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For every one hundred people who experience a traumatic event, up to eight of them will go on to develop PTSD, a serious and severe form of panic disorder. The sufferer, when triggered, will experience PTSD symptoms, including a rapid, irrational, all-encompassing fight-or-flight response to the stimuli. The stimuli can be a place, smell, sound, or person that reminds them of the traumatic event.
While most who undergo a traumatic experience will not develop PTSD, there are several risk and resiliency factors that put some at a higher-risk or lower risk of developing this disruptive and debilitating mental health condition.
Who Suffers From Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
While pop culture and the majority social consciousness pictures a soldier returning from war as the face of PTSD, anyone who experiences a traumatic event or ongoing, repeated abuse or stressors can develop the condition.
In fact, women are twice as likely to develop PTSD than men. The type of trauma experienced can also impact the likelihood of acquiring the illness. Here is a breakdown of the percentage of people who will go on to experience PTSD dependent on their cause of trauma.
Breakdown of PTSD Sufferers
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8% natural disaster
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3% witnessing a death or murder
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4% life-threatening illness or injury of a child
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3% sudden death of a family member or loved one
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4% witnessing or being a victim of a shooting or stabbing
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8% serious injury or a car accident
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7% sexual assault
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9% physical assault or a severe beating
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49% rape
Fortunately, there is treatment and help for PTSD and trauma sufferers. A combination of different therapies and medications can lessen the symptoms and eventually cure the disorder. The following article will explore the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options for PTSD.
What Are PTSD Symptoms?
Symptoms are usually triggered by a place, sight, sound, smell, or individual who reminds the PTSD sufferer of the traumatic event.
- Flashbacks, or reliving the event. Can include physical symptoms such as sweating, rapid heart rate, and trouble breathing (fight-or-flight).
- Insomnia, bad dreams, or frightening thoughts
- Avoiding places, people, or things that are reminders of the trauma
- Feeling tense or on edge
- Exaggerated startle response
- Angry outbursts and irritability
Who Is At Risk of Suffering PTSD Symptoms?
Anyone can develop PTSD, but the following factors can greatly increase the risk of developing this mental health condition:
- Surviving dangerous events or experiencing a trauma(s)
- Getting seriously injured or hurt
- Seeing another person seriously injured or hurt, or seeing a dead body
- Experiencing childhood trauma and abuse
- Feeling horror, helplessness, or extreme fear in the face of a traumatic event
- Having little to no social support after the traumatic event or injury
- Dealing with stress after the event, like the death of a loved one or family member, pain or injury, or job loss or homelessness
- A history of mental illness or substance abuse
There are also several resiliency factors that can mitigate the chances of acquiring PTSD symptoms after a traumatic event:
- Reaching out for and getting the necessary support from family, friends, and/or a therapist or counselor
- Finding and joining a support group
- Thinking positive thoughts surrounding the event, i.e. they are a strong survivor and not a victim
- Maintaining a positive coping strategy
- The ability to act and respond effectively and positively despite their fear
While the scientific community believes there is a genetic and neurobiological component to developing or resisting PTSD, there is still no definitive link and more research is necessary.
Overview of the Five Different Types of PTSD
Normal Stress Response
This usually happens to adults who experience a single, traumatic event. They may experience sleep and eating disturbances, feelings of unreality or feeling ‘cut-off’ from others. Sufferers may need therapy and definitely support from family and loved ones to work through the response. Symptoms typically disappear in a few weeks after the event.
Acute Stress Disorder
This is a much more severe stress response to trauma that exposed the sufferer to homelessness, destruction, or death. Sufferers have a difficult time managing basic self-care, and their work and relationships are adversely affected. Panic reactions, mental confusion, paranoia, and insomnia are all symptoms. Support, getting away from the source of the trauma, and participating in therapy can all lessen the symptoms and heal the individual. Doctors may prescribe a short-term sleep aid for common sleep disturbances.
Uncomplicated PTSD
This is a persistent re-experiencing of the trauma and involves avoiding the stimuli, emotional numbing, and panic symptoms. People with uncomplicated PTSD have no other comorbid disorders and usually respond well to group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication.
Complex PTSD
This can happen to people who have been exposed to severe and prolonged traumatic circumstances, especially during childhood. Those who have gone through childhood physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse are at extreme risk of developing complex PTSD and are often diagnosed with borderline or antisocial personality disorder or a dissociative disorder. Complex PTSD symptoms may include acting aggressively, impulsively, eating disorders and drug or alcohol abuse. They experience extreme emotional problems like intense anger, panic, and severe depression.
Acute Stress Disorder
This is a much more severe stress response to trauma that exposed the sufferer to homelessness, destruction, or death. Sufferers have a difficult time managing basic self-care, and their work and relationships are adversely affected. Panic reactions, mental confusion, paranoia, and insomnia are all symptoms. Support, getting away from the source of the trauma, and participating in therapy can all lessen the symptoms and heal the individual. Doctors may prescribe a short-term sleep aid for common sleep disturbances.
Treatment Options for PTSD
Depending on the severity of the illness and the individual in question, treatment for PTSD may include a combination of professional therapies, such as:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Talk Therapy
- Group Therapy
- SNRIs and SSRIs
- Short-term Sleep Aids
For those with PTSD, most will recover. Nearly 70% who complete a treatment regimen will make a full recovery from the disease. Help from trained therapists in one-on-one or group sessions, and anti-anxiety medications and/or short-term sleep aids greatly aid in the recovery from the debilitating signs and symptoms of PTSD.
Get Help Now
If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD or a co-occurring substance abuse issue, please contact our admissions team today for a free and confidential assessment.