Causes of post traumatic stress disorder

The causes of post traumatic stress disorder are not fully known, but the following events may be involved:

• such as having a serious injury or being threatened with death.
• witnessing others being seriously injured, killed or threatened with death; or learning of traumatic events that occurred to close family members or friends.

These events may be experienced directly or indirectly. People may have experienced a single trauma or, as is common, multiple traumas.

Symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder

People with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) typically have symptoms from each of the following four categories:

Intrusion symptoms (the event repeatedly and uncontrollably invades their thoughts)

The traumatic event may repeatedly reappear in the form of involuntary, unwanted memories or recurrent nightmares. Some people have flashbacks, in which they relive events as if they were actually happening rather than simply being remembered. People may also experience intense reactions to reminders of the event. A combat veteran’s symptoms might be triggered by fireworks, for example, whereas those of a robbery victim may be triggered by seeing a gun in a movie.

Avoidance of anything that reminds them of the event

People persistently avoid things—activities, situations, or people—that are reminders of the trauma. For example, they may avoid entering a park or an office building where they were assaulted or avoid speaking to people of the same race as their assailant. They may even attempt to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations about the traumatic event.

Negative effects on thinking and mood

People may be unable to remember significant parts of the traumatic event (called dissociative amnesia). People may feel emotionally numb or disconnected from other people. Depression is common, and people show less interest in previously enjoyed activities. How people think about the event may become distorted, leading them to blame themselves or others for what happened. Feelings of guilt are also common. For example, they may feel guilty that they survived when other people did not. They may feel only negative emotions, such as fear, horror, anger, or shame, and may be unable to feel happy or satisfied or love.

Changes in alertness and reactions

People may have difficulty falling asleep or concentrating. They may become excessively vigilant for warning signs of risk. They may be easily startled. People may become less able to control their reactions, resulting in reckless behaviour or angry outbursts.

Other symptoms

Some people develop ritual activities to help reduce their anxiety. For example, people who were sexually assaulted may bathe repeatedly to try to remove the sense of being unclean.

Many people with PTSD try to relieve their symptoms with alcohol or recreational drugs and develop a substance use disorder.

PTSD can prevent people from doing what they usually enjoy and starts to affect the physical, mental, emotional and social well-being. They may develop various physical symptoms. They may stop their activities, withdraw socially, and become preoccupied with health. The mind-body complex is now fully affected and becomes a vicious circle which keeps an individual in suffering mode.

Diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder

Doctors diagnose post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when

• People have been exposed directly or indirectly to a traumatic event.
• Symptoms have been present for 1 month or longer.
• Symptoms cause significant distress or significantly impair functioning.
• People have some symptoms from each of the categories of symptoms associated with PTSD (intrusion symptoms, avoidance symptoms, negative effects on thinking and mood, and changes in alertness and reactions).

A doctor’s thorough evaluation which includes physical; mental; emotional; social health and environmental influence. Through this evaluation doctors try to identify the causes, factors modifying it and the impact of such symptoms on the daily life quality of a person.

PTSD often is not diagnosed because it causes such varied and complex symptoms. Also, the presence of a substance use disorder can distract attention from the PTSD. When diagnosis and treatment are delayed, PTSD can become chronically debilitating.

Doctors also check to see whether symptoms could result from use of a drug or another disorder that can be inter-related, such as anxiety disorder, depression or a sleep disturbance. Doctors also ask whether relatives have had similar symptoms, because disorders tend to run in families.

Doctors ask how the person feels; eats; sleeps and goes through a routine day. Identifying these changes is critical because they can make the situation better or worse and, if present, must be treated for the disorder to be treated effectively.

Homeopathic Treatment of post traumatic stress disorder

After a thorough evaluation, each case is worked upon and a set of similar medicines is derived, from which one single medicine which fits the patient’s presentation at that time, in relevant intensity and repetitions is given.

Some need only one medicine throughout the duration of treatment and some need few in sequence one after another across the treatment.

Timely follow-ups are essential to keep moving forward towards the goal of treatment and to identify, manage and overcome any obstacles to the outcome.

Outcomes of Customised Homeopathic Treatment

With Individualised Homeopathic treatment focused on the person who is suffering, the outlook is as follows:

• Relieves stress
• Boosts metabolism
• Improves sleep
• Improves alertness
• Relieves fatigue
• Restores function
• Better moods
• Improves quality of life

Each person is unique and hence the time taken for treatment and the results achieved are also unique. 

Try to consult a well qualified professional homeopath who practices adhering to the tenets of Hahnemannian Homeopathy for Best Outcomes.