Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refers to the intense pain, fear, and helplessness experienced by an individual after experiencing or witnessing a major traumatic event in which the life of others is threatened or the physical or mental injury is serious, resulting in psychological or physical symptoms. Symptoms.

Severe traumatic events for PTSD

• Traumatic experiences, such as death, sexual violence or serious injury.
• A serious car accident, plane crash, or shipwreck.
• Physical or psychological damage from a natural disaster, such as a typhoon, flood or tornado.
• The sudden and unexpected death of a close friend or relative.
• Learning that your child is diagnosed with a fatal disease.
• Witnessing casualties, such as in a terrorist act.

PTSD symptoms

• Traumatic events continue to recur in the brain or dream.
• The act or feeling of having experienced the event repeatedly.
• When confronted with a situation like the traumatic event, it can cause intense psychological or physical reactions.
• Patients with PTSD often show physical symptoms such as avoidance, numbness, fear, anxiety, tension, insomnia, hypervigilance, and loss of interest in activities.
• In general, symptoms can develop within weeks of a traumatic event and persist for six months, or even years. Delayed-onset is defined as the first onset of symptoms at least 6 months after a stressful event. Generally speaking, the above symptoms may occur at any time after a traumatic event, causing significant pain or impairing the patient's major functions.

PTSD is treatable

Many patients with PTSD can improve with treatment. Frequently used treatments include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both.

How to comfort those traumatized?

The primary principle of comforting and supporting the victim is to try to listen, understand and feel their state of mind at the time and at the moment, and to give empathetic companionship, care, response and care.

When is it necessary to assist victims in seeking professional assistance?

• When intense suicidal thoughts occur during the trauma.
• When a normal traumatic process evolves into a depressive condition.
• When they continue to deny the fact that a loved one has died.
• Delayed trauma: emotional isolation, emotional repression.
• Morbid identification with the dead.
• When they cannot get over the trauma.

PTSD Prognosis

Response to treatment varies according to individual physical condition, trauma level, support system and other factors. Generally, symptoms are alleviated gradually after two to six weeks of medication, but some patients need to be followed up for an extended period of time to improve.