Are you dealing with haunting memories? Do you suffer from extreme anxiety and panic attacks? Are regular flashbacks of a tormenting event disturbing your daily life?
These could be the signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Identifying and Managing PTSD
Many people who struggle with PTSD do so in isolation and mostly are unaware of the extent to which their mental health has deteriorated.
If you’ve been subjected to constant abuse (physical, psychological, or sexual), or have suffered from a traumatic incident (rape, torture, etc.), the effects may continue to linger for some time. Such a response to distressing events is natural. But when these effects last much longer, or start increasing in magnitude over time, your condition might have become chronic.
Some common symptoms of PTSD include:
- Occurrence of vivid flashbacks
- Feelings of fear, panic, and anxiety
- Haunting nightmares
- Nausea, trembling, sweaty palms, or pain
- Getting upset easily
- Panicking and feeling anxious when reminded of the traumatic incident
- Being unable to sleep or having a disturbed sleep cycle
- Irritability or aggression
- Facing difficulty trying to concentrate on even the simplest tasks
- Easily startled
In addition to any of these above symptoms that you might be experiencing, it may also be hard for you to remember the details of the traumatic incident, or, you may feel unable to describe or discuss what happened.
Try healthy coping strategies.
Many people who suffer from PTSD cope by resorting to alcohol or drugs. But a professional mental health expert would tell you to try healthy coping strategies, such as:
- Join a support group or find supportive connections in your surroundings
- Spend time with your family and friends rather than staying in isolation
- Start exercising on a regular basis and adopt a healthy lifestyle
Lastly, remember to be patient and loving with yourself. Link yourself with a licensed mental health counselor so you are able to access care if and when you want it.