Most people have heard of post traumatic stress syndrome or post traumatic stress disorder. It is a psychological condition that occurs after an individual is exposed to an extremely high level of stress or extremely stressful conditions. When most people think of post traumatic stress syndrome, they think of a war veteran returning to theU.S.or a crime victim who is having trouble getting over the attack. However, any stressful life experience can trigger post traumatic stress disorder.
It’s natural to be traumatized following a major traumatic event. After a life threatening accident or a violent attack, it is normal to be scared, think about the event constantly, or to feel numb. However, most individuals gradually recover and their symptoms improve. If you don’t start to feel better, but instead feel worse, you may be experiencing PTSD.
Some symptoms of PTSD include the need to avoid any reminders of the traumatic event, increased anxiety and frequently re-experiencing the event. These symptoms could come about out of the blue, or may be triggered by an event. Some people experience sleep problems, anger, jumpiness, flashbacks, a loss of interest in life, emotional detachment, and more. Other victims of PTSD may have suicidal thoughts, depression, guilt, or substance abuse.
There are treatments for PTSD, which generally include several types of individual and family therapy and medication. Victims may want to seek a counselor who is experienced at dealing with victims of PTSD. Support groups can also be very valuable. It’s also important to avoid alcohol and drugs during this difficult time.
PTSD can often result from traumatic accidents such as car accidents that are particularly bad. PTSD can affect not only the person involved in the accident, but also family members who were involved, and police officers and emergency officers who helped with the accident.
If you have been a victim of an automobile collision or another traumatic incident, and you feel you may be experiencing PTSD, seek help. Resources are available. You may also be entitled to compensation for not only your accident, but also the after-effects, such as PTSD. Talk to The Barber Law Firm to learn more.
