re dealing with

Understand what you’re up against. Read extensively about PTSD. Talk to people who have once been victims. It would give you more insight into what you experience. You’d also be able to identify triggers and deal with them easily.

 2. Join a support group

Go to a community wellness center around you and reach out to other people coping with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and form a support group. There, you can talk about your experiences, encourage each other, and help each other through difficult situations.

It means a lot to know that you’re not alone in whatever you’re dealing with, and that kind of support would undoubtedly put you in the right headspace to rise above your trauma.

 3. Confide in someone

Be it friends, family members, or a counselor, talk to someone you trust about what you experience and how you feel. Be sure that they’re not judgemental people who would make you feel stupid for opening up.

 4. Seek professional help

As beautiful as emotional support from your loved ones is, there’s only so much they can do. It’s important to reach out to professionals who know, understand, and are willing to help you deal with PTSD.

We care about your well-being, and we can help you get in touch with qualified mental health professionals.  Don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

 5. Get in touch with nature

Nothing beats a long walk around your neighborhood on a cool evening; no phone, no music, no distractions, just you and nature. It does a lot to refresh the mind and rid it of negative thoughts.

You should try it sometime. If you don’t think you’d be safe alone, go with a trusted friend or friends.

 6. Get a pet

Pets have an immense impact on the mental health of their owners. For people dealing with trauma, their level of support is unmatched. They can sense when their owners are emotionally distressed and offer comfort.

Getting a pet, particularly a service dog will help you deal with anxiety and feelings of alienation, which will, in turn, improve the quality of your life.

After all of this, keep in mind that your physical well-being also matters. Make sure you maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits.

And if you need someone to talk to, or want to reach out to a professional, we’re right here for you. Your well-being is important to us!

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Tags: mental health center, mental heath