Book Online PTSD Counselling and Treatment

Start a Session at Your Convenience

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that occurs when a past traumatic memory is replayed in the present moment from time to time. The traumatic event can be sexual abuse, physical abuse, severe accidents or injury, natural disasters, etc. The replaying of the same event leads to a lot of distress and mental stress. Millions of people around the world suffer from this condition. Studies have also highlighted that women are more prone to suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder than men.

This disorder is caused by someone being in a stressful situation or prolonged state of trauma. Though not everyone who undergoes stress or trauma experiences PTSD, it’s found that some people go on to develop it.

Major Causes

There can be various causes of this mental health disorder, but here are a few major ones:

• Domestic Violence - Millions of people in India are a victim of domestic violence every year. Domestic violence includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual violence, and psychological abuse. Though it affects everyone differently, some people have difficulty recovering from the after-effects of the experienced traumatic event.

The risk factors that cause PTSD in domestic abuse victims are:

• Feeling helpless due to this incident
• Having sustained physical injuries
• Having a history of mental health disorders
• Lack of support from friends, family, and community

• Physical Abuse - Physical abuse is also one of the major risk factors that cause this condition. In fact, according to the National Family Health Survey-5, it was found that 30% of the women between the age of 18-49 has suffered from physical violence since the age of 15.

  It was found that people who have a history of trauma are more likely to experience PTSD. Certain events in the present might act as a trigger for this condition.

• Sexual Abuse - Sexual abuse is also one of the main causes of this mental health condition. Studies have shown that many people who experienced sexual abuse suffer from Post-traumatic stress disorder.

  This occurs because a person who has been sexually abused experiences high levels of stress post the traumatic event. They feel scared, anxious, guilty, shame, sad, and angry.

  Such people have a high likelihood of developing this disorder. They experience symptoms like body aches, fatigue, repeated flashbacks, headaches, nightmares, insomnia, and intrusive thoughts. Hence it's important to have support from your loved ones and help from a professional therapist.

• Severe Injuries - Severe injuries can cause a lot of stress and trauma in a person. Injuries sustained during accidents, falls, adventure sports, during combat, etc., can leave your body and mind in a state of shock. These include injuries like burns, paralysis, spinal cord injuries, amputations, electrocutions, etc.

  The excruciating pain and the traumatic experiences leave a mark on the person who experienced this event. There are specific situations that can trigger memories of the trauma. Many people who suffer from this disorder tend to try and avoid those specific situations.

• Bad Accidents - Just like physical injuries, bad accidents cause Post-traumatic stress disorder in a person as well. Having severe accidents in the past can trigger unpleasant memories in the present. So, if you have experienced a traumatic event in the past, for example, If you had a severe car accident in the past, the memories of that event might get triggered in the present. Why? Because that memory might get stored in your subconscious mind which might resurface from time to time.

  Now, you may experience flashbacks of the event every time you pass by the spot where the car accident took place. You can feel that sense of stress, fear, and anxiety. You can feel the trembling and shaking in your body, just as you did at the time of the traumatic event.

• Witnessing an Act of Violence - Witnessing an act of violence can also severely impact you and cause you to develop this disorder. Any act of violence has an impact on you. It can either be mild or severe. The severity of impact varies from person to person, but it's bound to cause an impact.

  There are specific risk factors that can lead to someone developing PTSD from an event, while others don't. The same event can be traumatic for someone but normal for others.

Common Signs

The signs and symptoms usually start within three months of the traumatic event. But, in some cases, it might take years to surface. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person.

The common signs of this psychological disorder include:

• Reliving - People who suffer from this mental health condition relive the same traumatic event over and over again in their heads. It can occur as flashbacks, hallucinations, and nightmares. Certain events or situations in their daily lives can trigger them to relive the same traumatic events again and again.
• Avoiding - Avoidance is another major symptom of this disorder. The person suffering may tend to avoid places, thoughts, or situations. It can also cause them to become detached from loved ones. It can also lead to a lack of interest in the activities they used to enjoy.
• Hyperarousal - Hyperarousal is also a major symptom of this psychological condition. It leads to excessive emotions, difficulty falling asleep and concentrating, irritable behavior, anger outbursts, etc. It also leads to physical symptoms like increased blood pressure and heart rate, fast breathing, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle tension.
• Negative cognitions and mood - This condition also leads to many negative emotions and feelings. These include feelings of blame, guilt, and estrangement. It can lead to delayed development of motor skills and language development in young children.

Coping with Flashbacks and Nightmares

Coping with flashbacks and nightmares is a regular affair when dealing with this psychological disorder. It can be highly unpredictable, which can disrupt your life adversely. But there are ways to manage and prevent them.

