Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:
Effects and consequences
Stressful experiences, apart from causing short-term detrimental effects ,can also become the
basis for the development of an anxiety disorder that is commonly referred to as Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder(PTSD). The nature of those events is often uncontrollable and unpredictable, for
instance, military veterans exposed to combat stress display a certain degree of stress that
contributes to the development of PTSD (Brown A.D. et al, 2010) , victims of sexual abuse both
in childhood and adulthood have a high chances of PTSD occurring.
Depending on the severity of those events, the disorder may have a lifelong impact. Hence, the
feelings of fear and hopelessness may also become systematic.
Interestingly, stressful events could receive different responses from people according to
research(Yaribeygi H. et al, 2017). The situational aspect of the stressful events as well as
distinctive characteristics of those who experience them are the key factors that define their
reactions. Both social history and support by friends and family are also found to be influential in
the formation of a reaction to a stressful experience (Scott et al, 2016). What is worth
noting ,considering the abovementioned facts is that outcomes of stressful events may not have
the same exact consequences on another person who experiences the same event , marking
further the importance of understanding each person’s distinct characteristics and their relation
with regard to a traumatic event. The main goal of this study is to show the main symptoms of
PTSD, explore which individual traits may make some people more prone to the disorder than
others.
People with PTSD tend to display certain signs quite early, for instance, at around three months
upon the encounter with a traumatic event. Nonetheless, in some other occasions, the symptoms
normally take longer duration before beginning. The studies have indicated that the duration of
PTSD symptoms must always persist for over a month to be considered intense enough to
negatively influence people’s relationships and according to Ford(2018) the disorder does not
have a definite duration ,meaning the continuity of PTSD may vary from person to which un turn
indicated that the disease can potentially persist for a prolong period of time in some people and
, others may expect the disorder to remain for a relatively short time. Another problem with PTSD
is that people tend to be influenced by it throughout the entire course of the disorder if traumatic
memories or feelings are triggered by certain aspects of their lives. Not only that, but also having
flashbacks with regard to a certain issue and experiencing fear about a specific event. Bad
dreams are also a form of re-experiencing the traumatic incident. The aforementioned issues
have a tendency to directly affect the lives of those suffering from PTSD, lowering the quality of
their lives and making ordinary routines more complicated to perform.
On the other hand ,the avoidance symptoms of PTSD appears when people choose to abstain
from things that may remind them of what happened to them. The fact that people constantly
make attempts to stop thinking negatively about the traumatic stressor they encountered is
another example of this. Another significant sign of PTSD is that those who suffer from it
frequently struggle to recall some of the key details of the traumatic events they underwent
(Cash, 2016). Additionally, they constantly have negative thoughts about the world and
themselves, which causes them to feel guilty for what happened to them and ashamed of their
helplessness. Also, many who suffer from PTSD constantly seem to lose interest in some of the
prior interests they once had. The way that children respond to stressful situations differs from
the way that adults respond, and this is crucial to keep in mind. Even after they have learned how
to use the toilet, young children who are under the age of six have a tendency to wet the bed.
Additionally, because they are unable to speak freely, they constantly forget how to speak. As a
result, kids frequently seem frightened even when playing, and generally they only feel safe with
those they care about, their parents, for instance They typically cling to them as a result of this
because they are afraid of experiencing the terrible event again. On the other hand, older children
always behave in the same way as their parents (Ford, 2018). They constantly retain
a negative impulse for retribution, regardless. Given the aforementioned criteria, healthcare
professionals must act diligently since only by doing so will they be able to identify and treat the
problem properly. The fear of being abused and labeled as weak are some of the reasons
why those who have PTSD almost often suffer in silence.
