Most of us must have heard about post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. In fact, some of us have even suffered from this mental disorder at some point in our lives. Life is full of ups and downs, and suffering from PTSD is more common than one can imagine.
However, sometimes, this disorder takes over a person’s entire life and puts their mental, physical, and psychological well-being at risk. People who are suffering from serious post-traumatic stress disorder fight an unspoken battle every day. They constantly struggle to live a normal life and trust the people who truly care for them. If you know someone who is suffering from PTSD, it is best to seek help from a professional therapist. For people living in California, there are numerous facilities. A reputable center for mental health treatment in Oceanside, California, will help them overcome their mental illness in a safe and secure environment. But before you opt for professional help, it is important to understand what PTSD looks like and how it impacts a person’s everyday life.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that occurs due to a single or a series of traumatic events. The disorder can impact a person’s mental, physical, and psychological well-being and, in some cases, can be life-threatening as well.
PTSD is a very serious disorder, but sadly, most people use it so casually that the mental illness is starting to lose its gravity. Although PTSD is very common among adults, one needs to remember that not every tiny inconvenience that a person experiences in their life transforms into post-traumatic stress disorder. Serious life events such as rape, assault, loss of a loved one, war, combat, accident, and extreme violence are some of the most common causes of this mental illness.
A person suffering from PTSD lives with the trauma every day of their lives. The following section talks about how PTSD impacts the daily life of the person:
Constant Intrusive Thoughts
One of the most harmful impacts of PTSD is that the person suffering from the illness constantly battles with intrusive thoughts. Most often, they have nightmares of what they had gone through and flashbacks of the traumatic event. These thoughts impact their daily lives and hamper their ability to think and function properly. Moreover, these dreams also interfere with the person’s quality of sleep and impact their sleep cycle.
Change in the Cognitive Functioning
People suffering from PTSD also experience a loss of memory and extreme mood swings, which sometimes become dangerous for the people around them. They may become aggressive and paranoid at any time of the day, which impacts their attitude towards others. In addition to this, the trauma may also lead to loss of memory, making them forget even the core moments with loved ones.
PTSD patients often associate the traumatic incident with a lot of guilt, shame, and fear, which impact their relationships with themselves and with others.
Deal With Acute Stress
Acute stress is also a part of PTSD. People may start reliving the incident and begin associating every event in their everyday lives with that particular incident. For instance, if someone has undergone a car accident, traveling, even if it is for a short distance, can be really stressful. The person may also feel distressed by the sight of vehicles passing by the road. All these can impact the quality of the individual’s life, and every routine task may feel like a burden.
It Impacts the Way They Sleep and Eat
Although post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness, it can manifest into several physical issues as well. One of the most common problems that one may experience in everyday life is a drastic change in the way they eat and sleep. The person may start having trouble sleeping and concentrating. Moreover, they may experience a loss in appetite, which may lead to several physical ailments.
Helping Your Loved One
Dealing with a person who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder is heartbreaking. Witnessing them struggling with their daily lives and constantly dealing with emotions such as fear and guilt can be traumatizing for you as well. However, remember that there is hope.
There is support right around the corner that will help your loved one overcome this grave situation. You can choose to opt for a mental health facility that will provide the right support and care. In addition, you must also be extremely supportive, caring, and patient, as well as build trust with the individual to help them recover faster.
