PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is an anxiety disorder- triggered by a traumatic experience.  It could be – an interpersonal event like physical or sexual assault, exposure to disaster, accidents, combat or witnessing a traumatic event. It can occur at any age following the traumatic experience. To be diagnosed with PTSD: the symptoms must be present for more than 30 days.

PTSD Symptoms can be classified into 3 different categories:

1.”Reliving” the event, this affects daily activity

• Flashback episodes: where the event seems to be happening again and again
• Repeated memories of the event which upsets the patient
• Repeated nightmares
• Uncomfortable reactions to situations that reminds of the event

2. Avoidance (Hypo-Arousal)

• “Numbing: feeling nothing” or feeling as though you don’t care about anything
• Feeling totally detached “I don’t really care”
• Does not remember or unable to recall – important aspects of the trauma
• No interest in normal activities
• Appears distant and does not display emotions / mood
• Deliberately avoids places, people, or thoughts that remind of the event
• No hopes for future

3. Arousal (Hyper-Arousal)

• Difficulty concentrating
• Easily Startled
• An exaggerated response to things that surprise you
• Hypervigilance: Feeling more aware
• Irritability or angry outbursts
• Sleep becomes affected: having trouble falling or staying asleep

Even though traumatic events can cause distress, not all feelings of distress are symptoms of PTSD. Talk to your friends and relatives about your feelings. If your symptoms do not improve soon or are making you very upset, or you are suffering from irritability, repeated upsetting thoughts, and problems with sleep contact your Doctor. There is proven treatment for PTSD, & your doctor will be able to help.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801