Here are a few ways in which you can manage them better:

• Know what triggers you - To deal with the flashbacks and nightmares, you need to know what triggers them. So, observe and notice what triggers those in you. It can be from a certain smell, environment, situation, or person. Understanding what triggers you is beneficial for you and your recovery.
  It can be different for everyone. You need to identify the ones that trigger you. For example - Seeing an accident-related scene in a movie can trigger you if you have a traumatic memory of a fatal accident you encountered a few months ago.
  Once you identify these triggers, you can try to cut them out of your life. If it's not possible to do so, you can come up with coping strategies to deal with it.
• Follow a proper sleep routine - Sleeping peacefully is extremely important to prevent nightmares. There are a few things you can do to ensure a sound sleep:
  
  • Make sure your bedroom is neither too cold nor too hot. Maintain an optimum temperature for sound sleep.
  • Make sure there are no lights on in the room while you are sleeping.
  • Make sure you follow a relaxation technique before you go to sleep. It can be reading a book, meditating, or doing deep breathing exercises.
  • Talk or journal about your dreams regularly.
• Practice Grounding techniques - It is important to stay grounded in the present moment to prevent flashbacks. It's important to remind yourself that the traumatic event is over and you have survived it and are safe.
  Hence, it's important to bring your awareness to the present moment. How to do that? Practice mindfulness techniques for grounding yourself in the present moment. You can use any of your five senses - sound, touch, taste, sight, and smell to bring your awareness to the present moment.

How to Recover From Your Symptoms

Recovering from the symptoms of trauma can be quite tricky since there's no "one size fits all " cure for it. People react differently to t treatments and coping mechanisms.

Here are a few ways in which you can recover from your symptoms:

• Seek professional help as soon as possible - Seeking professional help as soon as possible is extremely important for treating this anxiety disorder. Why? Because the sooner you reach out for help, the sooner you'll be able to heal.
  So, don't hesitate to reach out to a psychiatrist or therapist for help. They can diagnose and devise an effective treatment plan for you. This can include therapy sessions, medications, and coping mechanisms. They can also teach you various methods of relaxation like breathing techniques.
• Open up about the traumatic event - Opening up about your trauma is difficult, but it's extremely important. You might feel the urge to avoid and repress it, but that will only make the healing more difficult. So, make sure you pour your heart out to a friend or a family member.
  But doing only this isn't enough. You have to talk about that traumatic incident to a professional. Hence, talking to a therapist or a counselor is your best option. They can help you identify your triggers and provide you with a coping mechanism to deal with them better.
• Be gentle with yourself - When you are facing this disorder, you might feel shame and guilt regarding the incident. You might find yourself beating yourself up for the past incident, but know that it’s only going to make your healing journey difficult.
  Instead, exercise kindness with yourself. Be gentle with yourself. Allow yourself to feel without beating yourself up. Be your own best friend.
• Spend time with other people - Spending time with others can help you heal faster. So, go ahead and spend time with your friends and family. Go to a temple or any other place of worship, join a book club, take a yoga class, or join a dance class.
• Have a healthy and balanced diet - During the state of trauma, you are stressed. That makes you more prone to health issues. Hence, it's important to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet and have a regular sleep cycle. Also, make sure you exercise regularly.
• Refrain from indulging in negative coping actions - Coping mechanisms can be both positive and negative. Negative coping mechanisms can be in the form of drug or substance abuse, work, etc. It can also lead to anger outbursts toward other people. So, make sure you refrain from these negative coping actions as they lead to delays in the recovery process.
• Join a support group / volunteer for a cause - Dealing with trauma can be daunting for your body and mind. You might feel like you are alone in this journey. But know that you aren't. So many people are with you on this journey to recovery.
  At this point in time, you need constant support and encouragement from others. How to find it? Join a support group and learn from their experiences. This will help you feel motivated toward your recovery journey. You can also volunteer at a charitable organization or cause that you feel strongly for.

Find Help From a Licensed Therapist Who's Right For You

Finding the right therapist is vital when dealing with traumatic stress. The right therapist is the one with whom you can establish a connection. This is important so that it becomes easy for you to open up about your issues. But this may take some time. You need to have at least 3 to 4 sessions with a therapist to build that sort of connection and trust.

If you are unable to connect with them after 3-4 sessions, you can switch to another therapist. You can find the list of various therapists on our website. You can choose between specialists who each have great qualities such as being a good listener, empathy, caring, and helpful.

Schedule a Virtual Appointment with a Counsellor Today

If you have been suffering from the effects of a traumatic event and it's not getting any better, it might be time for you to consider getting help from a trusted therapist. We at DocVita have various specialists from different fields that can help you manage and cope with your stress better. All you have to do is hop on to DocVita's book from the therapist page and book your session.