Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
After a traumatic experience, it’s normal to feel frightened, sad, anxious, and disconnected. Usually, as time passes, the upset fades and you start to enjoy life again. But sometimes the trauma you experienced is so overwhelming that you find that you can’t move on. You feel stuck with painful memories that don’t fade and a constant sense of danger.
If you went through a traumatic experience and are having trouble getting back to your regular life, reconnecting to others, and feeling safe again, you may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When you have PTSD, it can seem like you’ll never get over what happened or feel normal again.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Gina’s Story
Three months ago, Gina was in a major car accident. She sustained only minor injuries, but two friends riding in her car were killed. At first, the accident seemed like just a bad dream. Then Gina started having nightmares about it. Now, the sights and sounds of the accident haunt her all the time.
Gina has trouble sleeping at night, and during the day she feels irritable and on edge. She jumps whenever she hears a siren or screeching tires, and she avoids TV programs that might show a car chase or accident scene. Gina also avoids driving whenever possible, and refuses to go anywhere near the site of the crash.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that can develop following a traumatic event that threatens your safety or makes you feel helpless.
Most people associate PTSD with battle–scarred soldiers–and military combat is the most common cause in men–but any overwhelming life experience can trigger PTSD, especially if the event feels unpredictable and uncontrollable like 911.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect those who personally experience the catastrophe, those who witness it, and those who pick up the pieces afterwards, including emergency workers and law enforcement officers. It can even occur in the friends or family members of those who went through the actual trauma.
PTSD develops differently from person to person. While the symptoms of PTSD most commonly develop in the hours or days following the traumatic event, it can sometimes take weeks, months, or even years before they appear.
The difference between PTSD and a normal response to trauma
The traumatic events that lead to post-traumatic stress disorder are usually so overwhelming and frightening that they would upset anyone. Following a traumatic event, almost everyone experiences at least some of the symptoms of PTSD. When your sense of safety and trust are shattered, it’s normal to feel crazy, disconnected, or numb. It’s very common to have bad dreams, feel fearful or numb, and find it difficult to stop thinking about what happened. These are normal reactions to abnormal events.
For most people, however, these symptoms are short-lived. They may last for several days or even weeks, but they gradually lift. But if you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the symptoms don’t decrease. You don’t feel a little better each day. In fact, you may start to feel worse.
A normal response to trauma becomes PTSD when you become stuck
After a traumatic experience, the mind and the body are in shock. But as you make sense of what happened and process your emotions, you come out of it. With post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), however, you remain in psychological shock. Your memory of what happened and your feelings about it are disconnected. In order to move on, it’s important to face and feel your memories and emotions.
Signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can arise suddenly, gradually, or come and go over time. Sometimes symptoms appear seemingly out of the blue. At other times, they are triggered by something that reminds you of the original traumatic event, such as a noise, an image, certain words, or a smell.
While everyone experiences PTSD differently, there are three main types of symptoms:
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- Re-experiencing the traumatic event
- Avoiding reminders of the trauma
- Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
Symptoms of PTSD: Re-experiencing the traumatic event
- *Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event
- *Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
- *Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)
- *Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma
- *Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)
Symptoms of PTSD: Avoidance and numbing
- *Avoiding activities, places, thoughts, or feelings that remind you of the trauma
- *Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
- *Loss of interest in activities and life in general
- *Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb
- *Sense of a limited future (you don’t expect to live a normal life span, get married, have a career)
Symptoms of PTSD: Increased anxiety and emotional arousal
- *Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- *Irritability or outbursts of anger
- *Difficulty concentrating
- *Hypervigilance (on constant “red alert”)
- *Feeling jumpy and easily startled
Other common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
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Anxiety Disorders and Neurotranmitter levels
PTSD is becomming a common neurotransmitter–related condition. Others include anxiety disorders, depression, compulsive behaviors, insomnia, and migraines.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that relay signals between nerve cells, called “neurons.” They are present throughout the body and are required for proper brain function. Serious health problems including anxiety and panic disorders can occur if certain neurotransmitter levels are too high or too low.
Every neurotransmitter behaves differently. Some are inhibitory, meaning they tend to calm the brain. Others are excitatory and have the opposite effect. Extensive scientific research has revealed a close link between imbalances in gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA, the central nervous system’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter) and anxiety disorders including PTSD. Elevations in a number of excitatory neurotransmitters including: epinephrine, norepinephrine, PEA, glutamate, and histamine may also be associated with PTSD. For example, an elevated dopamine levels leads to the symptom of hypervigelence and paranoia.
Environmental and biological factors – including stress, poor diet, neurotoxins or genetics – can cause the imbalances in the levels of neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain. These imbalances can trigger or exacerbate PTSD symptoms.
PTSD and Adrenal Gland Function
The adrenal gland, as the name implies, is a major producer of the stimulant called Adrenaline (also known as epinephrine). It plays a major role in the physiology of stress acting like a “sprinter” able to support a short burst of energy capable of dealing with the flight or fight response of acute stress. When released, adrenaline has been known to give a person that “super-human” strength capable of lifting a car. Like a sprinter, it is short acting but yet powerful. However, when the stress persists, the hormone that takes on the role of the “long-distance” marathoner is Cortisol, providing energy and clarity to get you through those prolonged periods of stress. If this hormone is elevated for too long, it can lead to tissue breakdown, diabetes, cataracts, weight gain and osteoporosis to name a few. Another hormone produced by the glands is DHEA, responsible for the ability to take in the noises and sights of stress and channel them appropriately to the brain. It is also necessary in stimulating the immune system to thwart off any foreign invaders, especially if the tiger happens to bite you.
