Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma are more common than people may imagine; recent statistics suggest that “75% of Australian adults have experienced a traumatic event at some point in their life.”  Traumatic events are a part of many people’s life journeys. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unfortunately, many will. Some will not realize this and continue to suffer for a long time instead of receiving the help they deserve. 

Any situation that entails the risk of death, significant injury, or sexual assault has the potential to be traumatic. The trauma might be physical or emotional, and not everyone will react similarly. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a well-known trauma-related mental condition. PTSD is a persistent illness in which dread, anxiety, and memories of a traumatic incident endure. The effects persist for a long time and interfere with people’s ability to deal with daily life.

PTSD is a form of anxiety disorder causing distressing mental and physical symptoms impacting daily life. Those with PTSD grapple with the memories, thoughts, and emotions derived from their traumatic experiences.

Who Develops Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

We develop negative emotions when exposed to scary events. For instance, if we are faced with sexual assault or being threatened with a weapon. In these cases, surviving unhurt may still affect your brain due to the stress experienced. 

According to international surveys, 62-68% of young people will have experienced at least one traumatic incident by age 17 (Copeland et al., 2007; McLaughlin et al., 2013).

In Australia, the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being estimated that 12% of Australians (lifetime prevalence) have PTSD, with women being nearly twice as likely as males (15.8% and 8.6%, respectively) (ABS, 2008). According to the 2017-18 National Health Survey, an estimated 1.7% of women and 1.3% of men reported having PTSD after being notified by a doctor, nurse, or health professional (point prevalence estimate) (ABS, 2019).

Understanding Traumatic Events

In line with Gomes (2014), “Trauma is an encounter with an extraordinarily severe stress or shock that, at some point, becomes a part of one’s life.” Traumatic incidents frequently involve:

• Challenging childbirth experiences
• Vehicular accidents
• Severe illness or health scares
• Assault or violence
• Threats involving weapons
• Domestic violence
• Child abuse
• Sudden, violent bereavement
• Bullying, whether at school or in the workplace. 

These examples demonstrate that trauma is not limited to singular, isolated events. Trauma can also be cumulative, where individuals experience traumatic episodes, such as those occurring in abusive relationships.

How Does PTSD Develop?

While the exact causes of PTSD are not fully understood, indications indicate that it is linked with impaired processing of events. Also, One prevailing theory suggests that PTSD emerges when the survival instinct malfunctions. After a traumatic event, you naturally analyze what happened. You try to think about a strategy to protect yourself and survive similar events in the future. However, with PTSD, this mechanism becomes problematic as intrusive trauma memories plague individuals.

Research has also indicated a connection between the size of the hippocampus, a brain region associated with memory, and the severity of PTSD symptoms. Brain scans reveal that individuals with a smaller hippocampus tend to exhibit more severe PTSD symptoms, suggesting that PTSD can impact the size of this brain structure and hinder the processing of traumatic memories. In other words, PTSD can change your brain. 

Additionally, studies suggest a link between hormone levels and PTSD, particularly involving hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which influence memory formation. This may explain why women appear more vulnerable to PTSD, as estrogen and progesterone may contribute to this gender discrepancy.

Why Doesn’t Everyone Get PTSD?

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD, and the reasons for this variation are not fully understood. It is clear, however, that certain risk factors can increase an individual’s vulnerability to PTSD after trauma, including:

1. History of Previous Trauma: Individuals with a history of emotional or physical abuse are at greater risk, as the effects of prior trauma may compound with new traumatic experiences.
2. Pre-existing Mental Health Issues: Individuals with pre-existing anxiety disorders or other mental health problems may be more susceptible to PTSD following trauma.
3. Major Losses: Trauma events that result in significant losses, such as losing loved ones, homes, or livelihood, can heighten the risk of developing PTSD.
4. Physical Injury or Illness: Suffering a severe injury or becoming ill due to a traumatic event can increase the likelihood of developing PTSD.
5. Lack of Emotional Support: Isolation and a lack of necessary emotional support following a traumatic event can render individuals more vulnerable to PTSD.

Substance abuse is often another factor linked to PTSD. A history of alcohol or drug abuse can heighten the risk of PTSD. Indeed, individuals may turn to substances as a form of self-medication.

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD symptoms can appear shortly after trauma, weeks, months, or even years later in the event of retraumatization or a severe type of dissociation. Furthermore, the precise symptoms of PTSD might vary significantly across individuals. PTSD’s primary symptoms include:

Re-experiencing and Flashbacks

One of the most common PTSD symptoms is involuntarily reliving traumatic events. This can manifest as:

• Flashbacks: Feeling like the traumatic event is happening in the present, often accompanied by physical symptoms like a racing heartbeat, sweating, or nausea.
• Recurrent Intrusive Memories: Experiencing persistent and distressing memories, bad dreams, or nightmares related to the traumatic event.
• Intrusive Thoughts: Suffering from distressing and intrusive thoughts or mental images triggered by the traumatic experience.

