Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms and recovery

Life-threatening events such as natural disasters, acts of war, car accidents, or serious injuries (such as burns) leave deep scars on a person's psyche. The mental health problem that develops after these events is called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Why does PTSD occur

Feeling fear at the moment of danger is normal. it triggers the body's natural "fight or flight" response, protecting us from harm. But in people with PTSD, this stress reaction doesn't go away even months or years after the danger ends. The brain continues to warn of danger.

Main symptoms of PTSD

The disorder can be manifested as follows:

• Clinging thoughts and memories: Constantly reliving a past event.
• Severe nightmares: Sleep disturbances, often accompanied by frightening dreams.
• Vigilance and avoidance: Feeling the need to constantly check the environment for risks, as well as avoiding places and people that remind you of the trauma.
• Feeling of disconnection: It seems like you are in a daze and what happened was not real.

Posttraumatic growth and healing

In some cases, survivors of severe injury or trauma experience difficult moments mentally, but then find a new meaning in life and discover a powerful inner strength. In science, this is called "post-traumatic growth" (PTG). Gratitude and support from others fuel this growth.

However, if symptoms interfere with your life (or if you turn to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain), professional help is a must. On the Minder platform, you can find trauma therapy professionals who will help you safely process the traumatic experience and return to the normal rhythm of life.