Living with PTSD: Symptoms, Effective Treatment, and Tips for Coping
This post may contain editorial samples and/or affiliate links. We earn a commission on your sales.
PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental disorder that some people develop after experiencing extreme trauma. Anything can cause PTSD from war to accidents. Symptoms of PTSD include intrusive memories and flashbacks, hyperarousal in relation to traumatic events, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, and emotional numbing. This blog post will explore different treatment options for living with PTSD as well as what you should do if you think someone you know has it.
Treatment options for living with PTSD include cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and medication. It is important to discuss treatment options with a doctor before starting any new treatments so that you can determine which ones will work best for your needs. You should also monitor how well the different treatments are working periodically by noting whether they’re making it easier for you to manage symptoms as time goes on.
PTSD is not a mental illness, but an injury to the brain and nervous system that results from exposure to traumatic events. PTSD can manifest such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, flashbacks or nightmares about the trauma experienced, and hypervigilance (constantly on edge).
What should someone do if they think someone close to them has post-traumatic stress disorder? If you think somebody might have PTSD but don’t know what signs could signify this illness, then one thing to consider would be their reaction when an event like a car accident occurs in front of them. This person may behave strangely.
Table of Contents
What are some PTSD Symptoms?
This is a list of the 10 most common symptoms of PTSD. If you spot these in a loved one and notice they are living with PTSD, it is important to get them help. Over the course of a lifetime, the odds of suffering from PTSD are roughly 1 in 12. PTSD is quite common, but its severity can vary dramatically.
- Overly intense negative feelings associated with a past traumatic event.
The negative feelings are very intense. This is the type of fear and discomfort that can alter your day-to-day life.
- Nightmares of the traumatic event.
Recurring nightmares are common in those with PTSD. Most often, the nightmares are about a traumatic event.
My husband has nightmares almost every time he sleeps. He does not discuss them with me. I ask him if he wants to talk about them and he always says no. I just try to sit with him quietly or reassure him it was a nightmare and he’s ok now.
- Difficulty creating or maintaining relationships.
Relationships can be especially challenging for those with PTSD. PTSD sufferers keep their struggles to themselves, but their pain is often obvious to others.
- Flashbacks that feel like the event is happening all over again.
Not everyone with PTSD has flashbacks, but they aren’t uncommon. Flashbacks have been described as a dream that happens while you’re awake.
- Persistent negative thoughts about the world, other people, or yourself.
Everyone has an off day now and then, but those with PTSD frequently have negative thoughts that invade every part of their life.
It is very common for those that are living with PTSD to have depression and/or anxiety. My husband has both. He has many health issues and mental health issues. We do not know where they all stem from, but PTSD can be a contributing factor.
- Lack of interest in normally pleasurable activities.
For example, if you used to love to play golf, checkers, or watch romantic comedies, but you can’t enjoy them after suffering from a traumatic event, you might have PTSD.
- Hypervigilance.
Imagine walking down a dark alley in a bad part of town, late at night. You’d be hypervigilant. That’s a normal reaction, but if you’re hypervigilant while watching TV on the couch in your own home, you might be living with PTSD.
Before my husband started therapy, he would say he needs to watch the apartment door to protect me. The door has a deadbolt lock and a chain, but that was not enough to keep him from feeling protected. When we go to a restaurant, he always likes to sit so he can see what is going on the most.
- Guilt or shame. PTSD sufferers often feel guilt or shame for surviving a traumatic event that left others dead or seriously hurt.
Soldiers and law enforcement officers often feel guilt or shame for people they may have had to harm in the line of duty.
My husband has PTSD from a bicycle accident that he survived but his best friend did not. He still has PTSD symptoms, and the accident happened over 20 years ago. He also suffers from survivor’s guilt from the accident.
His survivor’s guilt is also part of another aspect of his PTSD which was his battle with Cancer. Thankfully, he is in full remission right now. My husband unfortunately has lost many friends he met in the hospital to their battle with Cancer. Ironically, while he was battling his own Cancer, his sister was fighting her own battle with a different type and did not survive. He has survivor’s guilt over that as well as she was married, a mom to 2 little boys, and he single.
- Self-destructive behavior.
Substance abuse, self-harming, and other self-destructive behaviors occur with high frequency in those with PTSD. Reckless behavior can be a sign of PTSD. My husband is an alcoholic, and his PTSD is definitely a contributing factor to it.
- Difficulty concentrating.
These symptoms can make concentration very challenging. PTSD sufferers often complain of issues with focus and concentration.
What about treatment options for PTSD?
There are different treatments for PTSD available, depending on the individual. PTSD therapies often involve working through memories of past events in order to re-establish a connection with oneself and to feel safe.
Most PTSD sufferers will manage their symptoms if they receive appropriate treatment. It is possible to lead a full filling life living with PTSD with the proper treatment.
Some approaches that psychologists use are psychotherapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Even ketamine therapy could help.
There is also trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy which can help people reduce PTSD symptoms like intrusive thoughts and avoidance behaviors while recovering from an event in their life such as military combat or sexual abuse.
What are some self-care for PTSD?
Self-care is important for everyone no matter what you have going on in your life. It is especially important for people that are living with PTSD. Here are some self-care ideas.
- Engage your creative mind.
Studies have shown that engaging in creative activities can help with PTSD. Using your brain to create something new is a powerful process that requires using your brain in unusual ways. Examples include:
Painting
Inventing
Composing music
Creative writing
2. Communicate your needs with your social circle.
Letting others know your limits will reduce your anxiety and that of everyone else in your social circle.
3. Relax your body regularly.
A relaxed body will help your mind to relax, too. There are many ways to do this, such as self-hypnosis, progressive muscle relaxation, sauna, hot tub, and guided meditation.
4. Consider gaining a service animal.
For some people, there’s nothing more relaxing than a dog or other type of animal. Anyone, whether they have PTSD, could benefit from the right pet.
Our dog is definitely emotional support for my husband. Krypto helps both his Bipolar and his PTSD. I have noticed a change in my husband over the years that we have had our dog.
5. Meditate.
Meditation is a powerful treatment for PTSD for several reasons: It teaches you how to focus, and how your mind works and allows you to explore thoughts and ideas in a controlled and distraction-free environment.
6. Be present.
When dealing with a flashback or highly disturbing thoughts, stay present with your environment. Focus on where you are. What can you see? Hear? Smell? Feel? Keep your mind in the present moment.
7. Find the right therapist.
Find a therapist that has a lot of experience in dealing with PTSD. It’s also important to find a therapist that you feel comfortable with. Some therapists might have the right skills and experience but be a poor fit.
If you are living with PTSD, there is hope. There are many treatments that have been shown to be effective for people suffering from this condition. These include therapy, medication, and other forms of treatment such as yoga or mindfulness meditation. The good news is that most symptoms can decrease in severity over time with the help of these therapies and medications. You deserve a fulfilling life free from fear so don’t let your PTSD stop you!
Follow Me On Social Media:
