What Are The Four Types Of Ptsd

Favorite Resources For Becoming An Advocate

Want to get involved with PTSD advocacy for yourself or a loved one who is a veteran of the Armed Forces? We like the PTSD Foundation of America for its resources on volunteer opportunities and fundraiser ideas. While youre at it, check out ways you can help sponsor a veteran or get involved in your local chapter.

Looking to change local and federal policy to support mental health initiatives? NAMI is your best resource for how to get involved. Even if you cant make it to Capitol Hill personally, NAMI offers ideas on how to write letters, engage in your own community, and more.

Prevention Of Ptsd In The Military

Military servicemen and -women and veterans can develop PTSD as a result of the events they experienced or witnessed. These can include trauma that occurred during combat or military sexual trauma , which includes sexual harassment and sexual assault that occurs during training, combat, or peacetime.

The estimated percentage of veterans affected by PTSD varies by war, as outlined by the VA:

• Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom : between 11 and 20 percent
• Gulf War: 12 percent
• Vietnam War: between 15 and 30 percent

Nevertheless, a study published in June 2017 in the Journal of Psychiatric Research found that PTSD affects veterans and active-duty military service members in similar ways.

The Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs have invested time and money on research and providing programs to help prevent military personnel from developing PTSD. These efforts include training civilians and veterans to tolerate stress more effectively, instituting treatment protocols after a diagnosis, and treating chronic PTSD, Dr. Berry says.

What To Do If You Have Experienced Trauma Or Think You Have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• Educate yourself. Learn more about trauma reactions from the online resources linked to this page.
• Talk to someone whose support you can trust. A good friend, a family member, or a religious leader may help you find the care you need.
• Consider seeking an evaluation by a mental health professional. This will involve answering questions about your trauma and your reactions to it.
• Take care of yourself physically. Do your best to eat well, exercise, and get adequate sleep.
• Avoid the use of excessive alcohol or drugs. The temporary relief will worsen your symptoms and your situation in the long run.
• Find new and effective ways to manage your stress. High levels of stress often prompt and/or intensify trauma symptoms.
• If you choose not to pursue evaluation and treatment, you may take a wait-and-see approach. Your symptoms may subside, and you wont need treatment. If you dont feel better after several weeks, or if your symptoms interfere with your functioning at school, work, or home, you would be wise to seek help.

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Ptsd By Any Other Name

PTSD-like disorders have a long history, with an early literary reference being made in the Clash of Marathon by Herodotus, written in 440 B.C. Mental health conditions have seemingly always been associated with the aftermath of war or conflict, as mentioned by Hippocrates , and in Lucretius poem, De Rerum Natura, written in 50 B.C . Its also been called shell shock or the soldiers disease, among other clever labels.

Treatment For Comorbid Ptsd

Treatment for this type involves having a multi-disciplinary care team to tackle managing multiple diagnoses of co-occurring disorders simultaneously.

The order for treating comorbid PTSD disorders typically follows:8

• Receiving substance treatment to ensure they can be sober and engage with working with an individual therapist.
• Starting prolonged exposure therapy to decrease hypervigilance, anxiety levels, and anger reactions to reminiscent situations of trauma, such as combat and military life.
• Engaging in cognitive therapies to process the negative thoughts and beliefs that influence symptoms of depression or other co-occurring mood disorders.

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Ptsd: National Center For Ptsd

Available en Español

Posttraumatic stress disorder is a mental health problem. PTSD can only develop after you go through or see a life-threatening event. It’s normal to have stress reactions to these types of events, and most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months. Learn about PTSD symptoms and treatments to help you get better.

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It’s normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after a traumatic event . At first, it may be hard to do daily activities you are used to doing, like go to work, go to school, or spend time with people you care about. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later, or they may come and go over time.

If it’s been longer than a few months and thoughts and feelings from the trauma are upsetting you or causing problems in your life, you may have PTSD.

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How I Knew I Had PTSD

When you have PTSD, the world feels unsafe. You may have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping. You may also try to avoid things that remind you of your traumaeven things you used to enjoy.

Related Conditions And Causes Of Ptsd

People with PTSD, especially those who have experienced repeated trauma, can develop other mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and even other physical ailments, such as chronic pain, according to previously published research. If someone already had a vulnerability to develop a mood disorder, experiencing trauma could really trigger a full-blown major depressive episode, Pole says.

Substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries , and neurocognitive disorders are also common comorbidities of PTSD.

