Understanding PTSD And The Support Available
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing traumatic events which may have provoked emotions, such as fear and helplessness. PTSD was first recognised in war veterans and called 'shell shock', but it's not only diagnosed in soldiers.
A form of anxiety disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, known as PTSD is a diagnosable mental health condition, described by a cluster of symptoms. As with other mental health conditions, its existence is recognised not by the presence of these symptoms alone, but by how long the person has been experiencing them and the impact they have on their life.
Some people may show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) immediately and deeply following a traumatic event, while for others it can take years before the effects are noticed or acknowledged, according to Your Mental Health.
The 4 main signs and symptoms of PTSD
According to MQ Mental Health Research
Reliving the traumatic event:
People with PTSD repeatedly relive the traumatic events vividly. This can include flashbacks, hallucinations and nightmares.
Avoidance:
People with PTSD may experience a sense of detachment and isolation as those with PTSD avoid any situations that may remind them of the trauma. This includes people, places and jobs. People with PTSD may go to potentially dangerous measures of avoidance such as excessive drinking of alcohol to avoid these experiences.
Negative cognition and mood:
People with PTSD may have constant thoughts of blame, and overwhelming feelings of anger and sadness. This can lead to thoughts of distrust, that there is no safe place or that no one can ever understand.
Increased alertness:
People with PTSD may experience hypervigilance (extreme alertness). This can lead to disturbed sleep, or lack of sleep or aggressive and perhaps easily startled. They may find it harder to concentrate and this may stop them from doing everyday tasks.
“Most people have heard of PTSD, but they think only soldiers experience it. Often when I see patients they are surprised by the diagnosis because they don’t think it is something that all of us can get. PTSD can result from any kind of trauma and it is much more widespread than people think.” Professor Jennifer Wild
A wide range of traumatic experiences can be causes of PTSD according to the mental health charity Mind. From being in a car crash, to being attacked, experiencing violence, witnessing trauma as part of your job (e.g emergency services), surviving a natural disaster or pandemic, to a traumatic childbirth or losing someone close to you in particularly upsetting circumstances.
Rebecca Wooldridge’s Story In Your Mental Health
Rebecca Wooldridge writes about her experiences via her blog at mummytotripletsandbro.com after the traumatic birth of her triplet daughters who arrived at 29 weeks.
“When I was already under observation in the hospital. I had haemorrhaged and an early C-section was necessary for all of us to survive.” “Afterwards, I felt like a very different person. My body was recovering and responding to this near-death experience, but I knew I had changed. I had three very poorly babies in intensive care.”
“For those with similar experiences to mine, I would just say be kind to yourself. Feeling emotional about an emotional event doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you. PTSD can feel scary and isolating. I remember feeling I was failing because my mental health was impacted. I don’t think that now. On the contrary, I think responding to trauma is a logical response to what has happened. We’re not robots. We should allow ourselves to feel, because suppressing the feelings is unhelpful to our mental health in the long term.”
Supporting Others With PTSD
By Mind
It can be hard if someone you care about has PTSD or flashbacks. Find out what you can do to support them and yourself.
If you haven't experienced PTSD yourself, it can be difficult to understand why your friend or family member can't 'move on'. It's natural to wish things could be normal again, but it's important not to blame him or put pressure on him to improve without giving him the time and support he needs.
When a friend or relative is feeling well, it can be helpful to discuss how you can help them if they become ill or have an emergency. You could do the following:
- encourage them to write an emergency plan
- discuss what symptoms you can look out for
- getting to know what's driving it and planning how to cope with that.
- giving them time to talk at their own pace – it's important not to pressure them
- allowing them to be upset about what has happened
- not making assumptions about how they feel right now, or how they felt in the past
- not dismissing their experiences by saying "it could have been worse" or questioning why they didn't say or do something differently.
- Try not to judge
What if they don’t welcome your support?
- Be patient. You won't always know the full story, and there may be reasons why they are finding it difficult to ask for help.
- Offer emotional support and reassurance. Let them know you care about them and you'll be there if they change their mind.
- Inform them how to seek help when they're ready (for example, you could show them Mind’s pages on talking to your GP and what might happen at the appointment).
- Look after yourself, and make sure you don't become unwell yourself.
Support Resources
According to the NHS, you should see a GP if you are still having problems about 4 weeks after the traumatic experience, or if the symptoms are particularly troublesome. If necessary, your GP can refer you to a mental health specialist for further assessment and treatment.
The mental health charity Mind shares a range of resources to support mental health challenges including conditions such as PTSD.
Mind’s support line for personalised guidance and support is Infoline:
- Infoline 0300 123 3393
- Support via email is available via info@mind.org.uk
- Side by Side is Mind’s supportive online community for anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They’re available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Call 116 123
For reading more about mental health and understanding PTSD, Your Mental Health created in partnership between Enigma Wellness and MQ Mental Health shares lived experience stories and the latest research.
Visit Your Mental Health here.
For more information on the latest research on PTSD, visit MQ Mental Health Research here.
