Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder May be Overcome with Treatment
 Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can be as frightening as the traumatic event that triggered the condition in the first place. Common causes include natural disasters, terror attacks, combat, bad car accidents, house fires, child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, sexual abuse, torture, physical attack, or some other major trauma.
However, you don't have to be the victim of a horrifying event to experience symptoms of PTSD. You could merely be a witness to someone else experiencing harm to develop symptoms.
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, may include:
- Intrusive memories, including flashbacks, or a reliving of the traumatic event in your mind
- Recurrent nightmares about the traumatic event
- Avoiding friends and family members
- Losing enjoyment in daily activities
- Feelings of hopelessness about the future
- Memory problems and difficulty concentrating
- Unnecessary feelings of guilt or shame
- Sleeping difficulties
- Unfounded irritability, anger, agitation and anxiety
As with other behavioral disorders, the symptoms of PTSD can be treated, but psychiatric experts are not certain of the exact underlying causes of condition. What experts do know is that PTSD may affect up to 8% of all Americans at some time in their lives, usually in adulthood. And women are four times more likely to develop PTSD than men. PTSD can lead to job loss, divorce, substance abuse, eating disorders, major depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Some people are at greater risk for developing the symptoms of PTSD. Risk factors include: participating in military combat, existing anxiety disorders or unstable mental health, lack of social or family support, having a first-degree relative with PTSD or depression, or having experienced abuse or neglect during childhood. If you suspect you have the symptoms of PTSD, see your family doctor, who will likely recommend a mental health professional. Many treatments are available, including talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, prescription medications, exercise, healthy diet, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, and breaking the thought cycle with hobbies, exercise and other activities.
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