What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Post traumatic stress disorder, or commonly referred to as PTSD, is a specific mental illness that affects those individuals who have experienced trauma in their lives. 

This debilitating disease affects 1 in 10 Canadians, and those suffering from it require professional help through rehab and counselling. 

PTSD Defined

The Canadian Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the most widely used manual in clinical psychiatric practice in Canada, regards PTSD as a mental illness, categorized among trauma and stressor-related disorders. PTSD can arise in individuals exposed to sudden trauma such as: unexpected and violent death, sexual violence, serious injury, divorce, etc. Some individuals suffer PTSD as a consequence of feeling the trauma for their family and friends. 

PTSD symptoms are classified in the following categories:

• Intrusion symptoms: intrusions are unintentional, spontaneous recollections or nightmares that are thematically related to the trauma. The trauma is repeatedly re-lived through “flashbacks” — brief, sudden and vivid replays of the traumatic event.
• Avoidance: this refers to conscious efforts on the part of the traumatized individual to avoid any memories, activities or situations that remind one of the trauma.
• Negative changes in cognition (thoughts and beliefs) and moods: negative moods include fear, horror, anger, guilt and shame, while distorted thoughts relate to lack of trust (“No one can be trusted”) or exaggerated fears (“The world is completely dangerous”).
• Changes in arousal and reactivity: arousal difficulties include hypervigilance, poor concentration, irritability, impaired sleep/insomnia and a prominent startle response.

Common symptoms of PTSD can include the following:

• re-experiencing the traumatic event over and over
• having recurring nightmares
• experiencing unwanted, disturbing memories of the event
• acting or feeling as if the event is happening again
• feeling upset when reminded of the event
• staying away from activities, places or people that are reminders of the traumatic experience
• avoiding friends and family
• losing interest in activities that used to be enjoyable
• experiencing difficulty having loving feelings
• being unable to feel pleasure
• constantly worrying
• having a hard time concentrating
• getting angry easily
• having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• fearing harm from others
• experiencing sudden attacks of dizziness, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath
• having fears of dying.

Is It Common To Develop PTSD After A Traumatic Event?

Considering that 76% of Candians will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime, not everyone who witnesses trauma develops PTSD. The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that about 8% of Candians who witness traumatic events will develop PTSD. The severity of the effects of PTSD vary from one individual to another, and from one traumatic event to the next. While some people heal naturally from their PTSD symptoms over a period of a year or two, others are incapable of escaping the crushing effects of PTSD on their lives. With time, PTSD symptoms can further complicate one’s health by developing chronic diseases such as: anxiety disorders, substance abuse, other health related conditions, i.e. cancer.

If you or a loved one experienced any of the above mentioned symptoms due to witnessing a traumatic event and would like to get help, please contact us today and we will help you return to your well-being again.