Mental illness can be difficult to diagnose as those who are suffering from a mental disorder often believe their condition is simply normal life. This is frequently the case for those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. The symptoms of PTSD span a range from mild to severe, and those dealing with this illness likely find themselves at multiple points on this spectrum depending on their situation at any given time. Let’s look at some of the signs and symptoms of PTSD so you can better understand whether you are dealing with more than run of the mill everyday stress.
One of the more common symptoms of PTSD are the consistent, painful memories of the traumatic event which plague your conscious or subconscious mind. These may come in the form of frequent nightmares, extreme responses to people, places, or things which prompt you to remember the trauma, or flashbacks. Flashbacks are situations where you are conscious but feel as though you are reliving the traumatic event as though it is happening in real time. You need not experience all of these forms of recall in order to be struggling with PTSD; if you find these painful memories are a regular intrusion in your life months after the event has occurred, there is a good chance you have developed PTSD as a result of your experience.
PTSD can often appear to mimic the symptoms of depression in terms of your mental and social health day to day. Feelings of hopelessness, a lack of meaningful connection to those around you, a loss of interest in previously enjoyable pastimes - these are all symptoms of PTSD as well as depression. The differentiating factor between these two mental health disorders is the existence of an inciting incident. If these feelings presented in your life shortly after a traumatic event and have been lingering ever since, they are likely symptoms of your having developed PTSD. Regardless of the cause, you should consult a doctor if you find these negative thoughts and feelings are plaguing you for a prolonged period of time.
PTSD is often left untreated as those struggling with this mental health disorder are unaware that it is the cause of their suffering, believing their daily experience to be the normal human condition. Often the accompanying negative thoughts and feelings play a role in dissuading those suffering to seek help, but you should push through that negativity and talk to your primary care provider about getting treatment for your mental health. For those suffering from PTSD as a result of substantial trauma, often a course of inpatient treatment is remarkably beneficial in terms of alleviating this disorder in the long term. At Evolutions Treatment Center, our clinical team has years of experience helping those struggling with PTSD process the traumatic events of their past so they can move on in their lives free from the emotional baggage that was causing their symptoms. If you believe you or a loved one may be suffering from PTSD, call our Admissions Counselors today at 833-818-3031 so we may help you determine the best course of treatment for this serious mental health disorder.