|
Post-traumatic stress disorder, often called PTSD, is a
condition that sometimes occurs after an individual has gone
through an intense and disastrous experience. PTSD is
actually a group of symptoms which may develop in the
aftermath of a natural disaster such as a tornado, or a
man-made disaster such as the Oklahoma City bombing or the
attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.
Symptoms may show up right away, but often they do not
appear until weeks or months after the event. Having these
symptoms does not mean that a person is mentally ill--it
simply means that he or she is having a normal response to
an overwhelmingly tragic situation.
A Sense of Loss
People traumatized by a disaster speak of feeling a vast
sense of loss. They often feel they have lost their safety,
their hope for the future, and a sense of control over their
own lives. They may hesitate to trust in others and sense
that their own identity and personal power has been
diminished. Those involved directly in the tragic event may
have lost friends or family members, or their home,
workplace, or belongings.
How PTSD Can Make Us Feel
The stress associated with loss may be expressed in the
way a person feels: headaches • body aches and pains
• vomiting
• bowel problems
• skin disorders
• fatigue.
It can also affect our emotions and the way we think and
behave: memory loss •
difficulty concentrating •
emotional outbursts or unusual reactions
• overeating or loss of
appetite • loss of
interest in favorite activities •
decreased work performance
• irritability or anger
• confusion
• fearfulness
• guilt
• sleeplessness or
excessive sleeping •
nightmares •
sadness or depression •
difficulty relating to others
• recurring memories or
"flashbacks." Such symptoms are understandable for someone
experiencing traumatic stress and should be viewed as
temporary problems that will gradually ease.
Help Yourself Feel Better
You have the power to reduce the symptoms of PTSD and to
speed your own recovery. Although your life will never be
exactly as it was before the tragedy, in time it can again
be happy and rewarding.
• Talk openly with
friends and loved ones about your feelings--even those very
painful feelings of fear, anxiety, and guilt.
• Get involved in some
kind of regular physical activity, such as walking,
gardening, or swimming, and make time for other kinds of
recreation.
• Even though you may
be having trouble sleeping, try to keep your sleep schedule
as normal as possible.
• Eat well balanced and
regular meals. Resist the temptation to eat a lot of
high-fat or sugary foods, to overdo caffeine, or to skip
meals.
• Refrain from using
alcohol or drugs--including prescription medications--to
numb your feelings. This tactic just delays the healing
process and may result in the development of an
addiction.
• Allow yourself relief
from other pressures. Try to delay big, life-changing
decisions until a less stressful time.
• To the degree
possible, return to normal daily routines. Much has changed,
but you are still in control of your life!
Help Someone Else
If you are seeing signs of PTSD in a friend or family
member, it's important to know some ways to help.
• Let your friend know
you are sorry about what happened and you want to understand
and help.
• Listen carefully,
patiently, and often. Be open to different points of view
and don't insist that yours be heard. Remember that everyone
responds differently to trauma. There's no "right" way, nor
is there an official timetable for healing. Each person
recovers at his own pace.
• Don't take it
personally if your friend expresses anger or criticism.
• Respect the need for
privacy. Don't repeat what you hear, and don't press your
friend if he doesn't always feel like talking.
• Offer an appropriate
form of help, but don't try to do everything for your
friend. A person with symptoms of PTSD needs to regain
control of his life, not lose independence.
Posted September 2001
|