Previous research also indicates a strong connection between PTSD and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure , high cholesterol, and obesity. PTSD could also increase the risk for stroke. Chronic stress may increase your heart rate and place added stress on your vascular system, which could in turn explain such links.

There are also possible links between PTSD and cancer. While previous research found no significant risk for cancer in general, one study published in October 2019 in Cancer Research found an increased risk of ovarian cancer in premenopausal women.

Other related conditions to PTSD include:

• Anxiety disorders

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Where To Get Help

Treatment options are available to help with PTSD and related symptoms. However, it may be challenging to know how to start. Finding help can begin with locating a therapist and meeting with a primary care doctor. Locating a therapist can sound stressful, especially when you or a loved one may be dealing with the symptoms above, but it is possible to attain post-traumatic growth!

You can begin the search by locating a therapist , psychologist , or psychiatrist who may be able to work with trauma-focused issues and see if you are a good fit. Choosing Therapys online directory, where you can filter for specific preferences on demographic, cost, specialty, and cost, can help you gain all the information you may need to help you choose a therapist initially. You can also research online psychiatrists who can better assist you find medications that are right for you.

Research And Statistics: How Common Is Ptsd

Research suggests nearly 90 percent of people in the United States are exposed to a traumatic event in their lifetime, but only 5 to 10 percent develop PTSD. About 7 to 8 percent of the population will have PTSD at some point in their lives. Women are more than twice as likely as men to develop PTSD. An estimated 10 percent of women will develop PTSD in their lives, compared with 4 percent of men.

The reason women may be more statistically affected by PTSD than men may have less to do with concrete prevalence and more to do with diagnosis rates: Theyre more likely than men to seek help, says the VA.

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Experiences Of Facing Stigma

There are lots of misconceptions about PTSD. For example, people may wrongly assume it means you are ‘dwelling’ on past events. They might even suggest that you should ‘get over it’ or ‘move on’. But having PTSD isn’t a choice or a sign of weakness, and it’s important to remember that you are not alone.

See our page on stigma and misconceptions for lots of ideas on how to deal with stigma.

How Common Is Ptsd

According to the American Psychiatric Foundation², about 3.5% of adults in the United States experience PTSD yearly. Studies also show that one in 11 people is diagnosed with PTSD.

However, the reality is that these statistics could be much higher because many people do not seek medical advice for PTSD.

The National Comorbidity Survey Replication also showed that women are more likely to experience PTSD than men³. Additionally, PTSD is more prevalent in middle-aged people .

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What Is Ptsd Symptoms Causes Diagnosis And Treatment

Post-traumatic stress disorder happens when some individuals have a certain reaction to witnessing or experiencing a shocking or upsetting event, including an injury or death on the battlefield, an instance of sexual assault, a school shooting, a natural disaster, or a car accident, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs .

That experience doesnt necessarily have to be direct first responders and medics, for example, may develop PTSD after witnessing another person face a traumatic event, as noted in previous research.

To be diagnosed with PTSD, the event that triggered the trauma has to have felt threatening to your life or well-being, says Michele Pole, PhD, clinic director at West Chester Universitys department of Community Mental Health Services in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

What Are The Four Types Of Ptsd

You may notice symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder within a month of experiencing a traumatic event, but they may not even show until years afterward. Most commonly, symptoms may lead to significant problems in social or work settings and relationships and can restrict your ability to handle average daily responsibilities.

PTSD is known to fall into four types of symptoms: avoidance, changes in emotional and physical reactions, intrusive memories, and negative changes in thinking and mood. Symptoms can fluctuate over time and from one person to the next.

Avoidance examples include:

• Trying to avoid talking or thinking about what happened
• Avoiding anything or anyone that serves as a reminder of the traumatic event

Changes in physical and emotional responses:

• Becoming easily frightened or alarmed
• Constantly being prepared for danger
• Self-destructive behavior, like heavy drinking or driving excessively fast
• Problems sleeping or focusing
• Irritability, quick to anger, or hostile behavior
• Devastating guilt or shame

Symptoms of intrusive memories include:

• Recurring, unwanted, disturbing memories of what happened
• Flashbacks, or reliving the trauma like it was happening again
• Disturbing dreams or nightmares about the trauma

Negative changes in thinkingto include:

Many of these symptoms can be minimized, often with time and therapy. Your healthcare provider may also recommend using ketamine infusion therapy.

