PTSD in American Soldiers: Recognizing Symptoms and Exploring Effective Treatment Options

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition that may occur from a stressful incident experienced or seen. Most people associate PTSD with those with military backgrounds who were involved in combat operations, however anyone, irrespective of past or occupation, can suffer from it. These traumas need not be physical or violent but can be emotional abuse or bullying that causes PTSD. The after-effect of trauma is usually majorly devastating when its victims are at a young age because children and adolescents are in their respective stages of developing emotional ways of dealing with situations.

The Prevalence of PTSD:

Nearly one-third of UK residents may have experienced a traumatic occurrence at some point in their lives. Four percent of the people might be incurring PTSD sometime during each month. In many cases, symptoms of PTSD are not precipitated right away following a trauma. Sometimes these symptoms occur after many years the traumatic event occurred. If they go untreated, PTSD can also be a life-impeding disorder, seriously debilitating a victim's ability to operate in any form of regular, daily behavior.

Identifying Symptoms of PTSD:

Diagnosis can be challenging since, in some cases, trauma is experienced over many years. In some cases, even the professional may misinterpret the symptoms that may have occurred a long time ago. There are, however common signs which can point out PTSD. They are:

·        Flashbacks: The individual may recall the traumatic experience, and feel as if they were experiencing it once more in real time. The flashbacks can be provoked by memories of the incident, such as sounds or odors.

·        Difficulty Sleeping and Nightmares: Many people with PTSD have disrupted sleep, including recurrent nightmares that transport them back to the trauma or instill fear and anxiety.

·        Physical Symptoms: PTSD may also be presented physically, including unexplained pain, sweating, trembling, or nausea. Such symptoms may arise without a discernible physical cause but are related to the body's response to stress and trauma.

·        Negative thoughts or behaviors: People with PTSD may have constant negative thoughts concerning themselves, other people, or the world at large. Besides, they can have negative behaviors such as substance abuse and reckless behavior that may help numb the pain.

·        Emotional Numbing: Patients may be emotionally numb or "turned off" and do not care for others, or cannot have pleasure in doing things that normal people like and enjoy.

Treatment of PTSD in Adults and Teenagers:

Anyone experiencing any form of signs from the symptoms, you or your friends should seek early treatment. Generally, you should consult your GP, or general practitioner, because they can assess the situation and give further prescriptions on appropriate treatment. Most psychological therapies treat PTSD. Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the most commonly recommended one among others because it makes it possible for the patient to confront and process traumatic memories in a safe and structured environment.

Treatment and Recovery:

Since PTSD is difficult to identify and treat, there are effective treatments available. Many people who have been diagnosed with PTSD can heal from their signs and symptoms if they receive the appropriate care. The bottom line is to manage PTSD early and seek professional help. If PTSD fails to be addressed soon or diagnosed in its initial phases, it may turn into a permanent problem for mental health and daily functioning.

PTSD is a significant psychological illness that can affect anyone who has experienced trauma. Recognizing indications and getting appropriate medical care timely are vital for treating the disease and increasing quality of life. It is achievable to heal with the right treatment and support.

Treatment Plan for PTSD:

Four therapies are recommended most commonly. These are given as follows;

1.     Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

CBT is the primary intervention. It focuses on the link between thoughts, emotions, and actions. To reduce current discomfort and improve daily functioning, traumatic incidents might generate flawed thought patterns and actions.

2.     Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT):

With this, CPT will be a tool to identify and challenge these unhelpful beliefs about their trauma. Recognizing and altering distorted thinking would help reduce such effects on feelings and actions. The therapist shall assist the patient in understanding how the trauma was affecting their thought and belief patterns.

3.     Cognitive Therapy:

This method concentrates on changing and reducing the negative appraisals and memories of the trauma. By changing negative thoughts, the patient can break the disruptive patterns in their daily lives and regain control over their emotional and behavioral responses.

4.     Prolonged Exposure(PE):

PE will be employed to allow the patient to gradually face and work with trauma-related memories, emotions, and experiences he has been avoiding. Gradual exposure through structured exposure procedures is used so the patient comes to realize these are not as dreadful as once felt, which eliminates avoidance and helps reduce anxiety levels.

Medication:

Four medications received a conditional recommendation for use in the treatment of PTSD:

·        Sertraline

·        Paroxetine

·        Fluoxetine

·        Venlafaxine.