STEPS TO OVERCOME POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is our body’s reaction to a traumatic event. It can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of weakness.When something traumatic happens in your life, it rocks you to the core. The world is no longer a safe place. It becomes somewhere that bad things can and do happen. It is normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this kind of event. At first, it may be hard to do normal daily activities, like go to work, go to school, or spend time with people you care about. But most people start to feel better after a few weeks or months. If it has been longer than a few months and you are still having symptoms, you may have PTSD. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later on, or they may come and go over time.

PTSD symptoms are both physical and psychological. Symptoms may include: nightmares or unwanted memories of the trauma, avoidance of situations that bring back memories of the trauma, heightened reactions, anxiety, or depressed mood. Symptoms can appear years later. Symptoms last for at least three months, but onset can begin months or years after the traumatic event occurs. Sneha George, Counselling Psychologist, Fortis Malar Hospital shares easy ways to deal with this condition.

Ways to help oneself overcome PTSD:

•             Watch yourself for signs of anger, rage, depression, worry, or other negative feelings.

•             Keep up with daily schedules and routines. Try to include more pleasant activities in your day, even for brief periods of time.

•             Keep up with your body’s needs for exercise, food, and sleep.

•             Feel what you feel. It is normal to feel a range of emotions. Having these feelings is to be expected. How you deal with them is most important.

•             Slow down. Give yourself time and space to deal with what has happened. Remember that people have their own pace for dealing with trauma, including you.

•             Count on feeling angry, but balance your actions with wisdom. Try to stay calm. Avoid reacting with sudden anger toward any group or persons.

•             Talk with someone close to you who might understand what you are going through.

•             If you do not feel like talking, writing in a journal may be helpful for dealing with intense feelings.

Book Appointement: Sneha George, Counselling Psychologist, Fortis Malar Hospital