“Adrenal Fatigue”- The “Tipping Point” leading to the “breakdown” - PTSD
What ever happened to the good old fashion “nervous breakdown?” Well, it still exists… we just call it something different today. And as smoothly as stress enters our busy lives, that is the unrelenting chronic stress, along comes “That Traumatic Event” – the son lost at war, the tragic accident, the unforeseen health issue, the divorce, the bankruptcy, etc- and soon those same glands that were there to save our lives, have now become fatigued and unable to see us through the next stressful experience.
The picture of Adrenal Fatigue can be summed up in the following set of symptoms: difficulty getting up in the morning (three alarms and you still don’t feel awake enough to lift your head off the pillow); continuing fatigue not relieved by sleep; craving for salt and salty foods; craving sugar; lethargy or lack of energy (everything seems like a chore, even things you enjoy); increased effort to do everyday tasks; decreased sex drive; decreased ability to handle stress; increased time to recover from illness, injury, exercise, trauma; light headed when standing quickly; depression or low mood; less enjoyment or happiness with life; increased PMS (bloated, tired, crabby, cramping and craving chocolate); symptoms increase if meals are skipped or inadequate; thoughts less focused, more fuzzy; memory less accurate; decreased tolerance (people seem a bit more irritating than they use to be); don’t really wake up until 10:00am and afternoons between 3–4pm are low (like you’ve been drugged with sleeping pills); caffeine dependent; feel better after evening meal (after dinner you start to feel alive again); decreased productivity (it takes you longer to complete tasks and it is harder to stay on task); sensitivity to light; and sensitivity to sound.
Getting help for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
If you suspect that you or a loved one has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it’s important to seek help right away. The sooner PTSD is confronted, the easier it is to overcome. If you’re reluctant to seek help, keep in mind that PTSD is not a sign of weakness, and the only way to overcome it is to confront what happened to you and learn to accept it as a part of your past. This process is much easier with the guidance and support of an experienced therapist or doctor.
It’s only natural to want to avoid painful memories and feelings. But if you try to numb yourself and push your memories away, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will only get worse. You can’t escape your emotions completely – they emerge under stress or whenever you let down your guard – and trying to do so is exhausting. The avoidance will ultimately harm your relationships, your ability to function, and the quality of your life.
Why Should I Seek Help for PTSD?
Early treatment is better. Symptoms of PTSD may get worse. Dealing with them now might help stop them from getting worse in the future. Finding out more about what treatments work, where to look for help, and what kind of questions to ask can make it easier to get help and lead to better outcomes.
PTSD symptoms can change family life. PTSD symptoms can get in the way of your family life. You may find that you pull away from loved ones, are not able to get along with people, or that you are angry or even violent. Getting help for your PTSD can help improve your family life.
PTSD can be related to other health problems. PTSD symptoms can worsen physical health problems. For example, a few studies have shown a relationship between PTSD and heart trouble. By getting help for your PTSD you could also improve your physical health.
Source: National Center for PTSD
Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Conventional Treatment
Conventional treatment for PTSD relieves symptoms by helping you deal with the trauma you’ve experienced. Rather than avoiding the trauma and any reminder of it, you’ll be encouraged in treatment to recall and process the emotions and sensations you felt during the original event. In addition to offering an outlet for emotions you’ve been bottling up, treatment for PTSD will also help restore your sense of control and reduce the powerful hold the memory of the trauma has on your life.
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- Medication. Medication is sometimes prescribed to people with PTSD to relieve secondary symptoms of depression or anxiety. Antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft are the medications most commonly used for PTSD. While antidepressants may help you feel less sad, worried, or on edge, they do not treat the causes of PTSD.
- Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD and trauma involves carefully and gradually “exposing” yourself to thoughts, feelings, and situations that remind you of the trauma. Therapy also involves identifying upsetting thoughts about the traumatic event–particularly thoughts that are distorted and irrational—and replacing them with more balanced picture.
- Family therapy. Since PTSD affects both you and those close to you, family therapy can be especially productive. Family therapy can help your loved ones understand what you’re going through. It can also help everyone in the family communicate better and work through relationship problems.
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). EMDR incorporates elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy with eye movements or other forms of rhythmic, left-right stimulation, such as hand taps or sounds. Eye movements and other bilateral forms of stimulation are thought to work by “unfreezing” the brain’s information processing system, which is interrupted in times of extreme stress, leaving only frozen emotional fragments which retain their original intensity. Once EMDR frees these fragments of the trauma, they can be integrated into a cohesive memory and processed.
Alternative Treatment- The DaSilva Institute Difference
At the DaSilva Institute, we measure the levels of Neurotransmitters and Adrenal hormones in order to provide a more exact treatment strategy. If needed, test for other medical issues that may be compounding the stress levels in your body including immune dysfunction, infection, gastrointestinal disturbances, inflammation, hormonal imbalances, heavy metal and other toxins- and rid the body of all underlying stressors through the practice of Anti-Aging, Regenerative & Functional Medicine.
As always, the main objecting of treatment is to replace what is missing with physiological (not pharmaceutical) doses of mainly bioidentical chemicals, providing balance of all the body’s biochemistry and a means for natural & optimal healing of the body.
If you are struggling with anxiety or other mood disorders we encourage you to give us a call so that we can help you Take Back Your Health.
Guy DaSilva, MD has recently written a chapter entitled “The Physiology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder“ in the book Surviving the Shadows, by critically acclaimed authors Bob Delaney (NBA Referee) and Dave Sheiber, also known for their book Covert- My Years Infiltrating The Mob .
For More Information Contact Us
To schedule an appointment at the DaSilva Institute, contact a Patient Services Representative at (888) 832-7458 or click Become a New Patient.
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