PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder is a set of different manifestations that begin when someone has experienced or survived some shocking situations. Most of the time, these experiences are life-threatening. In these situations, the trauma puts people on high-alert, which can lead to some neurochemical alterations.
Since we are talking about disturbing experiences, it needs to be said that a combination of these with anxiety will surely produce some more bad feelings. The trick is that the initial trauma is re-experienced by the patient. Different from what many people believe, re-experiencing these is equal to them happening again. Without a doubt, these situations can inflict massive damage over and over.
So, the condition can get worse over time. Surely, we are talking about the condition that requires treatment. In case you have a hard time coping with PTSD, take a look at possible solutions for your condition. Now, we would like to provide you with a couple of signs that can tell you if you are suffering from this condition. Let’s take a look at some of these.
1. Difficulties with Sleep
The lack of sleep is, without a doubt, one of the worse things people can experience. Just think about it, when you don’t have the proper amount of sleep per night, you will not be able to function properly, which is always a bad thing. What many people don’t understand that sleeping difficulties are a pretty common sign of PTSD. These difficulties include staying asleep, falling asleep, and experiencing nightmares frequently. In case you’ve faced some of these problems, be sure to visit a psychiatrist who will determine if you have something to worry about or no.
2. Disconnection
The next sign we would like to discuss is the disconnection with others. Usually, this sign is accompanied by numbness. People suffering from PTSD are often not in the mood to socialize, and they remain all alone most of the time. At the same time, these folks can have a pretty big problem regulating their feelings towards people they care about and for those who are not important to them. The disconnection will not affect only them. It will be a much bigger problem for people around them. So, when they notice something like that, they should inspect it, without a doubt.
3. Chronic Anxiety
Chronic anxiety is a pretty severe condition that makes a damaging effect on the person who suffers from it. Sadly, we can see that not many people understand just how bad this situation can become. Just think about not being able to relax at any time. Plus, these folks are always on guard from the imaginary threats. Being in a constant feeling of uneasiness is something that can make the case way more severe. Thankfully, this is something that can be treated. But that doesn’t mean that it cannot be a sign of early PTSD. So, be sure that you visit a psychiatrist who can help you.
4. Reliving the Trauma
At the beginning of our article, we’ve mentioned that re-living the traumatic experience is one of the main dangers of PTSD. However, in case you don’t have any symptoms, this can be a sign of an early sign of this condition. The distressing moment is revisited countless times and there’s not much you can do about it. When we say this, we mean it literally. No matter what you do, you are bound to revisit these moments from time to time. Thankfully, it can be handled, but it requires professional help.
5. Anger
As you can presume, experiencing sudden anger outbursts is one of the most important signs someone suffers from this condition. Naturally, every person in the world can experience some of these from time to time. However, outbursts associated with PTSD are much more damaging to the folks around that person. The lack of control in these situations can be pretty dangerous sometimes. We are talking about folks who can’t control themselves properly. So, there are a lot of things that can be expected from them. Sadly, they are bad most of the time.
6. Low Self-Esteem
One of the earliest signs of PTSD is a person not feeling too good about themselves. To be precise, we would say that this means not having a good relationship with yourself. There are a lot of ways the patient can go from this point. For example, it can lead to destructive behavior, reduced self-care, and a blow to the overall self-esteem. Plus, this condition can have a pretty negative effect on work performance. It’s not that these people are lazy, they are unsure of themselves, and work performance is one of the first things they could potentially experience.
7. Depression
The depression part can be directly tied to the disconnection we’ve mentioned. However, this is not always the case. Some people are extroverts, but they experience depression without the disconnection part. That doesn’t mean they will have an easier time than others. Whatever someone says to them will not make any impact on their mood. Plus, all the activities they have enjoyed in the past will simply not be as enjoyed as they were before that state. Add the hopelessness to that and you have a pretty damaging combination.
8. Suicidal Thoughts
Last but not least, we would like to talk about suicidal thoughts. Most people make the mistake of thinking that this is the last resort for people who suffer from mental disorders. However, we can see that, in some cases, this can be the first sign that says that there’s something wrong. In case these thoughts become frequent, the danger of patients taking their life gets bigger. So, the moment someone has these thoughts, he or she needs to consult a psychiatrist.
The Bottom Line
PTSD is a serious condition that many people are forced to live with. However, its manifestations can be lowered down to a bare minimum, in case it is handled during the earlier stages. Therefore, carefully monitoring all the signs might just change your life. So, be careful and pay attention to them.
