Who Is At Risk Of Suffering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Whilst many people associate Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD with soldiers, it can also be experienced by all types of people who have found themselves in harrowing events such as natural disasters.

PTSD can be recognised as a repetitive sense of extreme anxiety that follows a traumatic event, causing the brain in the individual experiencing it to send out signals to comprehend and interpret the situation. For some people, these signals endure once the event has passed leading to symptoms associated with PTSD.

Following a traumatic event, it can be difficult to feel secure within certain situations and adjust to, “normal life”; and people who suffer from the condition usually experience overwhelming anxiety and discomfort when they revisit the episode – both mentally and physically. The symptoms can be manifested in a variety of ways and are also likely to affect personal relationships and how you interact with other people. Many people who suffer from PTSD will experience symptoms such as anxiety, nightmares, morbid pre-occupations, guilt, anger and extreme stress.

In order to help people who suffer from PTSD, the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs has developed a digital application that can be used by sufferers in conjunction with mental-health therapies. The app is called the, “PE Coach”, and guides the user through a series of techniques that can be used to lower stress, anxiety and other symptoms relating to PTSD. The app also offers tips, advice and even has a recording device which allows individuals to record and listen back to therapy sessions.

Whilst, PTSD is a very painful condition to experience, it can be overcome with the right therapies and associated tools. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds, and its effects should never be underestimated. Fortunately help is available for all people who suffer from it, and for many has proven to be highly-effective.

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