Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects an estimated eight million adults annually in the United States. It's a serious condition that can cause intense fear and strong emotional responses to specific triggers. PTSD typically affects people after they experience a terrifying or dangerous event.
For example, many combat veterans develop PTSD after coming home from duty. People can also get PTSD after going through traumatic events like car accidents, shootings, etc. Even those who know someone close who's experienced something traumatic can exhibit PTSD symptoms.
It's a debilitating condition that can make living life normally feel impossible. Fortunately, there are many ways to treat it. But before you can seek treatment, you need to get a diagnosis.
The Diagnostic Process
Health care providers consider many facets of your mental health and behavior to diagnose PTSD. Generally, an individual must exhibit PTSD symptoms for over a month to meet the criteria. Those symptoms must also be severe enough to interfere with work, relationships and daily life.
PTSD often develops about three months post-trauma. However, everyone is different. This condition can also pave the way to other issues like substance abuse, depression and more. Getting a proper diagnosis is critical to begin treatment.
What are the Symptoms of PTSD?
For a provider to diagnose an individual with PTSD, they must exhibit symptoms for at least a month. Qualifying symptoms fall into four distinct categories.
The first category includes re-experiencing symptoms. That can include having flashbacks, recurring nightmares, troubling thoughts and more.
The second category of symptoms revolves around avoidance. That means that PTSD forces you to avoid people, places and events that remind you of the trauma you experienced. You may also avoid any emotions related to it.
Next includes arousal or reactive symptoms. Examples include being easily startled, having trouble concentrating on your work, exhibiting angry outbursts, engaging in reckless behavior, etc.
Finally, the last category covers overall mood and cognition. Symptoms in this category include losing interest in things you used to love, feelings of social isolation, ongoing negative emotions, trouble remembering the trauma's key details and more.
Read a similar article about counseling for mental health recovery here at this page.
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