Recovering from Trauma
Survivors can experience a range of emotions following a traumatic injury. They are never alone, and there are resources readily available to help.
Stress vs. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Going through a traumatic injury can cause a range of strong emotions. For example, it is common for people to feel or experience the following after the injury:
- Sadness
- Anxiousness
- Crying spells
- Sleep problems
- Anger
- Irritability
- Grief or self-doubt
These emotions are perfectly normal.
For some people, distress resolves over time. For others, it may hold steady or even increase. In about 1 out of 4 people, the distress is so severe that it is called post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
When to Seek Professional Help
Sometimes grief overwhelms us, which is when professional help is useful. You may need help if:
- The grief is constant after about six months
- There are symptoms of PTSD or major depression
- Your reaction interferes with daily life
Your doctor can help you identify local services available for support, including the Trauma Survivors Network.
What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
For some people, frightening memories of a terrible event can come back months or even years later. In reliving the event, some people become fearful. They can have problems coping with daily life. Mental health experts call this post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Having anxiety can be a major part of this disorder.
One of the biggest myths about PTSD is that it only affects war veterans. But anyone who has been through a horrific traumatic event is at risk.
People at risk for PTSD include:
- People who have experienced violence, such as rape. Or people who have experienced intimate partner violence as children or adults.
- Children who are neglected or abused
- Survivors of bad accidents, fires, or natural disasters
- Emergency response workers, such as police, firefighters, disaster-relief volunteers, and medical providers
- War victims or veterans
Symptoms of PTSD
People with PTSD feel anxious and hyper-alert. They feel like their life is out of control. They know something is wrong. But they often don't link what they're feeling now to a traumatic event in their past. To try to feel safe, they withdraw emotionally from others.
Other signs of PTSD include:
- Having frequent nightmares, flashbacks, or other vivid memories of the event
- Being unable to recall parts of the event
- Staying away from any reminders of the event, including people, places, thoughts, or activities
- Feeling always on guard or on edge
- Being easily startled
- Having angry outbursts
- Having trouble sleeping
The most helpful treatment for PTSD is professional counseling and medicine. People with this condition tend to cut themselves off from others. Family members can play a vital role in helping victims to get help. With treatment, people can feel better very quickly. Talking with a family health care provider or mental health provider is a good place to start.
For more information, visit the National Center for PTSD website. This is part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
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