HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Many people feel some level of distress after being involved in or seeing a traumatic event. This can be in person or via media. For many people, this reaction is short-lived and does not lead to any issues.

For some people, the distress lasts longer (over a month) and affects the way they function in their life. If you are concerned about how you are feeling after a traumatic event and how it is affecting the way you lead your life, you need to ask for help. You might have developed post-traumatic stress disorder, which is commonly known as PTSD.

As everyone reacts to stressful situations differently, anyone can get PTSD. It is not a sign of weakness or anything to feel embarrassed about.

Causes of PTSD

Any situation that someone finds stressful, frightening or distressing can cause PTSD. So can events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control. PTSD can develop straight after the event or even months or years later.

When someone experiences a traumatic event, their brain produces fight or flight hormones. For example, adrenaline. People with PTSD continue to produce these hormones even when the danger has passed. This may be what causes their numbed emotions and hyperarousal symptoms.

PTSD occurs in up to 1 out of 3 people who experience severe trauma. It is hard to predict who will get PTSD, but it is more common in people who have had previous trauma or mental illness.

Symptoms of PTSD

There are lots of symptoms of PTSD and not everyone has all the symptoms. The symptoms are usually grouped together as follows.

• Intrusion symptoms. This means you keep remembering the traumatic event and can have flashbacks as if you were in the situation again. These can happen in your dreams as nightmares, or when you are awake. If something happens that reminds you of the trauma, it can be very upsetting.
• Avoidance. You might avoid situations, people or places that remind you of the traumatic event. You might try to avoid talking about it or even thinking about it.
• Negative changes in thinking and mood. You may feel hopeless about the future and have negative thoughts about yourself or others. It might be difficult to form or maintain relationships. This is especially likely if you do not feel other people understand what you have been through. You might find you do not enjoy things you used to enjoy and feel a bit numb about everything.
• Changes in physical and emotional reactions. You might feel guilty or ashamed or have trouble sleeping. You might notice physical symptoms when you are reminded about the trauma. These might include sweating, feeling sick, trembling or pain. You might be frightened easily. You might even become irritable or aggressive more easily than before. Some people find they may start or increase the use of substances to help them with poor sleep or to cope in general.

Diagnosing PTSD

If you are having upsetting thoughts or feelings about a traumatic situation that are not getting better quickly or are affecting your everyday life, see your general practice team.

They will ask you lots of questions that you might find difficult. But this is important as they need to know what happened and how you are now so they can help you.

Your general practice team will also want to ask about any other problems that might be connected to PTSD. For example, anxiety, depression or phobias. It is important to tell them if you have been using alcohol or substances to try to numb your feelings.

They will also want to know how PTSD has affected your daily life, work and relationships.

Self-care for PTSD

It is very important to look after your general health when you have PTSD.

This includes getting enough good quality sleep, eating well and making sure you get enough exercise.

Most people with PTSD find that talking with whānau (family) and friends is helpful.

Some people find drawing or journaling about their experience and feelings helps them to understand what they are feeling.

There are several apps that can be useful, such as PTSD Coach and PTSD Family Coach. These are available for both iOS and android and are free to use.

Getting help for PTSD

You should see your general practice team if you are still having symptoms a month after a traumatic event.

The main treatments for PTSD are talking therapies. These include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR). Your general practice team will be able to help you get these therapies.

Many people with PTSD are also anxious and some have depression. Your general practice team might suggest medications to help with these. For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

If needed, your general practice team can refer you for a mental health assessment. They might suggest you see a clinical psychologist.

Under certain circumstances, you might be able to get help for PTSD from ACC.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Mental Health Foundation – Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

  Information about PTSD, including treatment options.

• Healthify He Puna Waiora – Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  Information about PTSD.

• KidsHealth – Emotional & Mental Wellbeing

  Information about supporting tamariki (children) with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and trauma.

  HealthInfo recommends the following apps

• United States Department of Veterans Affairs – PTSD Coach

  This Healthify He Puna Waiora page has information about PTSD Coach, a United States Department of Veterans Affairs app for people with PTSD.

• United States Department of Veterans Affairs – PTSD Family Coach

  PTSD Family Coach is for family members of those living with PTSD.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Page created August 2024.

Sources

Page reference: 1398269

Review key: HIPTS-1398269