Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – The facts
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a physical and psychological condition caused by exposure to extremely frightening or distressing events and can affect anyone but is constantly highlighted by and particularly common in those who have served within the armed forces.
This year is the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict, a conflict in which 255 British service personnel died. Sadly it is well known that over 300 service personnel have now taken their own lives since the conflict ended many displaying symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The symptoms of PTSD usually start soon after the traumatic event, but sometimes it can be many months or even years before symptoms develop, long after a military career has ended.
Talking2Minds are committed as a charity to helping anyone experiencing the symptoms of PTSD, irrespective of which conflict they served in.
A conclusive British study to assess the number of returning service personnel experiencing the symptoms of PTSD has yet to be carried out, but figures from various American studies have concluded that 14% – 19% of returning servicemen show symptoms of PTSD.
An individual with PTSD often relives the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, and may also have problems with concentrating and sleeping which add to feelings of isolation and detachment from everyday life and emotions.
People who are affected by the symptoms of PTSD may feel afraid or that they have no control over what is happening within their lives. Anyone who has gone through a life-threatening or traumatic event may develop PTSD or any number of severe stress related conditions.
Typically PTSD can be triggered by traumatic events such as:
- Military combat situations
- Sexual or physical abuse
- Extreme physical assault
- Terrorist attacks
- Serious accidents – such as car crashes
- Disasters, such as fires, floods, or earthquakes etc
- Any event which an individual experiences as traumatic such as a bereavement of a loved one
After the event, one may feel confused, angry or scared. If these feelings don’t go away or they get worse, one may already be suffering from PTSD.
Not everyone witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event will develop PTSD. Individuals differ. How likely you are to develop PTSD depends on many factors such as how close you were to the event, how much personal control you had over the circumstances, how strong your reaction was, how intense was the trauma, how long it lasted, and whether you were injured or lost someone close to you.
If you are experiencing some or all of the symptoms listed below, you may well be suffering from PTSD:
- Flashbacks, nightmares or night-time terrors
- Feelings of depression
- Isolation, loneliness and confusion
- Insomnia and irritability
- Hyper-alertness and hyper vigilance
- Inappropriate anger
- Excessive drink or drug use
- Suicidal thoughts
- Self harm or harming others
- Severe mood swings and aggression
- Finding yourself unable to do things that you once were able to do
- Developing behaviours that are affecting your quality of life
- Having loved ones commenting that you are somehow behaving differently from before i.e. “out of character”
All these symptoms are completely natural emotional reactions to deeply disturbing and traumatic experiences but if they continue for prolonged periods of time without help they can affect you and those around you on a daily basis.
Today there is overwhelming evidence that UK troops fighting in the various areas of conflict all over the world are suffering from PTSD at ever-increasing levels. The number of individuals being diagnosed with PTSD and associated symptoms has increased by 53% in the last few years (Combat Stress).
Having experienced the damaging effects of PTSD himself, the founder and CEO of Talking2Minds Bob Paxman decided to set up the charity to help other who like himself had been told that that the symptoms would be there “for life”.
“I refused to accept that I would experience the symptoms of PTSD for the rest of my life and having worked hard to come up with a therapy that really worked for me I am passionate about helping others find their way through PTSD too”
Please contact us if you or a loved one are experiencing the symptoms of PTSD
info@talking2minds.co.uk to find out more information of what we do.
Sharon@talking2minds.co.uk to find out how you can book onto a Paradigm Change Programme™
You can call 0208 133 0217 or 079171226708 and speak to Sharon, the Talking2Minds course coordinator directly.