Avoidance

Avoidance is another typical symptom of PTSD, where individuals intentionally distance themselves from people, places, and activities that remind them of the traumatic event. ymptoms include:

• Constant Busyness: Feeling a need to keep busy to avoid dwelling on traumatic memories.
• Substance Use: Turning to drugs or alcohol to escape memories and emotions.
• Emotional Numbness: Feeling emotionally disconnected or numb.
• Detachment from the Body: Experiencing a sense of detachment from one’s body.
• Inability to Remember Details: Struggling to recall specific details of the trauma.

Hyperarousal

Individuals with PTSD often find it challenging to relax and may remain in a constant state of alertness to perceived threats. Signs of hyperarousal include:

• Easily Startled: Becoming jumpy or easily startled, especially in response to situations resembling the traumatic event.
• Angry Outbursts: Experiencing frequent angry outbursts.
• Hypervigilance: Feeling consistently on guard, tense, or edge.
• Difficulty Concentrating: Struggling to concentrate and maintain focus.
• Sleep Problems: Experiencing sleep disturbances, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep.
• Panic Attacks: Suffering from panic attacks.
• Aversion to Sound: Having difficulty tolerating loud sounds.

Other Physical Sensations and Mood Symptoms

In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, individuals with PTSD may change their perceptions of daily life and relationships. These symptoms may include:

• Difficulty Trusting or Talking to Others: Struggling to trust or communicate with others.
• Feelings of Blame and Shame: Experiencing overwhelming feelings of blame and shame related to the trauma.
• Intense Negative Emotions: Coping with overwhelming negative emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness, or guilt.
• Feeling Unsafe: Constantly feeling unsafe regardless of the environment.
• Difficulty Experiencing Positive Emotions: Finding it challenging to experience happiness and satisfaction.
• Loss of Interest: Losing interest in once-enjoyable activities and hobbies.
• Physical Symptoms: Reporting physical sensations like stomachaches, dizziness, and headaches.

What Is Complex PTSD?

Complex PTSD is a separate condition caused by enduring long-term or recurring traumatic episodes, for instance, childhood abuse, domestic violence or persistent bullying. This means that you have lived through a constant and repetitive form of trauma, where fear became a pervasive aspect of your daily life, changing your brain’s neuroplasticity.

So, Complex PTSD encompasses all the symptoms of PTSD, yet also significantly impacts relationships and includes more severe issues, such as:

• Difficulty Controlling and Coping with Emotions: Struggling to manage and cope with emotions and feelings.
• Relationship Difficulties: Experiencing challenges in maintaining relationships, including romantic relationships, friendships, and family connections.
• Social Isolation: Difficulty connecting with others.
• Constant Feelings of Worthlessness: Suffering from persistent feelings of worthlessness.
• Overwhelming Negative Thoughts: Battling persistent, negative thoughts of shame and guilt.

Seeking a PTSD Diagnosis

If more than a month has passed since you experienced or witnessed a traumatic event and display the symptoms outlined above, you may have PTSD. Hence, it is crucial to remember that only psychologists but even better psychiatrists can provide a definitive PTSD diagnosis. These experts can differentiate between the symptoms of PTSD and the typical negative thoughts, common reactions, and feelings associated with trauma. 

Instead, registered Counsellors can help you navigate the process of healing. They can offer multiple therapy options to alleviate the impact of traumatic memories, flashbacks, and nightmares.

Treatment Options at Act Right Now Counselling Services

Act Right Now Counselling Services, led by Dr. Gabe, understands that healing from trauma is a unique and personal journey. We provide a range of evidence-based treatment options to address the diverse needs of individuals tailored to their unique experiences. Our treatment options include:

1. Internal Family Systems (IFS): This therapeutic approach helps individuals identify and understand different “parts” of themselves, allowing them to address internal conflicts and work toward healing and integration.
2. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT encourages mindfulness, acceptance of one’s thoughts and feelings, and commitment to living a meaningful life despite distressing experiences. It empowers individuals to identify their values and take steps toward a fulfilling life.
3. Somatic Therapy: By Recognizing the interconnection between mind and body, somatic therapy helps clients release physical tension and trauma stored in the body. Therefore, it promotes healing and overall well-being.
4. Polyvagal-Informed Therapy: This therapeutic approach is based on the polyvagal theory, which explores the vagus nerve’s role in regulating the body’s response to stress and trauma. Polyvagal-informed therapy helps individuals understand how their autonomic nervous system responds to different situations. It allows them to develop strategies for regulating their nervous system and reducing the impact of trauma.
5. Hypnosis: Hypnosis can be a powerful tool for accessing and addressing the subconscious aspects of trauma, helping individuals uncover and process deeply rooted issues that may contribute to PTSD symptoms.

If you suspect you or a loved one suffers from PTSD or other mental health difficulties, contact me at Act Right Now Counseling Services.

Remember to look for support and help show strength, and I can support you in your path to recovery. Act Right Now Counseling Services and I are here to help you find peace and heal after a traumatic event.