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Diagnosing & Treating Ptsd

To begin ketamine infusion therapy or to start taking certain medications to treat PTSD symptoms, youll likely have to undergo either or both of the following:

• A physical examination by a doctor. This exam may involve lab tests, blood work, and other procedures to see an underlying medical cause for your PTSD symptoms. If not, your healthcare provider may recommend
• A psychiatric assessment by a mental health professional includes discussing your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Youll likely be asked about your personal or family history of mental illness. Symptoms are compared to criteria in the DSM-5.

Diagnosing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Symptoms of PTSD usually tend to show within three months of the traumatic event, but sometimes they come on later. They must last for at least a month and impact a persons ability to function effectively in their relationships or at school or work. Not everyone experiences PTSD exactly the same but there are some signs that doctors look for.

Clinicians split post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms into four categories. A person needs to show a certain number of symptoms from each category in order to receive a PTSD diagnosis.

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Treatment For Uncomplicated Ptsd

Treatment can include cognitive therapy to develop relaxation strategies to reduce anxiety. Another common approach is exposure therapy. This technique includes exposing oneself to reminders of the trauma in the therapists office and then safely working on managing the anxiety responses. Additional communication skills to better share complicated or unexplainable feelings can help prevent emotional outbursts with close ones.

This treatment can be done as an individual or in group therapy. Some psychotropic medications can target specific bothersome symptoms of PTSD, independently or together with therapy sessions.4

How Is Ptsd Diagnosed

Individuals who experience a traumatic event can have a reaction and symptoms but they dont necessarily meet criteria for PTSD, Pole says.

To make a diagnosis, a mental health professional will typically administer a clinical interview and use DSM-5, the standard classification of mental disorders used to diagnose mental disorders. The DSM-5 cites several required criteria to diagnose PTSD.

However, the clinician-administered PTSD scale for DSM-5 was developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, and is considered a more accurate way to make a diagnosis, understand the lifetime diagnosis, and evaluate the PTSD symptoms someone may have experienced within the last week.

But diagnosing PTSD isnt always straightforward, Pole says. The best way to ensure an accurate diagnosis is to see a mental health professional who has experience with PTSD and understands what it can look like without relying too heavily on the diagnostic tools. Just because someone doesnt meet full criteria for PTSD, that doesnt mean that theyre not suffering and that they shouldnt see help, Pole says.

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The Four Types Of Symptoms Of Ptsd

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health issue that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event, according to the National Institute of Mental Health . It is widely believed that PTSD is reserved for veterans who survived traumatic experiences during wartime, but PTSD can happen to anyone. Even those who did not directly experience a trauma, but had witnessed a life-threatening event may experience symptoms of this disorder.

Although each person may experience symptoms differently, there are four main types to be aware of:

Re-experiencing symptoms are those that make you feel as though you are reliving the event. Flashbacks, nightmares and bad memories are examples of re-experiencing symptoms. These symptoms, particularly flashbacks, can also have physical effects such as rapid heartbeat or sweating. According to the NIMH, Words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event can also trigger re-experiencing symptoms.

Avoiding certain places, people and situations that trigger bad memories is common when experiencing these symptoms. One may also avoid thinking about or discussing the event and may change their daily routine for this reason. For example, someone who was mugged while walking home from work may choose to avoid their usual route, or change their transportation method to driving.

Resources:

Mdma Assisted Psychotherapy For Ptsd

MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD is one of the newest treatment methods, though it has not yet been fully approved by the FDA. But it has been granted a breakthrough designation so it can be studied for safety and efficacy.

MDMA is not a medication to treat PTSD. Instead, it is used as a mechanism for facilitating psychotherapy, with the goal of decreasing activity in the amygdala and to help people more effectively process their trauma.

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Challenge Your Negative Thoughts

Negative thoughts are assumed easily but they are really harmful to your condition. So whenever you have a negative thought, ask yourself whether its really true or not. If the answer is no, then try to come up with three positive things about that situation.

For example, you can challenge the thought I am not good enough by thinking of three things you are proud of that show how capable you are. This will help to reduce the power of negative thoughts and give you a more balanced view of yourself and the situation.

What Are The Symptoms Of Post

There are four types of PTSD symptoms, but they may not be the same for everyone. Each person experiences symptoms in their own way. The types are:

• Re-experiencing symptoms, where something reminds you of the trauma and you feel that fear again. Examples include
• Flashbacks, which cause you to feel like you are going through the event again
• Frightening thoughts

The symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event. But sometimes they may not appear until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years.

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