News flash! Mental health has become an important priority to the current generation. Today, millennials in particular plead over the ignorance people have towards mental health because they firmly believe it’s no joking matter. Hence, this includes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) too!
It may not seem visible to the naked eye, but Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is real! Even though PTSD may not be found in everyone, it is still in the shadows waiting to creep into any mind that allows it. While it seems so subtle and practically invisible, it can cause a lot of mental health damage to an individual and when it is not treated and can drive you nuts by mentally repeating your painful experience.
According to the Healthline, PTSD is developed by a past traumatic event that is either experienced or witnessed by the individual. It could range from different kinds of events such as natural disasters, sexual abuse, a major accident or even witnessing a murder.
While some escape the torture of these cruel memories, some victims are triggered psychologically and physically by recurring nightmares, flashbacks or a similar encounter that relates back to the traumatic experience. People, it seems like the mind is waging war with itself! Here is a video to help you visualise what it seems like.
{^widget|(videourl)https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3db_n9qegR7C4|(name)YouTubeVideo|(autoplay)False|(widget_displayname)YouTube+video|(width)1004|(height)665^}
Here’s another interesting observation. Did you know that a replay of the traumatic memory will also repeat the immediate physical defensive response every time they are triggered? Dude, that’s so cruel! Sigh….
So, like any other health problems, people with PTSD also seek treatment…well, duhhh! Often, a person struggling with mental health such as PTSD goes to a counselling therapist or psychiatrist for treatment. In most cases, it’s the obvious choice.
However guys, it’s absolutely important to know that PTSD recovery is not a one-way street. Therapy isn’t enough and neither is swallowing a pill everyday even though they’re both good options. Why? For a start, taking a pill each day often is a method to treat symptoms and not so much of a permanent solution.
Not only that, PTSD varies on a case to case basis depending on the patient’s recovery and also the amount of effort taken from the patient itself to improve their mental health. Hey, don’t worry! It is not impossible to recover and here’s an encouraging fun fact: It becomes easier and easier when the PTSD victim gives the ‘enough is enough’ attitude towards the whole thing.
It’s time to take charge of the mind! So, where does that leave us?
If you are someone who has not known about PTSD, don’t beat yourself up for being ignorant. Guess what...now you know! Together, let’s educate ourselves and bring more awareness to our surrounding community and to even use the platform of social media (since that’s where we’re all at on a daily basis) to fight alongside with PTSD victims and not against them.
Now that you’re triggered by the importance of mental health, tune in to What’s The Feed for more mental matters that may be intriguing.
Sources:
Healthline
Medium
Psychiatry Malaysia
American Psychiatric Association