PTSD: Not A Common Mental Disorder

What is PTSD? How it affects the life of the victim. What are the symptoms of PTSD? To understand more about the same the team of ETV Bharat Sukhibhava talked to Dr. Veena Krishnan, Senior Psychiatrist of Dehradun.

In the journey of our life, we experience many events. Some of them leave us sad, while some change our life completely. Most people swallow their sorrows and move on, but some are left traumatized, wretched, tensed, depressed, and surrounded by sadness. If this problem is not attended to on time, they may become victims of serious mental disorders. One such disorder is 'Post Traumatic Stress Disorder', also known as PTSD. To understand more about the same, the ETV Bharat Sukhibhava team spoke to Dr. Veena Krishnan, Senior Psychiatrist practicing in Dehradun, and here is what she explains.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Dr. Veena Krishnan explains that post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental disorder caused by an accident, death or disability of a loved one, shock, witnessing a crime or severe psychological and emotional stress arising due to these reasons. It can happen to anyone at any age. But people who are already suffering from stress, depression, or a weak mental state are more likely to develop this disorder. If these people are not looked after in time, the condition can become so adverse that they may even have suicidal tendencies. According to statistics, women are more likely to develop this disorder than men. Some researches have also shown that people living in areas affected by war and riots are comparatively more victimized by this disorder.

Causes of PTSD

Dr. Krishnan explains that this condition can happen due to both natural and unnatural reasons like losing your loved one, witnessing a crime, children born in violent environments (like war zones), or people who have been victims of physical, mental, or sexual abuse. This disorder can happen to anyone- children, adults, elderly, women, or men. According to the research conducted on PTSD, even if the hippocampus, the emotion controlling part of our brain is smaller in size, there is an increased risk of mental disorders such as PTSD.

Symptoms of PTSD

• A person becomes irritable and has trouble concentrating.
• He/she becomes distanced from people or doesn’t socialize
• Loss of sleep, hunger, and thirst.
• Repeatedly getting reminded about the event and remembering how it felt
• Getting shocked in sleep and crying about the same events in dreams
• Feeling the possibility of the same event happening again
• Having a negative state of mind and being upset about small things

Treating PTSD

Our expert explains that for a person suffering from PTSD, their treatment can be done with the help of counseling, hypnosis, and medicines. Since the causes of PTSD may vary, the treatment methods may vary as well. It is important for a person who is experiencing the symptoms of PTSD to immediately contact a psychiatrist and seek some expert advice. Once PTSD is diagnosed, psychiatrists may prescribe antidepressants, talk therapy, single or group psychotherapy, exposure therapy, and cognitive restructuring therapy. The primary treatment for people suffering from this disorder include medications and talk therapy.

How to Care for PTSD Victims?

It is necessary for the family and friends of the person suffering from this disorder to treat them with utter patience and calmness and regularly conversate with them. Try to make a pleasant environment around them and always talk about positive things with them. This will help them feel better.

Important Tips for PTSD Sufferer

• People suffering from PTSD must distance themselves from stress so that their mind is full of positivity. For this, they can practice yoga and meditation regularly.
• Regular exercise can also bring positivity in thinking and can help improve mood and energy. Apart from this, dancing, swimming, and walking too can have a positive effect on the mind.
• Consumption of alcohol or drugs in this condition not only worsens the situation but can increase the chances of causing many other mental disorders.
• PTSD victims should maintain communication with their family and friends besides their physician and try to make them aware of their problem or concern.

Therefore, timely treatment of this disorder can prevent further worsening of the condition. If you or your loved one has been through such an event and you/they present the aforementioned symptoms, do not delay in consulting a psychiatrist.