Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Some people may develop a mental health condition know as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in response to witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Traumatic events include exposure to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence. The person may have directly experienced the traumatic event, witnessed it, learned that someone close to them was exposed to a trauma, or been indirectly exposed to details of the trauma (e.g., first responders, paramedics).

PTSD symptoms persist long after a traumatic event has ended (at least more than one month afterwards). PTSD can result in intrusive memories, avoidance of anything that reminds oneself of the trauma, negative changes in mood and thinking, and increased reactivity (i.e., hyperarousal). These symptoms significantly impair functioning and can negatively affect various aspects of life, including relationships and work performance.

Symptoms of PTSD include:

  • through unwanted memories, nightmares, flashbacks

  • occur after exposure to traumatic reminders

  • whether thoughts, feelings, or external reminders

    • Inability to recall key features of the trauma

    • Negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world

    • Exaggerated self-blame or blaming of others for causing the trauma

    • Increase in negative moods (anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, shame, irritability)

    • Feeling isolated

    • Decreased interest in activities

    • Difficulty experiencing pleasant emotions

    • Irritability or aggression

    • Risky or destructive behaviour

    • Excessive sensitivity to surroundings and constantly assessing for potential threats to safety (i.e., hypervigilance)

    • Heightened startle reaction

    • Difficulty sleeping

    • Trouble concentrating

How Do We Treat PTSD?

PTSD can be treated with a combination of medication and therapy. Medication may help with mood-related symptoms like depression and anxiety, as well as improve sleep quality for those struggling with frequent nightmares. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns related to the trauma, and when combined with exposure therapy, individuals may learn to tolerate traumatic reminders more effectively.

Although it is normal to want to avoid reminders of a traumatic event, this ultimately reinforces fear. A specific type of CBT known as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) helps with challenging and modifying unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma to reduce distress. Another form of CBT known as Prolonged Exposure Therapy involves gradually confronting trauma-related memories and feelings to reduce avoidance in response to trauma cues.

An additional option for PTSD treatment is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, in which the individual focuses on traumatic memories while experiencing bilateral stimulation (through eye movements). This is meant to facilitate the processing of traumatic memories and reduce the emotional intensity associated with them.