Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder resulting from the experience of a strong and prolonged stress situation, which results in impaired daily functioning.
As a result, a person experiencing PTSD is in a state of constant emotional tension.
The appearance of the so-called flashbacks , i.e. persistently recurring memories of a traumatic event.
PTSD diagnostic criteria:
- experiencing or being a witness of a traumatic event and the occurrence of strong fear in response to this event;
- traumatic experience is constantly being experienced anew in the form of recurring memories, dreams, delusions or hallucinations;
- avoiding any stimuli that may be related to traumatic experience;
- persistent symptoms of hyperactivity (not present before injury) manifested in difficulty falling asleep, irritability and outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, exaggerating the fear response;
- disorders cause a significant decrease in well-being, impairment of social and professional contacts.
PTSD treatment
The treatment uses pharmacological agents in the form of antidepressants and anxiolytics, which significantly reduce nightmares and flashbacks .
Studies have shown that drug treatment does not alleviate symptoms such as generalized anxiety and distance from loved ones.
For these symptoms, exposure therapy is effective, which involves experiencing a traumatic event in the imagination in the presence of a therapist. The patient describes the emotions and experiences associated with trauma, which until now have been hidden and displaced. This method has proved effective in combating the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
