Many mental disorders affect individuals at various stages of their lives. Some can be treated completely, while for others, only the effects and symptoms can be reduced. Traumatizing events can cause a person to develop a disorder requiring medical attention support to be addressed. Posttraumatic stress disorder causes trauma in one’s mind, and it needs intervention by the people around and health professionals. Terrifying events are the leading cause of posttraumatic stress disorder; its symptoms express trauma, and individuals need medical and emotional support.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) happens when one experiences something traumatic, and the event remains imprinted in their mind (Bremner, 2016). There are many occurrences of traumatic events in the current world, creating a need for a solution. People with this disorder have haunting thoughts related to specific experiences beyond the actual time they transpired. For others, the condition is not a result of experiencing a terrifying event but witnessing something traumatizing.
Some of the symptoms experienced by a person with PTSD include intrusion, avoidance, mood changes, and variance reactions. Intrusion occurs when thoughts bring the memory of traumatic events, nightmares, and flashbacks, traumatizing a person (Bremner, 2016). Avoidance symptoms are seen when one avoids everything that may remind them of a particular event, such as not talking about it. The mood changes come in ways such as being easy to frighten, always looking for danger, lack of concentration, guilt, engaging in self-destructive actions, and irritable behavior. People with this disorder react to people, activities, and surroundings cautiously and suspiciously, expecting something to go wrong.
The events that affect people with PTSD include fatal accidents where one got injured or someone died, sexually related violence such as rape, natural disasters such as earthquakes, and wars. Such events caused them emotional and psychological harm, and exposure to such events makes them feel threatened physically and emotionally. If exposed to these events, some victims may experience the same shock as during the actual occurrence (Bremner, 2016). A person who has experienced a fatal accident may develop a phobia of using cars, and every time they are in them, they think that they will crash again. In a case where one was once raped, they become insecure with the people around them, and this is because such a person thinks someone might rape them and therefore isolates themselves. Until they overcome this trauma, they will keep their distance because of the insecurity developed.
Various methods can help people with PTSD overcome their traumatic experiences. Activities that distract the mind from constant remembrance of the event can be adopted. Staying engaged in everyday work and social life helps one to avoid being withdrawn. They also do things that an individual loves, such as hobbies and activities of interest (Bremner, 2016).
Victims should also be encouraged to openly communicate what they feel about something to people around them or to write them down. Opening up their feelings enables them to release the trauma they have been holding on to for a while. Speaking up also makes the people around one understand and empathize with their situation. Upon talking about the events, the affected person should accept what happened because they have no control.
People with the disorder should seek help and support from the people around them. The service is necessary because they can learn from the people who have undergone experiences like their own. A support group will aid in having access to professionals who understand the disorder and facilitate meaningful and resourceful discussions (Bremner, 2016). There is a need for good nutrition, physical exercise, and rest to boost the patient’s health for effective functioning of the brain (Bremner, 2016). The activities, if structured, also help in occupying one, therefore fewer distractions. Avoiding the things that remind one of the traumatic events is necessary to prevent constant memories that haunt the person. For example, moving out of a place, career change, and avoiding particular activities will help. Finally, one should seek healthcare attention and talk to a professional who can, in turn, come up with a treatment plan.
As a social worker, I would engage in multiple fronts concerning PTSD patients by engaging in research on the treatment of the disorder and how they can adapt to new environments, practices, and groups. Being part of the hospital team that takes care of these patients, I will help identify effective medication and also helping the individuals daily. I will also actively assist in identifying people with trauma to be put under treatment and necessary support groups.
In conclusion, people experience trauma from past experiences because of the intensity of damage caused by the event. Forgetting some aspects of the occurrence may be difficult for the victims. They, therefore, need help from both the people around them and professionals. The process is necessary for them to accept what happened and be able to engage in other activities. It brings the necessity for people to help those around them adapt to change so they can be free from any form of trauma.
Reference
Bremner, J. D. (2016). Posttraumatic stress disorder: From neurobiology to treatment. John Wiley & Sons.